Tuesday, February 19, 2013
“Pick subjects that truly interest you, start putting in the study early, and go into the test with a positive attitude," Neis advises.
Jacob Neis, a senior at Minnetonka High School, and Emily Xie, a senior at Eden Prairie High School, were recently named the Minnesota state winners of the 2012-13 Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement, a signature program of the Siemens Foundation administered by the College Board. Check out this Patch feature story on Jacob Neis, published in November. The awards recognize the nation’s top achievers in Advanced Placement Program (AP) courses in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) with a $2,000 college scholarship to one male and one female student in each state. Two national winners (one male and one female) are also recognized, each receiving a $5,000 scholarship. This year, 101 high school students in all 50 …
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Student Spotlight: Clare Skalle writes with creativity and confidence.
Clare Skalle has high hopes for her future. “I plan to be a bestselling author and a famous director,” Skalle said. The Minnetonka High School senior has written five short stories and is working on another for her college application. “I love writing teen fiction consisting of fantasy with a little zest of romance,” she said. Skalle’s poem My Dear Peggy appeared in Emerson College’s online magazine, The Elm. Her story Little Lost Girl was published in Minnetonka High’s Literary Magazine. “It’s about a boy who is dared by the school bully to venture into the supposedly haunted school building,” she said. “I don't really write for any publication, I simply write to write,” she said. “I love being able to create worlds and rules, …
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Student Spotlight: From Macedonia to Minnetonka, Becky Moore values friendship and faith.
- SCHOOLS
- Lisa Buck
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Wednesday, December 19, 2012
As the daughter of American missionaries, Becky Moore has lived in many places. “I was born in Austria,” Moore said. “My family lived in Serbia, but the Serbian hospitals were in bad shape because of the war, so my parents went to Austria to have me.” The Minnetonka High School senior also has two brothers, 8 and 10 years older. After Serbia, the Moore family moved to Hungary, then to Macedonia. In 2008, they returned to the U.S., settling in Minnetonka. “Macedonia had a poor schooling system,” Moore explained. “My parents wanted me to go to high school in America.” Being an American eighth grader was an adjustment for Moore. “I didn’t understand their lingo,” she said of her new classmates. “I was very quiet that first year.” Students …
Monday, November 26, 2012
Student Spotlight: From math to Mozart, Jacob Neis excels in pursuing his passions. He lives in Eden Prairie and transferred to Minnetonka last year.
It’s not easy being the new kid. So when Jacob Neis of Eden Prairie transferred to Minnetonka High School last year as a junior, his mom gave him some advice. “Find your people,” Neis said. “Find the people who share your passions, appreciate your quirks, and challenge you where you enjoy being challenged.” Neis found his people in the Minnetonka band. “Music to me is the perfect union of the cerebral and the inexplicable,” said Neis (pronounced “nice”), who plays clarinet and piano. “I'm one of those poor saps who is more emotionally invested in the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto than the Super Bowl.” In August, he was selected to participate in the Minnesota All-State Band. “I spent a week in Duluth playing music with people of similar…
Monday, October 22, 2012
Student Spotlight: In life, Joe Martinson aims to be like an M&M– tough on the outside, soft on the inside.
Even as winter looms, Joe Martinson is preparing for spring baseball. “I love the position that I’m in, that every single pitch matters every time,” said the Minnetonka High School pitcher. “There is so much pressure on you to execute every time or it could cost the game.” Martinson is a Twins fan, but his favorite player is Detroit pitcher Justin Verlander. This summer, Martinson traveled to the Dominican Republic with his Legion baseball team. “It was amazing― white beaches, blue water and friendly people,” he said. Martinson was able to use the Spanish skills he learned at Minnetonka. “I was a little rusty,” said the senior. Martinson plans to share his enthusiasm for baseball by coaching kids in the West Metro Miracle League, a …
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Student Spotlight: Karl Amundson has a lead in the upcoming fall musical "The Secret Garden."
Karl Amundson lives in Northfield, about an hour south of Minnetonka, but attends Minnetonka High School. “I live with my aunt and uncle in Eden Prairie throughout the week so I can attend Minnetonka,” said Amundson, a senior. “I transferred here so I could have more theater opportunity. The Minnetonka theater program is amazing.” Minnetonka Theatre is preparing for its fall musical, The Secret Garden. Amundson plays Dickon, one of the children who explores the hidden garden. “He's a super fun part, and I can't wait to get onstage,” said Amundson. He credits several mentors in the theater department for helping him build his skills. “Kent Knutson, John Lynn and Trent Boyum have all played a big part in my transition into the school as …
Monday, September 24, 2012
Senior Bennett Celichowski leads on the gridiron and on the track at Minnetonka High School.
Minnetonka High School celebrates Homecoming week, and senior Bennett Celichowski is getting ready. His plans? “Win the game,” he said of the football rivalry with Wayzata. Celichowski is team captain. “My role is to lead the team through good times and bad," he said. "A good captain always puts the team and his teammates' needs first." Celichowski has been playing football since fourth grade. “It’s the ultimate team game,” he said. “You get to play with your friends in front of thousands of people. There is nothing like it.” A highlight of his football career was the defensive touchdown with a 53-yard interception return on Sept. 7, helping the Skippers defeat Coon Rapids. But the friendships are the most important part of the sport to …
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Student Spotlight: Kaila Thatcher hopes to merge her interest in science and love of children one day by becoming a pediatrician.
- SCHOOLS
- Lisa Buck
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Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Kaila Thatcher is setting her sights on a career in pediatric medicine. The Minnetonka High School senior gets an up-close look at the medical field as a volunteer at Ridgeview Medical Center’s emergency department and maternal ward. “I help with patient room changes, take food trays to patients, restock supplies, and blow up balloons for kids,” Thatcher explained. “I like helping the nurses during their busy day so they can help the patients.” “It’s a great way to see if you really want to be in the medical field,” she added. “I personally love it.” At school, Thatcher’s favorite class so far was Advanced Placement Biology. “I like figuring out how things work,” she said. “I also knew that I would most likely major in some form of …
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Student Spotlight: Haley Gunderson will take the microphone as class speaker at Minnetonka High School’s graduation.
When Haley Gunderson signed up for Speech class on a whim, she didn’t know it would lead to her delivering the graduation speech to the Class of 2012. “I’ll definitely have the jitters, being in front of five thousand people,” said Gunderson, who is graduating cum laude from Minnetonka High School on June 7. To accommodate the crowd, the graduation ceremony will be held at Grace Church in Eden Prairie. It all started in Speech class. “I joined Speech completely on a whim,” she said. Speech teacher Charley Barniskis required his students to write and deliver a graduation speech. “I have students vote on them,” said Barniskis. “Haley’s was deemed the best graduation speech by her classmates.” Gunderson’s friends then encouraged her to …
Monday, May 28, 2012
Student Spotlight: Matt Mattiacci plans to use his baseball experience in a future marketing career.
Athletes often adopt a ritual during their sports season. Minnetonka High School senior Matt Mattiacci is no exception. “I sleep with a baseball in my hand,” said Mattiacci, a pitcher. "My dad slept with a basketball when he was a kid, and that’s how I got the idea.” Mattiacci started playing baseball when he was four years old. “It was t-ball at Bennett Park,” he said. Now Mattiacci pitches for the varsity team at Minnetonka. "Matt is one of the most focused young men I have worked with,” said Minnetonka baseball coach Paul Twenge. “He is a leader and the one that most follow." One of Mattiacci’s most memorable baseball moments was during the 2010 New Ulm tournament. “The weather turned on us fast and a tornado was heading right toward …
