BPS (Brainerd Public Schools) Magazine - Spring 2019

SPRING 2019

Three-time State Champs

Adapted floor hockey team makes Brainerd proud

#BeBrainerd #BeWarriors No matter our age, we learn something new every day

Legends of BHS

Legendary women of BHS are celebrated in a special photographic exhibit

Make It OK A community initiative to end the stigma behind mental illness A Brainerd Dispatch Publication

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Spring ‘19 CONTENTS

In The Spotlight

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12 16

ON THE COVER:

Make It OK

A community-wide campaign includes Brainerd Public Schools to reduce the stigma of mental illness.

By Jodie Tweed

The Brainerd Warrior adapted floor hockey team took home their third state title in a row. Photo by Joey Halvorson.

Pete Mohs

One of the most important lessons learned at Riverside Elementary School won’t come from books. This year students are learning how to be good to one another.

By Sheila Helmberger

EDITOR

Jodie Tweed

ART DIRECTOR Lisa Henry

Legendary Women of BHS

COPY EDITOR DeLynn Howard

Meet five of the 20 outstanding women graduates of BHS honored in a special exhibit.

By Jodie Tweed

PHOTOGRAPHER Joey Halvorson

Making the Dream Work

The Warrior adapted floor hockey team has been undefeated since 2016, taking home their third consecutive state championship trophy in March.

By Cara Lanz

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22

The 612 Station Burger Challenge

26

Maya’s Travels

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We’re Not Those Kids

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A BHS sports marketing class came up with the ultimate food challenge — to develop a burger fit for a real Brainerd restaurant.

By Sheila Helmberger Maya Hermerding, a 2014 BHS graduate, is spending a year teaching English in Colombia as a Fulbright Scholar.

By Sheila Helmberger Apparel designed, marketed and sold by Brainerd Learning Center students sends a positive message into the community.

By Sheila Helmberger

Bill Musel King of Queens

Bill Musel’s the guy who (literally) keeps the lights on at Brainerd High School South Campus. But he also heads local and state Miss United States pageants.

By Cara Lanz Brainerd Public Schools | Spring ‘19 www.isd181.org 3

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STAFF

PUBLISHER

Be the Nice Kid

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PUBLICATION

Brainerd Public Sc hools magazin e is prod u ced by the Brain erd Disp atch in coope ration w it h the Brainerd Public Sc hools.

Comments and story ideas

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Superintendent’s Letter - Laine Larson

ors i r r a W e B .# .. d #BeBrainer nd look for new e encourage a

.W usiness, learn and grow ’t sn llaborate with b e o o c d d ly n a in r a e rt n e d rt c a elcome , it ways to p pages 12 , 22 an e e (s y, it n u A s I write this w t around the corner! We’ve m m college and co is righ rd o c re t h feel like spring g u ro nt b 29). r vortex that not only represe ta, s e so o e d n t in o M sc a endured a pola ss m o cr have Our Warrior temperatures a tes, though we le ating the th e a b r f u o breaking cold o y f o sh s ss e the prowe as just inch ge 16) too. . and Brainerd w ry a ru b e F all of of that (see pa r ty fo n ll le fa p w o sn #BeStrong in e to th is d n a rd 2001 record e ll, fa in to ra lets B To #Be continue ctivities and ath am a I , s, ro ic m ze e d ve While the snow a o c b a a f ggle to climb the 4A s - arts, mplishments o ru o c st c s a re th e w tu th f ra ro o e g p d d tem prou ties an ics. We are so e new possibili dreaming of th ! rs ther with all our Warrio promises. s I , ay e lw for joining toge su a is u g n yo 19 ri k 20 n sp a g n th ri s, p dents S ay A s alw rough the port for our stu cap a r su fo g s in ie d A s I browse th it n n e u n u rt o to provide ow that f all of the opp district. It us al journey. I kn r n u o tio a am reminded o in c h u it d e w ir th e We will along th onal grow BeAmazing. # demic and pers ! ill w rd e e w in r, e ra th B toge to #Be er is a great time . coming togeth t u o b a ll a is #BeBrainerd , m a te r #BeBrainerd io rr a collaborative W r as a united and rengths and ou st l a n o rs e p n bringing our ow fore us. to the work be s e lv nit y se e u iq n u m this commu o fr rt o p p su g ar emOverwhelmin to spend this ye ts of t ic tr is d e th d izing ac has inspire ing and recogn g ra u o c n e , g s. When n phasizi and employee ts n e d u st r u o y ake It OK kindness b ed hosted a M iz rg e n E g in aff W Crow portunit y, our st p o g in in a tr r o sitation to ambassad late without he p e th to p u d page 5), e stepp lth stigma (see a e h l ta n e m e y. help reduc eCommunit B # . rd e in gle staff ra #BeB rners, every sin a le f o y it n u m ing A s a com e open to learn b ld u o sh t n e d rriors is person and stu day. To #BeWa ry ve e w e n arch g somethin to constantly se , le tt se to g in ies to to never be will tive opportunit a e cr d n a e tiv for innova

OUR MISSION In partnership with the community, Brainerd Public Schools will ensure all students achieve their individual potential by providing the highest-quality programs and resources to prepare learners for an ever-changing global society.

Laine Larson 4

Spring‘19 ‘19 Brainerd Public Schools | |Spring

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A community-wide effort to reduce the stigma of mental illness

Kathy Sell, marketing manager at Essentia Health, gave a Make It OK presentation in March at Brainerd High School.

