Fergus Falls Public Schools

SUPERINTENDENT’S COLUMN
By Superintendent Jerry Ness
• May 12, 2010 •

Most Influential Educators

For the second year in a row, graduating seniors
voted on the educators who have been the most influential in their lives. Congratulations to High School
teachers Hal Johnson, Richard Risburdt and Jim Iverson; Middle School teachers Gary Hoffbeck, Paul
Ratz and Paul Zosel; and elementary teachers Pam Andersen, Vicki Hanneman, Chip McAllister, Sue
Moore and Lynette Ringquist. These teachers will have the honor of leading seniors into the gym for the
graduation ceremony on May 21. The students also chose Chuck Vigen as one of their most influential
teachers, a fitting tribute to the retired Middle School science teacher who died in a motorcycle accident
in April.

History Day Winners

Congratulations to seven Fergus Falls students who were among the top winners in the state’s
History Day contest at the University of Minnesota on May 1. The 2010 competition focused on
“Innovation in History: Impact and Change,” and students developed research papers, exhibits,
documentaries, performances or Web sites on the topics they selected. Each project had to include a
research summary paper with primary and secondary sources. More than 30,000 students participated
this year.
Students receiving honors include:
Johnny Hermes, Our Lady of Victory School, honorable mention in Junior Individual Exhibit for
“Gridiron Safety: How Plastic Helmets Changed America's Game.”
Cassandra Eerdmans, Fergus Falls Middle School, third place and national alternate in Junior
Individual Performance for “Fighting the Speckled Monster: The Smallpox Vaccination.” (Cassandra
also won a Global Studies Prize from the University of Minnesota for an outstanding entry related to a
historical topic outside the United States.)
Andrew Eerdmans and William Eerdmans, Fergus Falls High School, second place and national
finalists in Senior Group Performance for “Divided Highways: The Impact and Change of the Interstate.”
Ashley Jorgenson, Taylor Amberg and Megan Fritz, Fergus Falls High School, second place
and national finalists in Senior Group Exhibit for “Soo Locks.”
First and second place winners are eligible to compete at the National History Day Contest on
June 13-17 at the University of Maryland.

Arts Festival
The Blondeau Arts Festival began 13 years ago as a year-end celebration of some of the best
visual and performing arts at our High School. It’s grown annually and last year expanded to include the
work of our 7th and 8th grade art and music students.
This year’s event will be in conjunction with the All-School Orchestra Concert and the Spring
Pops Choir Concert on Monday, May 17. The Arts Festival will begin at 4:30 p.m. with an “art crawl,”
followed by the orchestra concert at 6 p.m. in the high school gym and the choir concert at 8 p.m.
Visitors are welcome to enjoy the artwork before, during and after the concerts.
Displays will include traditional drawing and painting, three-dimensional art, digital design and
student films set up throughout the foyers, hallways and the Media Center of the high school. Winners
in the state History Day competition also display their projects, and several social dance groups will
perform. Community artists will judge the works and winners announced that night.
Admission is free, and refreshments made by the Cultural Foods classes will be served. Guests
may come and go at their convenience, or they are welcome to stay for the entire evening.