The breast cancer fundraiser concert Jug Jam returns to Lakeville. See Thisweekend Page 10A
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Thisweek Apple Valley-Rosemount MAY 27, 2011
VOLUME 32, NO. 13
NEWS OPINION SPORTS
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Remembering our fallen heroes Students grow strong, tall Local residents gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
The word hero is often said carelessly to recognize an athlete or movie star. But on Memorial Day, we remember our nation’s true heroes – those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we too often take for granted. Here is a look at a few local citizens who gave their lives in the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Ben Kopp Ever since he was a young boy, Cpl. Benjamin Kopp dreamed of becoming a soldier like his greatgrandfather, Leroy Rogers, who served during World War II. “Ben admired him greatly and wanted to grow up to be just like him,” Ben’s mother, Jill Stephenson, said. Friends and family describe Ben as someone who was very patriotic Ben Kopp throughout his life. In addition to his country, Ben loved fishing, camping and hanging out with friends. An only child, he made friends easily. “Ben was someone who everybody loved, and who loved his country, family and friends,” Jill said. Friends describe him as someone who was extremely loyal and caring. “He was the best friend ever,” said 23-year-old Jenny Boll, who knew Ben since middle school. As a teen, Ben supported her during a particularly difficult time in her life, she said.
“He was always there for me and never judged me,” she said. “He was like that to all his friends.” Ben graduated from Rosemount High School in 2006, and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army where he became a Ranger. After boot camp, Ben was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga., and served two tours in Iraq. Ben was proud to fulfil his life-long goal of becoming an Army Ranger. Ben had hoped that after finishing his duty in the Army, he would work for the CIA or FBI and move by the ocean to settle down – get married, have children and so forth, said friends and family. Ben was never able to achieve those goals. He was serving his first tour in Afghanistan when he was shot in Helmand Province. Ben died July 18, 2009 at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He was 21. Though she misses him terribly, Jill said she is proud of the sacrifice Ben made for his country. “He continues to give me reasons to be proud of him,” she said.
Andrew Wilfahrt The military was the last place Spc. Andrew Wilfahrt’s family thought he’d go after graduating from Rosemount High Andrew Wilfahrt School in 1997. After high school, Andrew was indecisive about a career path and bounced from job to job. See Fallen Heroes, 8A
Sobering reminder at Rosemount High School
School of Environmental Studies seniors find their way through connections to nature by Tad Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Two winters ago, Hannah Oakes and her junior classmates at the School of Environmental Studies were hiking at night despite a brisk chill in the air. They reconsidered the wisdom of the hike when soon they were freezing cold. Just when they might have turned back, they came upon a massive tree. “Laying at the bottom of the tree, I realized how truly beautiful the world can be,” said Oakes, who will be one of two senior speakers at the school’s commencement ceremony June 2. “I’ll never forget thinking about how old the tree must of been,” she said, “how many wars it had stood through, how many lives had passed and yet, the tree stood strong. You never really realize how small you are until you’re laying under the stars at the foot of a tree that’s centuries old. It was truly amazing.” Oakes and Erica Bucki will be the student speakers during the 7 p.m. ceremony that will include students from District 196’s four high schools who completed their final two academic years at SES. The school’s students often rave about the education they receive at SES
IN BRIEF School of Environmental Studies senior speaker Erica Bucki has been out of the country on a field study through the school. Thisweek will feature her story in the next edition along with previews for the Eastview and Apple Valley graduations. because of its lower enrollment and courses tailored to their interests. O a ke s, of Rose- Hannah m o u n t , Oakes said one of the memorable aspects of SES is the field study requirement that takes students to places like Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, Costa Rica and Australia. “You get to be out in the world experiencing everything (our teachers have) taught us,” Oakes said. “I loved my field study because I feel as though it taught me a lot about myself and my relationship with the environment.” Oakes will attend the University of Minnesota-Duluth where she plans to study statistics See Student, 15A
Senior prepares to set sail Rosemount High School graduation speaker aims to enter U.S. Naval Academy some day by Tad Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Photo by Rick Orndorf
The Rosemount Fire Department attended to victims injured in a dramatic car crash simulation to highlight the dangers of drinking and driving during the prom and graduation weekends. The presentation was held on May 19 in the RHS north parking lot and was only for viewing by juniors and seniors. Dakota County law enforcement and emergency personnel, along with local businesses and community members, worked together to provide the simulation for the students. More photos from the mock crash are at ThisweekLive.com.
Long-time music educator leaving district, but never giving up teaching Judy Sagen of Eastview High School will retire at end of school year to begin community choral group by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Though Judy Sagen began teaching music as a back-up career plan, she now views it as anything but. Over the past three decades, Sagen has developed a passion for working with students. After serving as a choral teacher for 36 years in the Rosemount-Apple ValleyGeneral 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
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Eagan School District, Sagen, 58, plans to retire at the end of the school year to start a community choral group and oversee student teachers at the University of Minnesota. “I feel like I’m retiring from District 196 but not retiring retiring,” Sagen, an Apple Valley resident, said. “I hope to still continue to be active in music.” Music is not only a passion for Sagen, it runs through her veins. Her great grandmother played piano at showings of silent films on Broadway, and her great uncle, a child prodigy, played piano at Carnegie Hall when he was 11. Sagen’s mother also inherited the music gene and played violin in an orchestra in California.
When Sagen was a child growing up Eveleth, Minn. on the Iron Range, she met all sorts of famous musicians, such as violinist Isaac Stern, who would play at her grandmother’s community concert series. It was her family– and childhood music teacher, Dorothy Bourgin – who inspired Sagen to pursue a career in music. Initially, Sagen aimed to earn a degree in music performance when she enrolled at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, but her parents encouraged her to pursue teaching as a backup. After working as a student teacher, Sagen fell in love with the profession. “It’s working with the young people through music that I love most,” she
Judy Sagen said. Sagen’s advice to others interested in pursuing a music career is never think of teaching as a backup. “You need to really want to work with young people,” she said. “It just happened to work out for me.” Sagen began her career at Valley Middle School in See Sagen, 16A
Walking around the halls of Rosemount High School, one senses a feeling of the place. Despite it serving as the daytime home to hundreds of teens every weekday during the school year, it seems small and students and staff greet one another with smiles and hellos. For a transfer student, this atmosphere is a relief. “It is a really welcoming place,” said Anastasia Smith, who transferred to the school after her sophomore year. “All of the rumors were totally true. It is a very kind and accepting community.” Smith will offer the student address during the school’s commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 4, at Irish Stadium. She says people can expect to hear a few metaphors and there’s a twist at its midpoint. “I think people like the unorthodoxness of it,” she said of the address that she worked on over the course of two weeks. “It is funny. Humor is a good thing. I think everyone will enjoy it.” Staff members selected Smith, who participated on the speech team during her ninth-grade and senior years, to give the address after she and
some other “very good” student speakers auditioned May 5. L i k e many of the high s c h o o l ’s 491 sen i o r s , Smith will Anastasia g r a d u a t e Smith to embark on a path that will have many twist and turns. She plans to attend a four-year college, possibly St. Thomas or St. Catherine, and continue exploring her interests in physics, medicine and photography. Her ultimate goal is to enter an exclusive group of about 900 people out of about 19,000 applicants who are selected each year to attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. She had an interest in applying to the academy since joining the Navy Sea Cadets her sophomore year. Her father, Guy, was a member of the U.S. Navy for 10 years. Her mother, Jean, was in the U.S. Army for four years. Whatever path Smith takes one can be sure she will never forget the words she passed on to her classmates on graduation day. Tad Johnson is at editor. thisweek@ecm-inc.com.