Make It OK Campaign

BY JODIE TWEED

#BeCommunity Photos By JOEY HALVORSON

It’s

OK. And it’s OK to talk about it, too. That’s the underlying message behind the Make It OK campaign, an initiative developed by HealthPartners and spearheaded within Brainerd Public Schools and the community by Crow Wing Energized and Essentia Health. The goal of the Make It OK movement is to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. Mental illness can affect anyone of all ages, yet people are afraid or unable to talk about it because of shame, misconceptions and the fear they will be discriminated against or treated differently.

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Jane Brekken serves as a Make It OK ambassador and spoke at a presentation in March at Brainerd High School.

Last August during a back to school workshop at Tornstrom Auditorium, more than 900 school staff participated in a Make It OK presentation led by trained ambassadors, including Brainerd High School Principal Andrea Rusk. Rusk says the district felt this initiative was critically important for school staff.

It provided them with the tools to have sensitive conversations with people suffering from a mental illness and give them support, including their friends and colleagues.

It also makes it OK to accept what they may be going through personally and to seek the help and care they need.

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Brainerd Public Schools | Spring ‘19

“It affects everybody, and we need to recognize this in order to address it and support each other,” says Rusk, who also helped facilitate a presentation for BHS parents last fall. “Most staff in this district have had the presentation and we have gotten overwhelmingly positive feedback.”

ONE IN FOUR ADULTS IN CROW WING COUNTY EXPERIENCE MENTAL ILLNESS

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It’s a startling statistic from the most recent Crow Wing County community health survey conducted

by Crow Wing Energized. But the number only includes residents who reported they sought professional help for their mental illness, not those who remain undiagnosed and untreated. Most people suffering from mental illnesses, like depression and anxiety, wait an average of 10 years before asking for help.

Kathy Sell, marketing manager at Essentia Health, and Jane Brekken, both trained community ambassadors, gave a Make It OK presentation to parents and community members at Brainerd High School in early March. So far about 200

“IT AFFECTS EVERYBODY, AND WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THIS IN ORDER TO ADDRESS IT AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER,” - Andrea Rusk, Brainerd High School Principal

community members have become trained ambassadors and are able to give presentations at area businesses, organizations and churches. Essentia Health in Brainerd gave the presentation to its entire staff.

Sell says being involved with the initiative has made her aware of how

deeply mental illness affects our community. Many people have shared their own struggles and have become ambassadors to help others as a result. A community leader shared with her she delayed treatment herself for 10 years before seeking help.

“Imagine if you delayed cancer treatment for 10 years,” says Sell. “There was a time when nobody talked about cancer. So now that we’re starting to talk about mental illness; it’s a step forward.”

Brekken, a member of the Crow Wing Energized Mental Fitness Committee, says she immediately wanted to get involved when she learned about the initiative. She was trained as an ambassador a year ago.

“Make It OK places emphasis on the value of talking about mental illness in an informed and compassionate manner,” Brekken says. “The language we use in these conversations is very important, and the words we

use to describe a person affected by mental illness can either be helpful or hurtful. One powerful component to reduce stigma around mental illness is through this awareness of our language.”

“ONE POWERFUL COMPONENT TO REDUCE STIGMA AROUND MENTAL ILLNESS IS THROUGH THIS AWARENESS OF OUR LANGUAGE.” -Jane Brekken, Crow Wing Energized Mental Fitness Committee and Make It OK ambassador

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Lisa Stawarski, child care programs coordinator for Brainerd Public Schools, and Kari Roberts helped to train 47 child care staff members.

Between KinderClub, Fun ‘N’ Friends and the Senior Leaders programs, her staff serves close to 700 students each year, many of whom have been with the programs for several years.

The presentation was another way to support staff both in a personal and professional way, she says.

“Our childcare team loved it. They felt it was needed and appropriate,” says Stawarski, adding the information, including community mental health resources, was shared with parents. “We try to be as supportive as we can be in many aspects of a child’s life.”

Rusk notes there is a national and local educational focus on the social emotional learning of students. The Make It OK message fits well into this initiative, but it isn’t intended to be used with students, just adults.

However, Rusk said there is a trickledown benefit for students when the adults in their lives learn to open up those conversations about mental illness.

It makes it OK for everyone.

JODIE TWEED, a freelance writer and editor who works for local, state and national publications, lives in Pequot Lakes with her husband, Nels, and their three daughters.

REDUCE THE STIGMA

Stigma is a set of negative or unfair beliefs society has about something. It can take many forms, including exclusion, silence and labeling. Can you recognize your own misconceptions about mental illness? Visit makeitok.org and take a short quiz to find out and take the pledge to stop mental illness stigma.

HOW TO HELP If you would like to request a Make It OK presentation at your office, organization, church or any group, or if you’d like to learn how to become a Make It OK ambassador yourself, visit crowwingenergized.org/make-it-ok.

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BE THE

NICE KID

BY SHEILA HELMBERGER

Students

at Riverside Elementary School in Brainerd are learning many things this year. But one of the most important lessons won’t come from their books. Besides reading, math and geography, this year students at Riverside are learning how to be good to one another.

#BeKind Submitted Photos In a ‘Be the Nice Kid,” campaign at the school, kids are finding out it feels pretty good to just be considerate and kind to the people around them.

