Day 25 - I get to go to Mound Westonka High School

Today's post is from Megan Krachmer, a sophomore at MWHS

Not everyone gets to be a Mound Westonka White Hawk. I enjoy being a White Hawk and having so much support and pride in my school. I am involved in volleyball, dance, pep band, and DECA. A big part of my high school experience is going to sporting events or even being in them. It amazes me to see how many people do the same. Even when the sports may not be the best in the conference or in the state - people still show up with hope and lots of pride. I know that when I am playing or even dancing that the more people out in the crowd and in the stands the more pumped up I get. 

I think that our school does an amazing job at supporting one another and showing each other what being a White Hawk really means. I know that our school will continue to show other schools that it's not all about winning and getting the trophies or going to state, but that it is about supporting your school and showing pride in what we do. I love growing up knowing that my school is great at cheering the players on. Its a great day to be a White Hawk!

Megan Krachmer

Day 24 - Football Captain speaks about MWHS Pride

Today's post is from senior football captain Ryder Schmidt

There are many reasons why I am proud to be a Mound Westonka White Hawk.  All of which make me proud to walk the halls at our high school everyday.

The biggest reason why I’m proud to be a White Hawk is because of the people here. From the teachers to the students to the coaches, all of them are awesome! The people in the building are always willing to help and lend a hand.  The coaches are some of the best people around. The students are respectful, and everyone I see always has a smile on their face. I have learned more life lessons and skills for the outside world from these people, especially my coaches, than you would believe.

I am proud to be a White Hawk because of the athletics and school spirit. We have some of the best teams in the state when it comes to sports, sending multiple teams and individuals to state each year along with their fans.  In football, where we are not the best in the state, we still get a very good fan base. It means the world to me to see the hundreds of fans in Haddorf when I take the field on Friday nights. The fans and athletes at MWHS make me proud to say that I am a part of White Hawk athletics family.

I am also proud to be a White Hawk because of the academics at MWHS. Every year the students here produce some of the highest test scores in the state. Our school has the reputation of producing great students. It makes me proud to write down on my applications that I am from Mound Westonka High School.

Being a White Hawk is great for many different reasons, from the academics to the athletics to the community. I am proud to say that I am a WHITE HAWK!

Bryan, David and Ryder 

Day 23 - Proud Community Members

Today's post is from Kay Riley, Mound Westonka graduate, community member and parent of four MWHS grads

My husband, Mike and I are both graduates of Mound Westonka High School and all 4 of our children graduated from MWHS, as well.  We are proud and honored to be members of this community and the schools in Mound.  With my embroidery business I have contact with a lot of the students and teams and working with them over the years has been a joy.

Because this blog is sponsored by MWHS DECA, I want to share a DECA story that is very close to me.  My daughter, Megan Dunn, is a 2004 graduate of MWHS.  During her junior year she joined the DECA program.  DECA is what opened her eyes to a great extracurricular program beyond sports (Megan says she was not very athletic) and piqued her interest in marketing.  DECA also brought Megan to Chicago for the first time for a national competition and turned her on to the city where she eventually went to college and lived for the past 9 years.  Megan graduated from DePaul University in 2008 with a degree in marketing.   After working as a brand manager for Expo Dry Erase markers for a few years in Chicago, she recently moved to Los Angeles and is now working for Mattel as an Associated Marketing Manager for the Disney Princess lines.  All this started with the great DECA program at MWHS!

Megan and Kay

Day 22 - A Proud MWHS Alum

Today's post is from Mitch Kern, a 2012 MWHS graduate

It has been two years since I have roamed the halls of Mound Westonka High School but not a single day goes by where I don't think about the people who shaped me into the person I am today. I am a proud Mound Westonka alum.

While in high school, athletics and clubs consumed much of my time outside of my studies. The coaches I was lucky enough to have in baseball and football all had a major impact on the person I have become. The most important aspect I was exposed to in sports was competition. My coaches pushed me to be the best competitor I could be which has translated to the game of life. Competition is all about being the best and athletics has taught me to be the best person, friend, student and worker I can be.

As I alluded to before, clubs also took up a big portion of my time. I take pride in the clubs I was involved with because I was taught a lot by my advisors and fellow club members. My hard work ethic is due in large part to my club advisors that supported me and pushed me to be the best that I could be.

