Robotics: Girl Power

Robotics Team with Baby Bot

This year, girls at Apollo High School hit the VEX Robotics team by storm after senior Arnold Rodriguez was the only person to sign up for the team. That’s when advisor and CTE Tech teacher, Dr. Matt Keil stepped in. Keil noticed Madeleine Schoenecker hanging out in the hallway after school. He approached her and … Read more

I AM 742: Alumnus Aaron Brossoit

Aaron Brossoit

Coming from a family of educators, 1996 Apollo High School graduate Aaron Brossoit was instead bitten by the entrepreneurial bug even before graduating from St. Cloud State University (SCSU). While at SCSU, Brossoit became interested in websites and started to “play around” with them, teaching himself how to design web pages. He loved the creativity of art … Read more

I AM 742: Ahmed Abdi

Abdi and his family

“If you can’t help someone, then don’t hurt [hinder] them,” says Ahmed Abdi, lead bilingual communication support specialist (BCSS) at St. Cloud Area School District 742. It is a motto that Abdi has lived by, a philosophy instilled in him by his father. Abdi was born in Somalia but grew up in Kenya due to … Read more

I AM 742: Alumna Jessica Backes

Jessica Backes in dress blues with her flute

Music is in her blood. For 2014 Tech High School graduate, Jessica Backes, music is a way to connect with people. Backes just visited South Junior High School, her former middle school, to talk to students about music, but more importantly, to stop and say hello and thank you to her old band director, Anita … Read more

I AM 742: Bob Blommer

Bob Blommer

If there is something that needs to be done, fixed or can be seen as a potential hazard, Bob Blommer is sure to be the one who will take care of it. After working at DeZurik for 31 years, Blommer retired in the summer of 2018. However, it wasn’t long before he wanted to be … Read more