Jon Clark is principal at Riverside. He says sometimes the wording in the things our kids hear is “don’t do this” or “you shouldn’t do that,” but this year the message is yes. Do it.

Whenever you can, Be the Nice Kid. It’s only four little words, but the message is a big one. Clark says staff members at the school have worked hard to keep the campaign visible in the classrooms and throughout the building. Banners and posters are hung throughout the school with the slogan, some made professionally and some handmade by the students.

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“EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE BUILDING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS.” - Jon Clark, Riverside principal

“We just decided to take the angle of promoting positive behaviors this year,” says Clark. “And we’re exhibiting those to the students, recognizing them everywhere from the morning meeting to physical education class, in all of our hallways, and in the cafeteria.

Clark says the campaign ties in with social emotional learning the school already teaches and it helps them recognize the different paths we each take and to practice tolerance with one another. “We have talked a lot this year about how every one of us is different.

Some of us are faster, some of us play

instruments. All of us have very different talents, but they’re all important. And we can all be the nice kid and practice generosity,” explains Clark. “We want it to be a constant reminder with our staff and students. This is a good, positive character piece for us.”

The whole student body is involved with the campaign, says Clark, from the kindergarten classes to the fourth grade. The staff and student body all have T-shirts with the message printed on them, too.

“Every single person in the building is an important part of this. From

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the secretaries, to the cooks, to the custodians,” says Clark. “We have also talked about how, since we’re all different, we don’t have to agree with everybody else on every topic.

We can just appreciate those differences as well. Honestly, if you’re not invited to every party someone in your class has, that’s OK. We’ve been working on finding other ways to solve differences. We don’t have to even like everybody else, but we do have to be kind to one another.”

The message serves a good reminder to everyone, Clark says. Although it wasn’t intentional, the timing turned out to be important, too.

“We’re seeing some strong language being used this year, and an influx of public media where people are not treating each other that well.

Again, it all goes back to that idea that we don’t have to agree with each other. Different points of view

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are completely acceptable,” says Clark. “But let’s all look out for one another. We will probably even go more in depth than that. With each level we go into, we try to develop another message. If someone isn’t having a great day, just show them some kindness. Be understanding.

We all have days that are tough for all of us. We don’t need to pile any more on one another.”

Clark says that he sees this as a path the school will stay on. “This is our first year with it and we’ve given it a real big push,” he says. “But it’s going well and we’re definitely making this a journey that will continue.”

Sheila Helmberger has been a freelance writer for over 20 years, contributing to numerous publications. She lives in Baxter with her husband. They have three children and three grandchildren.

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#BeAwesome Submitted Photos

Legendary Women of BHS

B

efore they attained both personal and professional success as adults, they were students who walked the hallways of Brainerd High School.

The public is invited to “The Legendary Women of Brainerd Public Schools,” a photographic exhibit that shares the incredible, real and inspiring stories of 20 outstanding women graduates of BHS from the early 1960s to 2015. This exhibit is on display at the BHS Media atrium through the 2018-19 school year and into Fall 2019, depending on remodeling activities at BHS this summer. Here are five of their stories.

CLASS OF

GAIL DAILEY HELMER

Leader in sports and new pathways.

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#BeAwesome Gail Dailey Helmer always forged new pathways.

A four-sport athlete, she was a several times MVP, captain and state participant, Athlete of the Year and an early woman in the Lettermen’s Club, active in foreign student life, an exchange student in Sweden, an honor graduate and member of the National Honor Society, a High School All – American and listed in Who’s Who Among American High School Students.

Gail graduated from St. Cloud State (Education, BS, 1987). After

years in an apprenticeship program, she became a licensed steamfitter/ pipefitter (2000), a licensed plumber (2003) and a licensed medical gas installer (2012). She has been a substitute teacher, volleyball, basketball and track coach, and was the first female pipefitter at the Brainerd Potlatch Paper Company mill (1991), a difficult gender environment at the time, working there until the mill closed (1999). For the last 27 years, Gail has been employed as a pipefitter/plumber.

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CLASS OF

JAMA MCDERMOTT DAVIDSON

A leader in the Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program.

#BeAwesome

Before Jama McDermott Davidson graduated, she committed to ROTC (Bemidji State BA, Economics, 1987).

A BHS athlete/student leader also active in church and the State High School Page Program, upon graduation from college as a second lieutenant (Army Reserves) Jama moved to the Minnesota Army National Guard, continued her military education with advanced course work (Signal Corps, Combined Arms Staff Support and the Command and General Staff College) and, after 28 years in the Officer Corps, retired as Lieutenant Colonel Davidson.

Retired Lt. Col. Davidson had several Guard assignments, including commanding a Signal Company and the General Studies Battalion of the

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175th Regiment, as a Construction Engineer, Environmental Compliance Officer and as Director, Construction Facilities Management Office. She was the first female to hold a directorate in the Minnesota Army National Guard and the second female to hold a directorate in the entire National Guard.

Davidson is now a leader in the Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program, supervising career advisors and job counselors to help youth, adults and seniors find employment leading to self–sustainability and positive changes in their lives and our communities. She continues to believe in service to country and the transformative power of education.

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CLASS OF

STEPHANIE WHITE

Award-winning artist with numerous accomplishments in theater.

#BeAwesome The artistic accomplishments of Stephanie White, who has been acting, singing and dancing all of her life, are numerous.

