FFHS grads still committed to volunteering

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Monday, May 12, 2008

Five years ago this month Fergus Falls High School students, forerunners to present-day students, took part in the Day of Caring program. Today, looking back on their experiences from 2003, many of them see the Day of Caring as a basis for continuing volunteerism.

That’s especially true for Katrina Enderle, a recent graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, and Oriana Zens, a student at the University of Wisconsin, Stout, in Menomonie, Wis.

Five years ago Enderle and Zens were among those pictured in the Daily Journal as part of their Day of Caring activities. The students filled bags while doing river bank cleanup. They also picked up litter in other areas of Fergus Falls.

“I was a high school junior five years ago, and taking part in Day of Caring was very rewarding,” said Enderle, who majored in biology and minored in chemistry at Concordia.

She participated in track and field as a freshman and took part in the Concordia Orchestra for three years.

Zens, an industrial design major at Stout, has run indoor and outdoor track during her college career.

Enderle, who plans to pursue graduate studies, is working this month at Natures Garden World in Fergus Falls. She also works at MeritCare, Fargo, and will be studying for her MCAT exam later this summer.

The Fergus High grads, looking back, say they’re thankful that they took part in Day of Caring. The program is part of the FFHS mission that states, “Both staff and students are encouraged to stretch their academic, professional and personal abilities by setting high expectations and pursuing them rigorously.”

Enderle, after graduating from FFHS in 2004, took her volunteering to the next level as a student at Concordia.

She volunteered as a patient family visitor at MeritCare, was part of the ARC buddy program that included interaction with handicapped individuals, served as a college biology tutor, lined up speakers and health field events as a member of the college Health Professionals Interest Club and spent two semester spring breaks working with Habitat for Humanity at Santa Fe, N.M., and at Fort Myers, Fla.

Zens also has a busy schedule. In addition to track, she’s working at Green Mill and is a member of Campus Crusade, Club IDSA and volunteers at the Catholic Church — while taking a full load of classes. She also has taken part in campus cleanup.

Enderle is the daughter of Larry and Cheryl Enderle, Fergus Falls, and Zens is the daughter of Randy and Char Zens, Dalton.