POST SENTINEL - 2025 spring/summer

Spring/Summer 2025

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Over the years, our AHS Alumni & Friends Association’s committee has been blessed and thankful for those who volunteer with us.

Many have been instrumental in our growth and support of the Austin Public Education Foundation whose umbrella we operate under. Volunteers help and sometimes are key in running many organizations. Whether for your church, neighborhood schools, service clubs, town/city events — the list goes on.

Many of these would not survive without these precious folks.

One such person is DeeDee (Dugan) Marx, AHS Class of 1968. A retired physical education teacher and coach for Austin Public Schools, DeeDee recently stepped down from our committee after serving since 2012. She was also very active on the Austin High School Athletics Hall of Fame board.

We thank DeeDee so much for all she has done over the years!

Our committee of volunteers put together this Post-Sentinel; keep a database of members; assist in the Austin Public Education Foundation’s annual golf tournament; assist in school tours for class reunions (usually three to five every summer); and promote, plan and celebrate Austin High’s “distinguished alumni” every fall as part of Homecoming festivities.

On behalf of our group of volunteers, I want to thank you for being part of this group and for all that you do.

Happy Spring!

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Jumbo Magnatiles, $619.04, Katie Lindsay Read Aloud Materials, $1,125.17, Elizabeth Medrano Literacy Growth: Vocabulary and Science of Reading Enhancement, $2,231.04, Amy Goette Playground Communication Board, $1,583.43, Dawn Pope Supporting the Language and Literacy Development in Discovery Classrooms, $1,660.10, Katie Chapek, Gretchen Erickson, Gabriela Deusangeli, Frances Heilman and Kailey Synoground

Individualized Audio Access, $3,000, Nicole Edwards Advance Academics—Critical Thinking STEM Materials, $410.59, Jamie Zielke Transforming Learning Space: Modern Adaptive Furniture, $2,023.09, Hunter Wentz

Math Games and Manipulatives, $1,128.37, Chelsea Ritter, Chrissy Holtberg, Jake Vela and Brigette Rambadt Decodable Text Library, $2,374.40, Katie Keller 3rd and 4th Grade Carpets, $1,719.25, Katie Keller Barred Instrument Restoration, $576, Nikky Tolde

Decodable Chapter Books, $3,130.47, Stephanie Fehn and Tracy Garry Sound Sponge Quiet Dividers, $4,050.72, Rachel Underwood and Wendy Kosel Organization in the Music Room, $650, Katie Tharp

Classroom Libraries, $20,000, Dewey Schara Maude Hart Lovelace Nominated Books, $500, Alison Witiak BARR U-Time Lesson Supplies, $2,741.53, Dewey Schara Literacy and Brain Breaks, $340.79, Andrea McKichan Orchestra Supplies, $500, Leah Mott Enhancing Math Learning: TI-30XS Calculators, $3,690.60, Lindsey Schaefer, Brandon Drescher and Ashley McLaren

Rifton Adaptive Tricycle, $2,467.50, Lindsey Dahlstrom Science of Reading Instructional Materials, $1,500.16, Christy Halsey Guided Hands Device, $1,402, Krystal Lennie and Samantha Dooley Experiential Play Furniture and Accessories, $976.98, Cassie Leathers

Math Vertical Learning Group Whiteboards and Graphs, $944.79, Felicia Finley Headphones for Horizon, $259.22, Matt Lambaere Testing Accommodations, $1,571.16, Ryan Riedl BARR I-Time Lesson Supplies,

$1,040.05, Dewey Schara EXCEL Classroom Headsets, $580.97, Kasey Ellis

Leveled Readers, Language Arts, $552.89, Virginia Campbell Auto and Small Engines Visual Aids Upgrade, $875, David Heers Packer Profile Seminar Resources, $491.31, Rebecca Deyo Language Arts 9 Classroom Supplies, $317, Alexa Dolan Peterson Food Chemistry Lab, $2,590.94, Christina Ebeling

3D Printer, $1,999, Jessica Bernand

Weightlifting - Team Singlets (Girls and Boys), $1,500, Jacy Bodi

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In January, Gerhart and three others opened Main Street Pinball in downtown Austin next to Rydjor Bike Shop. With a few dozen machines ranging from classics to newer ones, Gerhart’s business welcomed more than 200 people over two days when it opened. For $10, customers can play unlimited games of pinball in one day. Main Street Pinball is open Fridays and Saturdays.

Austin High’s first boys volleyball team — sanctioned by the Minnesota State High School League — started its inaugural season this spring with Thaw as the head coach. Thaw, who played on the AHS club volleyball team when in high school, is the youngest head coach in Austin Packers history. “I am thrilled at the opportunity to lead our boys’ volleyball team into a seson of growth, teamwork and victories,” Thaw told the Herald. Thaw works as an Austin Public Schools success coach for students from the Karen community. The district employs 16 success coaches, who serve as a bridge for families to help ensure student success, such as assisting with interpreting.

Cody Klein

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Katie (Nelson) Ulwelling

Noelle (Baker) Day In recent months, Day has been featured a few times by the Austin Daily Herald for the impact she’s making on many children in Mower County through her nonprofit The Read Seed Inc. The nonprofit’s mission is to “support kindergarten and elementary school readiness by increasing access to high -quality, age-appropriate literature and offering other early literacy supports in Mower County. She and her husband Dan Day (Class of 2007) and their three children reside in Austin. For more, go online at: www.thereadseed.org

Dan Gerlach

James “Jim” Huntting

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Brian Christianson Class of 1997

Patricia Meisel Class of 1955

Barry Rush

Class of 1960

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1970

Sept. 27

1985

Aug. 8-9

2000

1975

Aug. 8-9 Contact: Sara Shaw

1980

Aug. 16 AHS Class of 1980— Austin, MN Contact: d_nellie@hotmail.com

June 28 Facebook: Austin High School Class of 2000 Contact: Heather Johnson

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Major improvements are coming this summer for the Austin Packers tennis teams’ courts at the Wescott Athletic Complex.

In March, the Austin School Board approved a bid for reconstructing Paulson Courts located along Oakland Avenue West.

With the nearly $517,000 project, Paulson Courts — which have degraded pavement creating hazards for tennis players — will be

completely reconstructed but will keep the same 8-court footprint of the complex. Two of the courts also will feature lining for pickleball.

Construction is expected to be done

by August ahead of the fall season for the Austin Packers girls tennis team.

In 2002, the tennis complex was named after long-time coach Keith Paulson, who coached for 27 years and led teams to the state title in 1969 and 1982.

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, ’48, died Jan. 2.

“Reflections: A History of Austin High School” DVD To order, send $20 (plus $3 shipping and handling) to the address below.

Make your check payable to:

(507) 460-1938

Austin Public Education Foundation PO Box 878 Austin, MN 55912

AHS Alumni & Friends Association

P.O. Box 878 ∙ Austin, MN 55912-0878 ∙ (507) 460-1938 email: jeni.lindberg@austin.k12.mn.us

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