Stephanie built the foundation for her creative passion at Central Lakes College with degrees in fine arts and business management. Her long performance resume, paid and unpaid roles and positions in high school, college and community theatres, and her professional, compensated work as choreographer in dance major community theatre (“Young Frankenstein” and “Nunsense”), as stage manager in blockbuster community theatre (“Young Frankenstein,” “Spamalot,” “Seussical,” “On Golden Pond” and “The Woman in Black”), and as actor,

‘04

director and tech in other area theatre productions, underscore the demand for her professional skills, which have not gone unnoticed.

The Brainerd Area Actors and Theatre Guild has awarded her two Dennis Lamberson Awards for Excellence in Theatre: In choreography (“Young Frankenstein”) and as best supporting actress (“Five Women Wearing the Same Dress”).

Theatre demands uncommon commitments of time and self, but Stephanie also is the troupe director for Vespertine Tribal, a dance instructor at Spirit Movement Dance Studio and staff assistant at The Crossing Arts Alliance.

CLASS OF

ALENA GRABOWSKI

Olympic level researcher for Paralympic track and field athletes.

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Brainerd Public Schools | Spring ‘19

#BeAwesome Alena Grabowski competed at the state track championships for Brainerd 28 years ago. She went on to obtain her PhD at University of Colorado in Integrative Physiology, complete a post–doctoral fellowship in biomechatronics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and work in Restorative and Regenerative Medicine for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

She is presently assistant professor at University of Colorado in Integrative Physiology and applied biomechanics laboratory, and a research healthcare scientist for the Department of Veterans Affairs. She was part of the team supporting the Olympic participation

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of Oscar Pistorius, a South African track athlete with two amputations below the knee Dr. Grabowski is an Olympic level researcher for Paralympic track and field athletes, using her highly technical research into amputations, prostheses, starting block configurations and metabolic costs associated with running and prosthesis. She also works to support national and international rules regarding athletes with amputations. She has been published in 45 peer–reviewed publications around the world.

CLASS OF

JESSICA KRAMER RYAN

Hard work and commitment makes succuss.

#BeAwesome Lower Sioux Community chief judge and White Earth Nation Appellate Court associate judge Jessica Ryan grew up in the farm culture south of Brainerd and worked at places like Perkins and Hasse’s throughout her education.

After attending Hamline University (Women’s Studies, BA 1994) and Hamline Law (1998), Chief Judge Ryan clerked for the first American Indian judge in Hennepin County, followed by 21 years of law practice, including for the Lower Sioux and Prairie Island Indian communities.

Her numerous accomplishments in life are characterized by commitments to Native American communities and scholarships, diversity, men-

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toring, leadership positions, women’s professional organizations and state bar association committees, as well as Minnesota Supreme Court committees on children, racial and gender fairness, juvenile protection and Indian child welfare, national judicial conference appointments, local, state and national trainings and continuing education presentations, the American Indian Policy Center, Indian Child Welfare Act Law Center and American Indian Cancer Foundation.

Chief Judge Ryan is a tribal council member of the Brothertown Indian Nation and a drafter of legislation, rules and policies to support American Indian families.

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MAKING THE DREAM WORK #BeAmazing

BY CARA LANZ

Photos By JOEY HALVORSON

One

sharp chirp of the whistle from assistant coach Josh Fordyce is all it takes for the Brainerd Warrior adapted floor hockey team to silently fall into formation and begin their pre-practice stretches, led by team captains Matt Allord and Blaise Edinger. Every athlete on the team centers their attention on their leaders who guide them through a well-versed series of warm-ups; each drill is executed with synchronized precision.

To say this team is disciplined is an understatement. Observing them in action during a normal day of practice, it’s easy to see why this team holds the title of state champion. When the puck hits the floor, these kids hustle. Even though running is not allowed during games, according to MSHSL rules -- they have to use a shuffle step, instead -the team works up a mighty sweat and hot pink cheeks in just a few minutes of hard practice.

Scrimmages are also a regular part of practice and they welcome

guest teams to put them to the test.

“We’ve had a lot of BAHA teams, the basketball team, and other sports teams come and scrimmage with us,” head coach Todd Person explains. “It helps us to get better and when we go and play other teams, we can tell that our kids have had that experience.”

This tight-knit team appreciates their coaches push them in preparation for competition.

Karlee Schuler, an 11th grader and five-year veteran of the team, is grateful their downtime is minimal.

“The coaches are fair, and they want us to compete all the time,” Schuler says with a smile. “We don’t get time to stop or have a break. They make us work.”

A well-played strategy that has clearly worked in the team’s favor —and scored them some serious hardware. Three times.

Warriors for the win

The Warriors have taken home the state championship trophy three years running. In 2015, they were 9-1 in the regular season and took third

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About adapted floor hockey

Adapted floor hockey is a co-ed Minnesota State High School Leaguesponsored activity for grades 7-12. They play standardized hockey rules, adapted by the surface they play on: a gym floor instead of ice.

They use standard floor hockey equipment, which includes plastic hockey sticks and a felt puck. Floor hockey is a limited contact sport, so checking is not allowed.

The Minnesota State High School League offers two divisions of competition: one for athletes with physical or health impairments, known as PI, and one for athletes with cognitive impairments, CI. The Brainerd team plays in the PI division and welcomes athletes within the Paul Bunyan Educational Cooperative, which includes many schools in the surrounding area, including Aitkin, Pequot Lakes and Pillager. ...Continued on page 20

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...Continued from page 17 at state. In 2016 they were 5-4 in the regular season and took fourth at state. In 2017 they were 12-0 in the regular season and took first at state. Last year they were 13-0 and took first at state.

