Volume 124, Number 46            Wednesday, December 19th, 2007

Esmond native earns national award at student council meeting
BY ANDREA JOHNSON
Minot Daily News
Les Anderson, principal at Jim Hill Middle School in Minot, has received the Distinguished Service Award sponsored by the National Association of Student Councils. It is the third time in the history of the association that the award has been given.
"It was a complete surprise," said Anderson, who received the award during the state convention in Bismarck on Sunday. His entire family attended the awards ceremony. Anderson has received a number of awards during his career, but this one was one of the most significant, he said.
Anderson began volunteering with the student council association more than 30 years ago and has served in the organization at both the state and the national level. He watched it grow from a small state conference to a very large one with more than 1,200 participants.
North Dakota's student council convention is one of the largest in the United States. Anderson said some programs that started out on the state level, such as a leadership camp held in South Dakota, grew to include participants from other states.
Anderson said he's always believed in the importance of the organization.
"If you're going to be successful, you need to be involved in some sort of community service," said Anderson, who encourages students from Jim Hill to get involved too.
One of Jim Hill's students, eighth-grader Katie Weather-spoon, was elected Class A Middle Level Representative at the same state conference on Sunday.
Anderson said the two previous recipients of the award had both been special mentors for him, so he's especially honored to receive the award they received.
Anderson will display his award-winning plaque in his office and also has a book in his office of pictures showing kids who've participated in the organization over the years.
Anderson, a 1964 graduate of Esmond High School, is the son of the late Harley and Adeline Anderson. His wife, Debbie, is a 1966 graduate of Esmond High School and is the daughter of the late Tony and Marie Bartsch.

Rocco Marano, left, of the National Association of Student Councils in Reston, Va. presented the Distinguished Service Award to Leslie Anderson, right. In the center is Les's wife, Debbie. Les and Debbie are natives of Esmond.

Dollars for scholars
Junice Lysne of Leeds and her daughter, Judy, sit at their table, "A Little Bit of Norway" at the recent Leeds Dollars for Scholars Table Extravaganza.

Jody Gullickson and Lori Nelsen stand by their table, "Breast Cancer Awareness" during the extravaganza. Money raised from this event goes toward scholarships for 2008 LHS graduates.

Warwick kindergarten adopts soldier in Iraq
The kindergarten class of the Warwick School has adopted Senior Airman Rebecca Gutierrez. She is with the 99th Security Forces at Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas, Nev. and is assisting with Operation Iraqi Freedom stationed at Camp Bucca, Iraq.
The class wrote a letter to her, made Christmas drawings and packed candy for her, along with a photo taken by their teacher, Charlotte Franks-Erickson showing the class holding a sign that says "Merry Christmas."
Becky is the daughter of Paul Hanson of Sheyenne and Churck and Mary Greene Trottier of Fort Totten.

Rebecca Guiterriez upon finishing US Army basic training.

Senior Airman Rebecca Gutierrez is a native of this area and has been adopted by the Warwick School kindergarten class. She is pictured here serving in Iraq.

The Warwick School kindergarten class is pictured holding a "Merry Christmas" sign. Left to right, on the ground are Chadd Keo, David Mandan, Warren Greene, Jackson Delorme, Kory Georgeson (holding the sign), Sydney Tollefson, Mariah Redfox, Mallory DeMarce, Klint Georgeson and Julian Hill. On the slide are MaryJane Cavanaugh, Gary Feather and Brielle Ramirez.