Win-E-Mac Students awarded over $100,000 in scholarships at banquet held May 11th

The Win-E-Mac Academic, Athletic and Fine Arts Banquet and Awards Program was held on Wednesday, May 11th in the new Arts & Event Center. The Student Council Co-President Kinlee Faldet opened the awards program followed by a music from the Win-E-Mac Jazz Band. 

Principal, Kevin McKeever recognized this year’s honor roll students, then Student Council Co-President Jessica Kasprzak began to announce the presenters for this year’s scholarship awards.

First up was Pastor Tim Lundeen who presented 5 students Amanda Farrell, Kinlee Faldet, Indiana Nornes, Madison McKeever, and Shayley Espeseth with $300 each from Grace Lutheran Church; next the Erskine American Legion Bailey Throne Post 596 presented $700 each to Joshua Young, Megan Espeseth, Madison McKeever, Jessica Kasprzak, Mikayla Vesledahl, Michael Revier, and Kelsey Knutson.

The Wild Rice Electric Scholarships were presented to Joshua Young, and Megan Espeseth for $500 each; McIntosh First Responders and Firefighters presented each of 10 students Katelyn Johnson, Megan Espeseth, Michael Revier, Amanda Farrell, Mikayla Vesledahl, Kinlee Faldet, Kelsey Knutson, Shania Christianson, Madison McKeever, and Jessica Kasprzak with a $500 scholarship.

Michael Revier, Kelsey Knutson, Kinlee Faldet, and Mikayla Vesledahl were each presented with a $500 scholarship from the Winger Lions; and the Elaine Bergman Scholarship of $1,000 was awarded to Jessica Kasprzak.

A scholarship in the amount of $250 each from the American State Bank, Erskine Branch was awarded to Kelsey Knutson and Kinlee Faldet; and Essentia Health presented Kelsey Knutson with a $1,500 scholarship.

The Highway 2 Cruisers Scholarship was awarded to Aaryk Neubert for $1,000; and Ultima Bank awarded a scholarship of $2,000 to Michael Revier.

Megan Espeseth received a $2,500 scholarship from the Foundation for Rural Service; and two $1,000 scholarships were awarded by East Polk County Fair to Hunter Parenteau and Megan Espeseth.

The Leo Parent Charitable Trust Fund II awarded each Joshua Young, Carver Sannes, Aaryk Neubert, and Hunter Parenteau with $1,200; and Jessica Kasprzak received a $200 scholarship from Altru Health Systems Scholarship.

The Red Lake Electric Scholarship in the amount of $500 was awarded to Rachel Morberg; and the Communication Workers of Am. Local 7272 awarded Madison McKeever, Amanda Farrell, and Nathan Brekke each with a $100 scholarship.

The Matthew Harmon Fallen Soldier Memorial Scholarship of $1, 250 was given to Shaley Espeseth; and a $2,500 scholarship was awarded to Megan Espeseth from Fosston Tri-Co-op.

The Brett Walker Memorial Scholarship was awarded to both Aaryk Neubert and Kelsey Knutson; and the Nick Lerfald Scholarship to Aaryk Neubert.

This year’s recipients of the Win-E-Mac Alumni Scholarships of $300 each were Cecelia Peterson, Megan Espeseth, Shayley Espeseth, Kinlee Faldet, Amanda Farrell, Jessica Kasprzak, Joshua Young, Kelsey Knutson, Madison McKeever, and Indiana Nornes; and the McIntosh/Erskine Garden Club Scholarship of $200 was awarded to Megan Espeseth.

The Tori Sannes Memorial Scholarship of $500 was awarded to Carver Sannes; $2,500 was given to Joshua Young by the Liberty Lucken Scholarship; and Shayley Espeseth and Jessica Kasprzak were each awarded $500 from the Gunter Scholarship.

Katelyn Johnson received a Jeannie Vesledahl Scholarship, which is awarded to a graduate interested in the performing arts, in the amount of $500; The Thompson Family Scholarship of $250 each were awarded to Madison McKeever and Megan Espeseth; and the Cora Grove Scholarship of $500 was awarded to Indiana Nornes.