In March the team took its third-straight state title.

They’ve been undefeated since the start of the 2016 season, winning 44 games in a row.

Team captain Brach Delcastillo, a senior and sixthyear team member, felt confident going into the state tourney in March that the team would clinch another state win. “I feel like we’re going to win state again. We’re definitely planning on going undefeated like we have for two years.”

“Winning state felt really good because we lost in the past, but we worked hard and came back,” he explains.

Person knows some of the magic behind the success of the team extends beyond technical skill. You see, their coaching strategy also incorporates team-building exercises to work on important lessons that apply both on and off the hockey floor, like communication and leadership. “We see kids emerge as leaders through wins and losses — and the things that come with that — and a lot of team-building activities throughout the season and at practice,” Person explains.

“WE SEE KIDS EMERGE AS LEADERS THROUGH WINS AND LOSSES...” - Todd Person, head coach But the team members aren’t the only ones learning and growing. Person reflects on the lessons he’s picked up from the team, “When we talk about the time and effort student athletes have to put in, many of these kids have never played anything like this in their life. So, to

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Home Team

come in and basically start from scratch, they have to work hard to get on the floor to compete.” He adds, “Hard work will pay off.”

Cara Lanz has called the Brainerd area her home for over 20 years. When she isn’t writing or blogging about food and finances at caralanz.com, she can be found hiking the trails of East Gull Lake with her husband, Scott, and their golden retriever, Penny.

The Brainerd adapted floor hockey team was originally started by John Ward over 20 years ago and is the only outstate team; the rest of the teams they play are based out of the Twin Cities, which can be a challenge. Person says, “It’s tough that we’re drawing from 1,600 students and some of those teams are drawing from upward of 11,000.”

Eight years ago, the Brainerd adapted floor hockey team was in jeopardy of folding. When Person heard the news, he just had to step up and hasn’t looked back since. “It ended up being a really positive thing and seeing the benefit that it had for these student athletes was really cool.”

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3/2/18 8:41 AM

THE 612 STATION

BURGER

CHALLENGE

Brainerd High School students create menu-worthy burgers for a Brainerd restaurant

#BeWarriors

BY SHEILA HELMBERGER

Photos By JOEY HALVORSON

Sure,

chefs Gordon Ramsay and Guy Fieri seem to know a lot about making food.

But nobody knows more about eating it than teenagers. So, it shouldn’t be any surprise when the sports marketing class at Brainerd High School was faced with coming up with a project last semester, they decided to focus on food.

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Specifically, hamburgers. And their creations didn’t disappoint.

Landon Brainerd is the sports marketing teacher at Brainerd High School. In the initial stages of the competition, students were paired up in groups of two to decide on ingredients and name their burgers. The final two would go head to head in a contest in a real restaurant where customers could cast a vote for the burger they preferred, and it would be added to the menu.

Brainerd said he’d never done a food challenge before but when it came time to pick a restaurant, working with BHS teacher Ellen Fussy was a logical choice. Ellen and her husband, John, own 612 Station on Front Street in Brainerd.

“I was honored that they picked the 612. It was fun for us, too,” she says. “I thought it was a really good idea. We were happy to be a part of it. There was a lot of fun buzz

Ellen Fussy, 612 Station owner, explains her business to the BHS Sports Marketing class.

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around the building during the semester because I was in the school, too. It made it kind of exciting.”

The class first narrowed their creations down to the top two to feature at the restaurant for the public’s vote.

Wyatt Andres and his partner, Braden Kramer, made it into the top two with their creation, the Cowboy Burger. Besides the patty, it featured macaroni and cheese bites and Reno sauce, a popular 612 Station original.

“Ours started out with pulled pork,” explains Andres, “but they already had a similar burger at the restaurant. Then we thought about putting macaroni and cheese on it.”

When actual macaroni and cheese didn’t work out the way they’d hoped, John Fussy suggested using macaroni and cheese bites, something 612 Station typically only offers for ballgames and other events.

“IT WAS INTERESTING. WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET MARKETING EXPOSURE OUT THERE FOR SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SELL.” - Wyatt Andres, BHS student The Oldsmobile Burger was the other finalist. “That one was along the lines of a double bacon cheeseburger,” said Fussy, “and they put it on a pretzel bun. Both of their burgers were really, very good.”

Brainerd says the students found

out how essential the ingredients you use in your products are in making sure your prices stay affordable for your customers. Students also learned even the name of a menu item is important and can either attract or turn off the people.

Once the class had narrowed down their selections, they split into two groups, and the marketing piece began. It was time to let people know what was going on and get the customers into the restaurant to try their creations.

“We made posters and menu inserts,” says Andres. “And we did some media interviews.”

The contest garnered local media attention. It was featured in a Facebook commercial and the Brainerd Dispatch.

It was on local radio and featured on “Lakeland News.”

“It happened over Christmas break which was great,” says Fussy, “I saw a lot of the high school kids come into the restaurant for lunch to try the burg-

“THEY CREATED REAL MENU ITEMS, AND THEY GOT AUTHENTIC MEDIA EXPOSURE. THAT’S WHAT THE PROJECT WAS ALL ABOUT.” - Landon Brainerd, BHS teacher ers. I was getting text messages from people not even associated with the school. When customers would come in to eat, they’d want to know more about the burger and the contest.”

