Sportsmanship shows in FF

By Jerry Ness | The Daily Journal

Published Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Last week we learned that the Fergus Falls High School winter sports teams set a conference record by receiving five Central Lakes Conference sportsmanship awards in one season. Congratulations and thank you to the players, coaches and Activities Director Gary Schuler for being such excellent representatives of our school district and our community.

Awards went to boys nordic skiing, boys swimming, girls basketball, girls hockey and wrestling. Both girls swimming and volleyball won sportsmanship awards in the fall, so our athletes have received seven sportsmanship awards for the year so far. The awards are especially meaningful because the athletes and coaches in the conference choose the winners.

Coach Tom Uvaas recognizes the great example and leadership of our athletic director, Gary Schuler. He is a seasoned coach who sees the big picture and reminds us that “yes, performing well is important, but teaching life lessons is more important.” This is what inspires so many of our coaches. The meet or game or race is important, but much more long-lasting are the character lessons that our athletes learn. This is really what keeps them in coaching.

Anyone who has attended any of our games knows that the atmosphere is fun and exciting because of the outstanding fan support and quality of players. Our coaches emphasize playing smart and being classy, win or lose. The Fergus Falls community has much to be proud of when it comes to Otter activities.

Dollars for Scholars

Consider what can happen when a dedicated group of volunteers and a supportive community unite for the benefit of our students: The local chapter of Dollars for Scholars, established in 1991 with a goal of a $544,000 endowment, reached that goal in 2005 and is now aiming for a $1 million endowment. In 1992, DFS awarded five scholarships totaling $2,500 and last week, at its annual spring luncheon, DFS awarded 56 scholarships for $43,688.

The school district would like to thank all of the donors and the DFS board of directors for helping our students achieve their dreams of attending post-secondary institutions. Of the 56 students receiving scholarships, it was amazing for me to hear how many are entering the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. It was also wonderful to hear that a few of these students are going into education.

Congratulations to all of the recipients, and I believe our future is in good hands!

Trends in education

In the most recent newsletter from the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals, there was a list of the 16 trends that will profoundly impact education. Some of these trends are:

n For the first time in history, the old will outnumber the young.

n Majorities will become minorities, creating ongoing challenges for social cohesion.

n Social and intellectual capital will become economic drivers, intensifying comp-etition for well-educated people.

n Standards and high stakes tests will fuel a demand for personalization in an education system increasingly committed to lifelong human development.

n Technology will increase the speed of communication and the pace of advancement or decline.

n Competition will increase to attract and keep qualified educators.

n Understanding will grow that sustained poverty is expensive, debilitating, and unsettling.

n Pressure will grow for society to prepare people for jobs and careers that may not currently exist.

Jerry Ness is the superintendent of the Fergus Falls School District. His column runs Wednesdays.