Fall 2022 - AHS Post-Sentinel

Austin High School HOMECOMING 2022

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Distinguished Alumni Award

(Left to right) Austin Superintendent Dr. Joey Page; Katie Carter, AHS Activities Director; AHS Principal Dr. Sheri Allen; Linda Nybo Lenz, daughter of the late Clarence Nybo (Class of 1937); Randy Bailey (Class of 1978); and Jeni Lindberg, AHS Alumni & Friends chair. Nybo and Bailey were honored as the 2022 AHS Distinguished Alumni.

It’s hard to believe we have been honoring Austin High graduates as Distinguished Alumni since 2002.

This is part of the AHS Homecoming festivities. In the award’s 19 years (there was no celebration in 2020 due to the pandemic), we have honored many wonderful individuals.

This year was no exception.

Congratulations to Distinguished Alumni honorees Randy Bailey and the late Clarence Nybo.

For me, it is a little of both.

I had to pull out my Austinian yearbook to trigger some memories of my senior Homecoming … 50 years ago is a long time ago. Of course, I remember the Homecoming queen candidates and queen. I remember tearing up while singing “Austin High Gives Hail to Thee.” I still tear up when I hear it. I remember working on the parade floats.

The endless practices of the routine on the football field and marching in the parade. Marching from Austin High to the Athletic Field pumped us up and those along the route.

I remember we played the Albert Lea Tigers in the football game. As we arrived at school that Friday, there were tiger “footprints” painted around the school. There was always a Packers vs. Tigers rivalry. Unfortunately, we lost the game.

Two other people have had a “homecoming” of sorts.

Katie Raso Carter (Class of 1996), recently was named Austin Public Schools’ activities director; and Jamaal Gibson (Class of 2010) has been named head coach of boys basketball.

Class reunions also have their “homecoming” when they get together. I was part of three reunion tours of Austin High.

Many alumni had not been inside the school in years — for some, it was more than 50 years ago.

As I approach my 50th class reunion, I look forward to the “homecoming” for me and my many Austin High classmates.

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Newly crowned Austin High School Homecoming queen and king, Wendy Palma and Tommy Fritz, stand with the 2022 Distinguished Alumni: Randy Bailey and Linda Nybo Lenz, who represented her late father Clarence Nybo.

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Austin Public Education Foundation has had an exciting year!

This past year, APEF has been able to start a new grant due to a generous donation from the estate of Annabelle Benson, a long-time teacher and mentor in Austin Public Schools. Thanks to her generosity, any new instructional staff — whether fresh out of college or new to the school district — will receive a grant to get their classrooms up and running or furnish their classrooms.

APEF hopes this “welcome-toAustin” grant money will assist in encouraging and retaining APS staff.

Jennifer Boysen

Founded in 1990, the Austin Public Education Foundation aims to enhance and expand the educational experience and opportunities available to all K-12 students in Austin Public Schools.

In fall 2020, students were in school two days a week, leading to a little more use of the pantry. Finally, in fall 2021, the pantry took off, with students using it often and the community supporting it.

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exhausted other options.

Under the new levy, per-pupil spending will Without an increase to the increase to $512.70 operating levy, APS would per student, have faced a $3 million deficit creating about next school year, affecting $2.48 million in tax staffing levels, class sizes and revenue. student programs.

Voters had Austin’s operating levy was rejected two prior the lowest in the region at attempts at approving an $42.70 per student, and APS operating levy referendum. officials said the district had APS expects student

enrollment to increase by up to 18 percent in the next 10 years.

This comes at a time when many rural districts are facing declining enrollment.

In the past decade, state funding for local schools has not kept pace with inflation, leaving the school district to manage a

Susan Radloff 1400 19th St. SW Austin, MN 55912

Susan Radloff and Ken Jensen, co-chairs and retired AHS music teachers Philip Burkhart, retired AHS orchestra teacher Brian Johnson, retired AHS choral director Coni Nelson, retired Ellis choral director

budget deficit the last five years.

Superintendent Dr. Joey Page, an Austin High alum from the Class of 1990, welcomed the vote’s results.

“We’re especially pleased we were able to have a dialogue with the community members regarding the needs of our school district,” said Page, who became Austin’s superintendent in the 2021-22 school year. “This dialogue is going to continue.”

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Go online below to fill out your information to be featured in the APS digital communications. www.austin.k12.mn.us/districtresources/alumni-spotlight

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Courtesy of Austin Daily Herald

Austin High’s girls swimming and diving team had numerous members competing at the Class A state finals in November.

Austin senior Olivia Walsh took fifth place in the 50yard freestyle race at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. She also placed ninth in the 100-yard freestyle for which she boasts the all-time record for Austin High School.

Two Packers also competed in the diving competition: sophomores Reese Norton and Alayna Kennedy. Diving in their first state competition, Norton placed 12th; Kennedy took 13th.

Packers swimmer Gracie Greenman also placed 20th at state in the 500 freestyle. Greenman and Walsh also joined Alivia Hemry and Abbie Boysen on a 200freestyle relay team that placed 18th.

Courtesy of Austin Daily Herald

Wescott Athletic Complex and Hass Field at sunset Nov. 7 in Austin.

(Photo by Tim Ruzek)

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AHS History Tidbits

By Wendy Larson

In the early AHS Austinian yearbooks, there are several references to the school farm.

In 1915, the farm had apple trees, grew potatoes, alfalfa, and was use as a laboratory for some high school classes.

At one time--the AHS Agricultural Club--a boys only club --kept two black angus cows there in the barn. Members of the club did chores at the barn on weekends.

In 1921, the athletic field had an orchard.

Not until 1930 was the term “school choir” used at Austin High. Before that, it was known as Glee Club.

Boys were separate from the girls.

In March 1915, the first high school orchestra gave a concert. There were seven students in the orchestra.

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“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:

AHS Alumni & Friends Association P.O. Box 878 ∙ Austin, MN 55912 (507) 460-1938 ____________________________________________________________ Help expand our membership! Let your family and friends know about the Austin Alumni and Friends Association. A one-year membership is only $15 and includes two issues of the P.S. The Post Sentinel.

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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