Homecoming week is a week dedicated to pride. It has always been one of my favorite times of the year because of the amount of pride and school spirit everyone expressed. Being part of the football family made homecoming week even more special.The amount of support we received from fellow students and staff was incredible. But what made everything all that more special was the comradery of the team. We were a family and no matter what happened we all had each others backs. My senior year we played every game with the quote, "You mess with one man you got us all, The Boys of Fall", to represent that no matter what happened, we were in it together.

I will never forget the memories I have as a member of MWHS community and the people that helped make them happen!

I take great pride in where I come from. I am proud to be a White Hawk!

Stew, Maggie, Mitch, Kelsea and Mackenzie Kern

Day 21 - White Hawks Football - Playing with PRIDE, Playing for Each Other

Today's post is from Nick David, MWHS Head Football Coach and Dean of Students at Grandview Middle School

As cliché as it sounds, I consider myself one of the luckiest coaches in the world because I get the opportunity to work with outstanding young men on a daily basis as the Head Football Coach at Mound Westonka High School. As a former high school and college football player, my passion for the game of football and what it teaches players is insurmountable. It is no secret that the White Hawks Varsity Football team is once again off to a slow start. After playing Blue Earth Area and Holy Family very tough we have lost lopsided games to both New London-Spicer and Delano. Even with the 0-4 start my players have accomplished so much. Though our record may seem similar to what has been produced over the course of the past 32 season of football at MW, losing does not define a MW football player. Every day MW football players walk the hallways at Mound Westonka High School full of PRIDE.

Though winning is ultimately the goal we have each Friday night when we take the field under the lights, playing with pride and playing for each other is much more important. To me, football is the ultimate team sport because it requires such a unique brand of teamwork. When you’re a part of a football team understanding your role and that of your teammates is critical. Trusting them to do their job is also of utmost importance. On a daily basis we talk a lot about being a “F.A.M.L.Y.” and how if we are going to be successful then we have to be completely selfless and sell out for each other. This selfless attitude that my players embody is very apparent throughout the school and football fields every day.

I have seen a lot of improvement thus far out of my players, and I have no doubt in my mind that they will continue to work hard to get better the rest of the season. I am completely committed to Mound Westonka Football and I firmly believe that we will right this ship very soon as long as we stick together and continue to give our very best effort and attitude.

As I continue to tell my players, football does not build character, it reveals character and I would argue that no other football team exemplifies more character than the MW White Hawks Football Team.

Practice Like A Champion. Play Like A Champion. Live Like A Champion.

GO WHITE HAWKS!

-Coach David

Day 20 - A Senior Who Open Enrolls

Today's blog post is from senior Cassi Behrendt

It is senior year and only the building itself has changed. I walk through the halls and see the same smiling faces from both students and staff. I’m proud to graduate here, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The amount of support I have had from students and staff is remarkable. Mound Westonka High School has made my high school career a breeze. It’s been fun with the donations at the spunky academic pep fests, the school spirit on the always anxious homecoming week, and the sad but happy last days where we say goodbye. So much has happened in these years, and when I look back I will gladly say I graduated from this school.

Some people wonder why I come from Glencoe to go to MWHS, and I say because this is where I want to be. Our school's academics, clubs, and even after school help offers so much more than what I could have received elsewhere. I definitely don’t settle for less, and I haven’t yet regretted going to this school. I want to take this time to give thanks. I want to thank Mrs. Erickson for helping me through my first and second year of 8th grade. I needed so much support and that’s exactly what she gave me. Thank you to Mrs. Kampa for taking her time to help me excel. As a guidance counselor for nearly ¼ of the school she never once made me feel like another student. Lastly, I would like to give special thanks for my mom, Char, who works in the Learning Resource Center for getting this job and convincing me to transfer. There are numerous reasons I’m proud to GO to school at MWHS, but I’m most proud of being A PART of the school.

Char and Cassi

Day 19 - Benefit For One Of Our Own

Today's post is from Crystal Gravelle, a math paraprofessional and NHS advisor at MWHS

What is MWHS Pride?!

Cheers, “Ms. Gravelle, Ms. Gravelle, Ms. Gravelle” ringing out from the stands. Tell me how this doesn’t SHOUT MWHS Pride!