Presented to a graduate interested in the areas of Journalism, Speech, Broadcasting and Public Relations, the Jan Ostenson Scholarship of $500 was awarded to Joshua Young; Jessica Kasprzak, Kelsey Knutson, and Rachel Morberg each received $1,000 from the Harriet Grundyson Hudrlik Memorial Scholarship, based on the criteria of choosing a career in nursing or a medical field; and the Jim & Nancy Benson Scholarship, a scholarship awarded to a graduate who will be attending Bemidji State University, was awarded to Rachel Morberg for $500.

The Russell B. Hagen Foundation awarded each Aaryk Neubert, Hunter Parenteau, and Michael Revier with a $1,000 scholarship and a scholarship awarded to a student attending trade or technical school, the McIntosh VFW Post 6891 awarded Ann Wick with $300.

Arthur I. and Jane B. Snustad Foundation Scholarships of $2,500 each were awarded to 6 post-secondary recipients, Kaysee Mandt, Austin Tadman, Zach Plante, Megan Kangas, Micah Ferden, and Allen Shaver; the 10 Win-E-Mac Seniors that also received a $2,500 scholarship from the Snustad Foundation were Amanda Farrell, Mikayla Vesledahl, Indiana Nornes, Shayley Espeseth, Rachel Morberg, Jessica Kasprzak, Madison McKeever, Kelsey Knutson, Megan Espeseth, and Joshua Young.

The evening continued with musical selections from the Choral Department and then Student Council Co-President Madison McKeever introduced Principal McKeever to present the Valedictorian Award to Jessica Kasprzak. The Salutatorian will be Andrew Bryant. 

Principal McKeever also announced the winner of the AAA Award, Madison McKeever, who is the first Win-E-Mac student to win this award at a State level. Madison also received a $4,000 scholarship for this achievement. 

Next Ms. Sandra Jore recognized the National Honor Society graduates and the Senior Honor Students.

Along with the recognition, Ms. Jore also announced the college scholarships that have been awarded to Win-E-Mac students. Hunter Parenteau has received $500 from the Detroit Lakes College Foundations, and $500 from the Donnie Anderson Memorial Fund. Amanda Farrell received a Presidential Scholarship from St. Cloud State University of $4,000. Jessica Kasprzak received a $4,000 scholarship to Moorhead State University and Madison McKeever received a full Athletic Scholarship to play basketball the the University of South Dakota.

The Knowledge Bowl awards were presented by Mrs. Ann Vesledahl and the One Act Play awards by Mr. Bruce McWilliam. 

Miss Charity Salmonson presented both Mikayla Vesledahl and Madison McKeever with the John Philip Sousa award for band performance. The award is given to recognize young musicians displaying superior musicianship, leadership, dependability, loyalty, cooperation and other qualities of conduct. Normally awarded to one student, but in case of a tie, as in this year, to two students.

Mr. Salmonson also presented the National School Choral Award, the highest honor for high school choral performers. It recognizes the dedication and musical achievement of the top choral students. This year the award was also awarded to two students, Cecelia Peterson and Amanda Farrell.

Athletic Director, Aaron Cook, then presented the Mark Schimanski Award, an award given to a Varsity Boys Basketball player and voted by his teammates. The award was presented to Hunter Chaput.

Mr. Cook also awarded the Randy Helgaas Defensive Player of the Year awards for both girls and boys basketball. The girl’s awards were given to Madison McKeever for Varsity and Sydney Tadman for Junior Varsity. Emelian Kaya received the boy’s award.

Also recognized were the All-State awards. Indiana Nornes, Jessica Kasprzak and Shayley Espeseth each received recognition on the Academic All-State Volleyball team. 

For the 2nd year in a row, Madison McKeever also received All-State for the Girls Basketball team.

Mr. Cook then presented the Senior Outstanding Male and Female Awards. The Senior Outstanding Athlete Award was presented to Madison McKeever. The Senior Outstanding Academic Athlete Award was presented to Jessica Kasprzak. The Senior Outstanding Academic and Fine Arts Student Award was presented to Indiana Nornes.

Win-E-Mac Student Council Co-President Kelsey Knutson finished the night by thanking all that has joined in the occasion.