Over two weeks, customers could cast their vote for a winner. The Cowboy Burger took home the honors.

“It was a really fun project,” says Andres. “It was interesting. We learned about the different ways to get marketing exposure out there for something you want to sell.”

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Brainerd Public Schools | Spring ‘19

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THE COWBOY BURGER CREATED BY BHS STUDENTS WILL STAY ON THE MENU FOR A WHILE LONGER. GO IN AND TRY IT! Brainerd says he would call the project a success. “I was happy with the results. They created real menu items, and they got authentic media exposure.

That’s what the project was all about.”

He hopes to include more real-world projects in the sports marketing class in the future.

“I’m hoping, as long as we have the class, we’ll do something similar,” he says. Brainerd also agrees with Fussy.

“For me, too, it was great to have all of the kids talking about what was going on outside of the class, and we all really enjoyed getting the community in-

volved. Maybe next year we can do that even more.” Neither of them rule out participating in another food challenge.

And the winning burger? It’s not too late to give that a try for yourself. 612 Station plans on keeping the BHS burger on the menu for a while longer.

And why not? It was created by food

experts.

Sheila Helmberger has been a freelance writer for over 20 years, contributing to numerous publications. She lives in Baxter with her husband. They have three children and three grandchildren.

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MAYA’S TRAVELS 26

Brainerd Public Schools | Spring ‘19

Maya Hermerding, a 2014 Brainerd High School graduate, was sent to Colombia as a Fulbright Scholar.

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Submitted Photos

“Travel

is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrowmindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” -Mark Twain, in “Innocents Abroad.”

While we were experiencing a polar vortex this winter, Brainerd High School graduate Maya Hermerding was enjoying a climate warmer by 150 degrees.

Hermerding, a 2014 graduate, is spending a year teaching English at a university in Colombia as a Fulbright Scholar. In the Fulbright agreement between Colombia and the United States, the U.S. sends recent college graduates to Colombia to teach English.

While in Colombia she is living in the Llanos region, a community she says is not that different from Brainerd. “It’s a region highly dependent on agriculture.

People are predominately one culture, one race. I get lots of stares because I’m obviously not from here,” she laughs.

While other professors at the college speak some English, the district she lives in has about a 3 percent fluency rate in the language.

After graduation, Hermerding attended the College of St. Benedict where she majored in Hispanic studies and political science. During her first semester at college, she decided she wanted to participate in the Fulbright program and she wanted to go somewhere with a Spanish-speaking culture. During a semester studying abroad in Chile, she

traveled to Peru and Argentina, so she said she crossed those off her list first.

While interning as a junior with the U.S. Congress in Washington D.C., she experienced a Colombian Independence Day celebration at the Organization for American States. “That was my first time being submersed in Colombian culture, and I loved it. That cemented it for me.” So, she began the extensive application process.

Hermerding had a little over a month off for the holidays and came home for a week to spend time with family. Then she returned to Colombia to spend some time as a tourist. “I traveled south, north, east and west. Colombia has both an Atlantic and a Pacific coast, so I visited both of those. I saw some of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever visited. She also toured the country’s coffee region and spent time hiking. Air conditioning is not very common in Colombia, so she drinks a lot of water and spends time by the pool to cool off. “I do not wear shorts much though,” she laughs, “People stare at my legs because I’m so fair.”

In high school, she says BHS teacher Dave Borash made an impression during her senior year when he told the students, “Get out. Get out of Brainerd and see the world and when you’re ready

“

GET OUT OF BRAINERD...

SEE THE WORLD

“

BY SHEILA HELMBERGER

#BeStrong

AND WHEN YOU’RE READY TO SETTLE DOWN, YOU CAN

COME BACK HOME.

Hermerding recalls BHS teacher Dave Borash telling his students.

One of Hermerding’s favorite things she has done in Colombia so far was sharing the story of Paul Bunyan.

“Babe the Blue Ox was the weirdest thing to them,” she says.

Brainerd Public Schools | Spring ‘19

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to settle down, you can come back home.”“There’s a quote by Mark Twain that I use to guide myself in life. I’ve adopted it as one of my life mantras, and I love to pass it on whenever possible. It inspires me to keep traveling and never stop questioning. I see the change that I want to make, and I see the society that I want to live in. I knew that I wanted to live abroad. It’s about seeing the world and then bringing it back home,” she explains.

One of her favorite things she has done in Colombia so far was to share the story of Paul Bunyan. “There are a lot of myths and legends here that are important to the region, such as La Llorona, a woman who cries for the loss of her children, and El Silbón, a man who killed his father. If you hear him whistling, you need to get out of there,” she says. She helped her students perform an English-speaking production of Paul Bunyan. “My students practiced so hard. English is their second language, and there were a lot of fun little

“It’s fun to talk to them about our 10,000 lakes and that they freeze over.

It all just amazes them.” phrases that they don’t learn in class.

A lot of colloquial language like ‘folks,’ ‘gee whiz,’ and ‘knock-down, drag-out fight.’” Laughing, she says she’s not sure the audience understood Paul Bunyan. “He was a giant. Babe the Blue Ox was the weirdest thing to them. It’s fun to talk to them about our 10,000 lakes and that they freeze over. It all just amazes them.”

In Colombia, Hermerding lives with a host family, a mother and two daughters, ages 14 and 17.

