46 | Saturday, June 7, 2025 Elk River Star News
Kylie Winkler
Parents: Denise and JR
Winkler Town: St. Michael 1. Highlight your involvement in high school classes and extra-curricular activities this past year.
Girls soccer( JV and Varsity) program leadership squad and JV captain, Just for Kix dancer( elite jazz team), Part-time job at Noodles.
2. What was your most memorable high school experience? Why was it special?
My most memorable high school experience was winning 3rd place at State DECA with my project on cancer treatment technology my junior year. It was memorable because I had such a passion for it, and
Alida Gorder
Parents: Kelly and Dan
Gorder Town: Otsego 1. Highlight your involvement in high school classes and extra-curricular activities this past year.
Alida participated in DECA, National Honor Society, Letters of Love, Readers to Leaders, LEOs Club, and School News.
2. What was your most memorable high school experience? Why was it special?
Alida’ s most memorable high school experience was presenting her DECA community awareness project, Brake the Pattern, at nationals. It was special because she was able to showcase
the connections I made / what I learned through it have guided my future career goals.
3. What are your plans for the future?
Attend the University of Denver to study International Business and Human Health.
the project that she and her team worked on throughout the entire school year.
3. What are your plans for the future?
Alida will be attending Clemson University in the fall to study business.
Kaden Pham
Parents: Heidi Huynh and Devin Pham Town: Rogers 1. Highlight your involvement in high school classes and extra-curricular activities this past year.
Kaden didn’ t do any extracurriculars. He found most classes at school very easy, getting excellent grades without much effort. Kaden used this to his advantage by using the extra time to put more effort into more challenging classes.
2. What was your most memorable high school experience? Why was it special?
Kaden’ s most memorable high school experience was his AP World class. He found the lessons to be incredibly engaging and the class was a different type of difficulty he had
Connor Greni
Parents: Jane and Jason
Greni Town: Otsego 1. Highlight your involvement in high school classes and extra-curricular activities this past year.
Like most of his involvement at Rogers High School, Connor spent the last year dedicated to his DECA program. In particular, this year, he has been an integral part of the
never experienced before. He didn’ t do perfectly in that class, but the experience and friends he had in that class ingrained it into his memories.
3. What are your plans for the future?
Kaden has already enrolled to the University of Minnesota, specifically the College of Science and Engineering. He plans to study computer science and make strides and innovations in the field.
school store through his customer service and management of the finances. Additionally, he found passion in Spanish through his college Spanish 4 class. In this class, he has not only learned a lot but also had a lot of fun.
2. What was your most memorable high school experience? Why was it special?
Connor’ s most memorable moment of his high school career would be his involvement in the 2024
Gwyneth Strassburg
Parents: Michele and Ryan
Strassburg Town: Rogers 1. Highlight your involvement in high school classes and extra-curricular activities this past year.
This past year Gwyneth was involved with the Rogers Varsity Girls Tennis and Basketball teams, as a two year basketball captain. She also held the position of Vice President in the RHS National Honor Society Chapter, along with the Senior Leadership Team for Rogers Breakfast Club. In the classroom, Gwyneth took 4 AP classes this year and 9 over the course of high school, as well as PSEO and CIS classes.
2. What was your most memorable high school experience? Why was it special?
Gwyneth’ s most memorable high school experience was participating in sports
District 4 DECA conference as the Vice President of Entertainment. This opportunity allowed him to foster many new connections while learning a lot about what it takes to be a leader. Not to mention all of the fun he had up on stage. DECA gave him many memories that he will forever cherish.
3. What are your plans for the future?
Connor plans to study Cybersecurity at North Dakota State University in and AP classes. Gwyneth loved being a part of a team with sports because it built community and relationships that went way beyond any competition. Gwyneth loved the challenges that AP classes presented and through this struggle Gwyneth discovered her true passion for science and engineering.
3. What are your plans for the future?
In the fall, Gwyneth will be attending the University of Minnesota Twin-Cities to major in Civil Engineering.
the fall.
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Zoe Welter
Parents: Kim and Max
Welter Town: Otsego 1. Highlight your involvement in high school classes and extra-curricular activities this past year.
Zoe took many PSEO courses this past year to graduate with an AA Degree through Anoka-Ramsey Community College this spring. She also worked two jobs and finished her final season on the Rogers Girls Soccer Team.
2. What was your most memorable high school experience? Why was it special?
Zoe’ s most memorable high school experience was going to Costa Rica for Spanish. She had so much fun being with her friends, exploring new places, trying
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new foods, and meeting the people. Her favorite memory was playing soccer on the beach with local kids in Tortuguero.
3. What are your plans for the future?
Zoe will be attending Bemidji State University for Exhibit and Experience Design with a minor in the Spanish language.
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Sharilyn Aho
Parents: Dan & Jolene
Aho Town: Otsego 1. Highlight your involvement in high school classes and extra-curricular activities this past year. Sharilyn is a PSEO student taking college courses in addition to high school classes. She was on the leadership team of both DECA and LEOs and helped to manage each club at Rogers High School. She also participated in NHS, Readers to Leaders, and other volunteer activities throughout her year.
2. What was your most memorable high school experience? Why was it special?
Sharilyn’ s most memorable high school experience was her trip to the 2025 DECA International Career Development Conference in
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Orlando, Florida. She spent the week competing, meeting new people, exploring new places, and making memories with her friends.
3. What are your plans for the future?
Sharilyn plans to attend St. Catherine University in the fall to complete an Occupational Therapy Assistant program. She plans to work in pediatrics following completion of the program.
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