I’m so humbled to be able to write today to share my deepest appreciation for the students, staff, and our community as a whole for being part of such a meaningful night last night. I never imagined I would ever hear the words, “you have cancer” only to find out a few days later it was Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Since my diagnosis in mid-July, I have felt tremendously uplifted and supported not only by the MWHS administration, my colleagues and friends but also by the students and community as a whole! So much of my strength during this battle has come from being able to maintain as close to a “normal” life as possible. Being able to walk through the doors at MWHS and be surrounded by caring and compassionate students and staff has made a great difference.

It’s not easy to walk into a night that’s all about you but last night there was a peace about it. A peace knowing that everyone in the gym was standing beside me, next to me, rallying me on this journey.

Through this battle, I’ve seen so much greatness! Our students and staff genuinely care! Our community, once again, has stepped in and made a tremendous difference with their outpouring of support and generous donations! Having grown up in this community, I’m not surprised by the outpouring of support. I only hope to have the opportunity to give back!

It’s hard to put into words today how truly grateful I am….It’s an easier fight with this army behind me! Thanks for being you Mound Westonka and thanks for being GREAT!

Proud to be a White Hawk!

Ms. Gravelle and her family

Day 18 - R-E-S-P-E-C-T...Find Out What it Means at MWHS!

Today's post is from Molly Carlson, English Teacher, Dance Coach and Link Crew Advisor

In search of some MWHS Pride? Look no further than the 2013 9th Grade Respect Retreat.  I was lucky enough to be one of the advisors at the retreat today, and it was an outstanding experience.  I have taught at MWHS for 14 years, and I have attended my fair share of Respect Retreats.  They are always a positive experience, but as an advisor, that experience can sometimes be clouded by some challenging moments.  In the past, these moments have consisted of leaders who struggle, 9th graders who don't feel like participating, etc.  What were my challenges as an advisor this year?  None.  Not one.  I got to spend the day watching our 9th graders and our leaders, and counting all of the times I felt White Hawk Pride.

I felt pride when the coordinators of the day, who come from Youth Frontiers, trained our senior leaders first thing in the morning.  After about a half hour of training them, one of the Youth Frontiers leaders came over to me and said, "That was the easiest time I've ever had training a group of seniors.  I got about halfway through my training and realized that these guys already knew what to do."  I wasn't surprised by this - our senior Link Crew Leaders are an AMAZING group of leaders.  I am so proud to be one of their advisors, and I feel so blessed that we get to have this group of seniors lead our school all year.

I felt pride when the 9th graders entered the Pond Arena to start off the day.  I didn't notice any stragglers; I didn't notice anyone being negative.  And they stayed this way ALL day.  They participated in every activity, and they did it with a positive attitude.  There were many ways in which the idea of respect was discussed throughout the day...and I think our 9th graders actually GOT it.

I felt pride near the end of the day when the leaders and 9th graders participated in the "campfire." It quickly became apparent that there were some respect issues going on in the 9th grade class that needed to be addressed.  I was amazed at some of the maturity I saw coming from those students who bravely entered the center of the circle and made some pretty profound statements.  I truly believe that things might just change for the better with this group of 9th graders going forward.

I felt a sense of personal pride when one of the 9th graders made a reference at the campfire to a discussion we had a few weeks ago in my English class.  We had just read a book about a boy with Autism.  Our discussion had been about the fact that none of us are really that different from each other - we can all find SOME way to identify with every person we meet.  This 9th grader reminded us all of this idea...like I said before, I think our 9th graders actually internalized this whole idea of what it means to respect one another.

I felt pride as I saw some of our senior leaders get up and move across the circle during the campfire...just to give a pat on the back to a few of the brave 9th graders who had gotten up and said something that took a lot of courage to say.  That was true leadership - it was amazing to watch.

I felt pride as I handed out buttons that say RESPECT to each of the 9th graders as they boarded the bus at the end of the retreat.  They all seemed excited about these buttons.  Sure, everyone likes to get free stuff, but I think it was more than that.  I think they are excited about the idea of coming together as a class and moving through their next four years at MWHS with a little more unity and a lot more respect.

There are so many reasons I am proud to be a White Hawk.  Today reminded me of many of those reasons.  Thank you to our 9th graders, and thank you to our senior leaders.  I'm so lucky to get to work with all of you. #MWHS Pride

Freshmen and Seniors at the Respect Retreat