She says teaching English has helped her appreciate her Spanish teachers from BHS. “I would not be here today if it weren’t for the heart Señora Wiger brings into her classes, the more

demanding nature of Señora Maine, or the sense of fun Señora Qualley brings to learning another language. I admire each of them immensely,” she says.

When her time in Colombia is done, Hermerding says she will return home and apply to law school. Her father is a judge in Aitkin County, and her mother is a nurse in Crosby. She said she admires both, but she’s too squeamish to take the medical path. “The empathy my dad brings to the legal field is something I admire, and it inspires me to follow in his footsteps. I intend to study something along the lines of poverty law or immigration law,” she says.

And, one can only imagine, to do some more traveling.

Sheila Helmberger has been a freelance writer for over 20 years, contributing to numerous publications. She lives in Baxter with her husband. They have three children and three grandchildren.

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WE’RE NOT THOSE KIDS

Brainerd Learning Center apparel sends positive message to community

BY SHEILA HELMBERGER

The

students at the Brainerd Learning Center want you to know they’re not “those kids.” The kind of kids they are, however, is pretty impressive. They’re the kind of kids who can collaborate on a project so quiet but powerful it sends a message to a community and, hopefully, opens some eyes. They’re the kind of kids who can start a business, make a profit, and finish the project in a single semester.

#BeWarriors Photos By JOEY HALVORSON They’re also the kind of kids who can handle themselves well through a round of media attention which includes television, newspaper and magazine exposure.

Macey Whitlock, Jessica Smith, Phoebe Schutey, Abbey Thurstin and Morgan Meyer are not “those kids.”

“They’re well aware that sometimes they, and their school, get a bad rap,” explains Brainerd Learning Center teacher Howie Jacobs. “Sometimes people don’t understand what we do here.

But this project has started a lot of conversations. I’ve been working here a long time, and I get to have that conversation just about every time somebody asks me where I teach.”

Brainerd Public Schools | Spring ‘19

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29

Students attend the Brainerd Learning Center for their studies for a variety of reasons, but the girls say there is a stigma out there, that it’s because they’ve all been in trouble for one reason or another. They want people to know that isn’t true.

Working with volunteers James Thompson and Brook Mallak, the five girls, ninth and tenth graders, participated in a Junior Achievement project last semester that gave them a way to spread their message.

“The whole purpose of the class was that in 12-13 weeks the kids had to come up with a product, sell the product and then liquidate the company,” says Jacobs, “and they did it.”

The girls came up with the idea to create Brainerd Learning Center apparel. The school didn’t have any of

“WE DECIDED THAT WE WANTED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE WERE PART OF THE DISTRICT.” -Howie Jacobs, Brainerd Learning Center teacher

their own and when somebody mentioned the “We’re Not Those Kids” idea they ran with it.

“I think we all agreed on that right away,” explains Thurstin, who created the logo. She says it took about 15 minutes for her to sketch it out with help from the other girls.

“The logo incorporates all of the programs at the Brainerd Learning

30

Brainerd Public Schools | Spring ‘19

Center,” says Jacobs. “We decided that we wanted to let people know that we were part of the district. MLAP is our mid-level program, BLAC is our all-day, everyday program for ninth and tenth graders and AEC is our independent study program for juniors and seniors.”

The girls decided to offer a few different styles of the shirts, from long sleeve T-shirts to hooded sweatshirts to make sure there was something for everyone. Prices ranged from $17 to $35.

“It was very interesting for them. In honesty, it probably took three or four weeks for them to figure out that we were running a real business,” says Jacobs.

“I just thought we were pretending at first,” Thurstin says with a laugh.

“Then all of a sudden we were like wait…what? Are we really doing this?”

Exposure for the project came in the way of an Instagram page and a Facebook page. The girls were interviewed in the Brainerd Dispatch and

by Lakeland Television. They made a YouTube video to promote the program and let people know about their shirts.

“We really liked showing off our school,” says Meyer of the video.

“Everybody on the staff here purchased shirts, and we sold a lot to the community,” adds Jacobs. “Greg Larson Sports were wonderful to work with. They set up the online ordering system for the girls, and the nice thing is they made the shirts as the orders came in. We didn’t have to gamble by ordering a lot of product up front and then try to sell it at the end. Otherwise, we would have had to liquidate extra stock that didn’t sell.”

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“WE REALLY LIKED SHOWING OFF OUR SCHOOL.” -Morgan Meyer, Brainerd Learning Center student

The girls say they put up posters around the building before they even started selling the shirts to let people know they would be available soon.

They agree that paid off when it came time to take orders.

“It was a lot of fun here the day we all got our sweatshirts,” says Jacobs.

“I think the volunteers were kind of surprised that the girls took on this project and then used it to spread a real message.”

The Junior Achievement class was a success, and the five girls created and ran a profitable business. That’s a significant accomplishment for anyone. If you’re still interested in purchasing a shirt, they will be available through the Brainerd Public Schools Foundation website.

“One thing about doing a project like this, with only five students, is that everyone involved had to pitch in to get it all done,” explains Jacobs.

“It was a joint effort for the girls, and everybody stepped up.”

Of course. Because that’s the kind of kids they are.

Sheila Helmberger has been a freelance writer for over 20 years, contributing to numerous publications. She lives in Baxter with her husband. They have three children and three grandchildren.

