Superintendent Steve Razidlo called them “pioneers” and youth service coordinator for Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program, Abby Geotz, called them “impressive” while future employers can call them workers.

Geotz happily reported the success of 10 Brainerd High School students who have earned their National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) through the Minnesota piloted Work Keys program.

“We’re extremely proud of the kids that have participated and of those that have taken the time to test out and earn their NCRC,” said Geotz.

The Work Keys pilot is aimed at students who are opting to enter the work force following high school graduation and typically students who may be struggling a bit more in school are offered the opportunity to earn their NCRC through three tests important to entering the work force: applied mathematics, locating information and reading information action strategy.

The NCRC is deemed important by many employers who do not require a college degree.

“We have started programs who have built wonderful traditions,” said Razidlo. “Twenty-five years ago we started students working on a path in Advance Placement testing and saw that honored by college and we hope that this group of pioneers that are going through Work Key might act in a similar way and pave the ground for a new currency of sorts for those students who may want to go in to the world of work with their new certificate.”

Students who earned their NCRC include:

• Dallas Barnhart

• Michael Changestrom

• Glen Dosh

• Sarah Kaspar

• Joshua Kasper

• Austin Kubesh

• Mitchell Madsen

• Monty Pintok

• Seth Sax

• Joshua Thelen

Longtime Riverside Elementary Principal Cathy Engler Nault plans to retire effective June 30. Nault served as principal at Riverside for 42 years. Also retiring will be Dayton Larson, custodian at Brainerd High School effective May 31 and Jim Marohn, a Forestview custodian effective Sept. 28.

Approved the following gifts and grants: Donation from sports boosters of $5273.70 for girl’s basketball uniforms, high school track equipment and high school ski equipment; Lowell students participated in fundraising events and donated monies to the following charities: $3226.41 to Jump for Heart, $447.23 to March of Dimes, $400 to Salvation Armory Food Shelf, $436 to Camp Confidence; Donation from the Sertoma Sunrise Club of $250 for the Early Childhood Coalition; Donation from an anonymous donor of $50 for the eighth grade Anne Frank field trip; Donation from the Lowell Elementary PTA of $1095 for a new interwrite board.

JESSI PIERCE may be reached at 855-5859 or jessi.pierce@brainerddispatch.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jessi_pierce (@jessi_pierce).