BILL MUSEL KING OF QUEENS INSPIRING OTHERS TO REACH FOR THE STARS

BY CARA

LANZ

Photos B

y

Bill

JOEY HA

LVORSON

Musel. He’s the guy wh o (literally) the lights keeps o n at Brainerd South Cam High Scho pus. And th ol e boiler an And when d th e an alarm g plumbing. oes off in night, Bill’s th e middle of on the job. the Just anothe an enginee r d a y in the life r in the Bra of inerd Publi c Schools system.

#BeStro

ng

BrainerdPublic PublicSchools Schools | | Spring Spring‘19 ‘19 Brainerd

www.isd181.org 31 31 www.isd181.org

And while his ability to satisfy the heating and cooling preferences of everyone in the building may seem like a remarkable feat, this jack-of-alltrades has a gift for something even more impressive: eyeing potential.

Mr. Miss United States

It’s the potential he sees for girls and women to come out of their shell and overcome their shyness that has kept Bill Musel, along with his wife, Vicki Randall, at the helm of the local and state Miss United States pageants for over a decade and a half.

“So many girls who are just so shy come out of their comfort zones,” Bill says. “They don’t know they can do it, but they really can. They get to the point where they enjoy public speaking. They’re not scared anymore.”

Running pageants may seem like an unlikely side hustle for the longtime school employee, but Bill’s pastimes tend to have a flair for the dramatic. In fact, when he first agreed to help reinstate the Miss Brainerd pageant, it was only supposed to be for one year so he could keep doing what he really loved: theater. That was 16 years ago.

And every year he thinks will be his last, he is reminded why he does it in the first place.

“I’ve had so many girls who put me down for a reference and say, ‘I just aced this job interview; the interview part was so easy for me.’ That’s really the thing that keeps me going back every year,” he says Today, Bill and Vicki run the Miss Brainerd Baxter United States pageants as well as the Miss Minnesota United States pageants. And they’re always on the lookout for candidates

32

Brainerd Public Schools | Spring ‘19

Heading off for the state Minnesota United States Pageant practice in early March were Madison Mikan (left), Miss Teen Twin Cities; Sarah Rohda, Mrs. Baxter; Ann Marie Root, Mrs. Brainerd; Bill Musel and Vicki Randall, state pageant co-directors; and Nikki Mikan, Madison’s mom. The state pageant was held March 16 at Tornstrom Auditorium in Brainerd.

“I’VE HAD SO MANY GIRLS WHO PUT ME DOWN FOR A REFERENCE AND SAY, ‘I JUST ACED THIS JOB INTERVIEW; THE INTERVIEW PART WAS SO EASY FOR ME.’” who can benefit from the experience.

And sometimes the most likely contestants are right under Bill’s nose.

Teachers and tiaras

Like Sarah Rhoda. Sarah is an educational assistant in a teaching position in the Academic Resource Center. She works with students with special education needs in the area of social studies. Even though she has

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been friends with Bill since her second day on the job in 2009, it wasn’t until recently he asked for permission to approach Sarah’s daughter, Emily, about the pageant. “I was like, ‘Sure, but she’s going to say no,’” Sarah recalls with a laugh, adding, “because we’re not pageant people.”

To her surprise, Emily said yes and off they went to orientation. And little did Sarah know at the time, but that first meeting would later propel her to compete, as well. “Something happened at that first meeting. Bill asked a girl a question and she stood up, turned and faced the people and she answered the question beyond what a grown up would do. It was one of those ‘aha’ moments. I wanted

that for Emily. And the more I thought about it, I really wanted it for me.”

After Emily’s first pageant, Sarah decided it was her turn to try — they decided to do it together. And that’s how Sarah Rhoda, a self-proclaimed non-pageant person, won the title of Mrs. Baxter United States 2019. She went on to compete in the Mrs. division of the Miss Minnesota United States pageant, March 14-17 at Tornstrom Auditorium.

Sarah’s battle royal

Each of the contestants in the Miss United States pageants must have a platform, something they are passionate about. At first, Sarah’s was about not letting age hold you back, but soon after she won, she didn’t feel well. “I’m a second-degree black belt, I teach taekwondo, and I was to the point where I couldn’t kick one more time.”

“...IT’S THE SKINNIEST GIRL THAT WINS,’ BUT THAT IS NOT TRUE.”

-Sarah Rohda

A visit to the doctor revealed that Sarah had a blood deficiency which left her with almost no iron and low hemoglobin. Because of gastric bypass 10 years ago, she can’t absorb nutrients the same way. After a blood transfusion, a series of iron transfusions, and a regime of oral iron, she got better.

“When you have a blood transfusion, it’s six hours. You have a long time on your hands, and I kept looking at that blood. What if somebody right here in town gave this blood? I was overwhelmed with gratitude for the donor and it was really life changing. So, I wanted to bring attention to it. It’s my platform now: Giving blood and being aware of nutrition-based

anemia. I would like to talk to bariatric patients; that’s my next goal,” she says.

Reflecting on her experience, Sarah expresses, “I believe I may have said to Bill at one point, ‘Everyone knows it’s the skinniest girl that wins,’ but that is not true. I remember wishing that there was a way that the judges could see how good this makes me feel, how I want this for other girls, and how I’ve changed because it really has changed me for the better.”

So, thanks to Sarah, it looks like Bill is going back for another year.

Cara Lanz has called the Brainerd area her home for over 20 years. When she isn’t writing or blogging about food and finances at caralanz.com, she can be found hiking the trails of East Gull Lake with her husband, Scott, and their golden retriever, Penny.

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