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From the garage to the classroom: Auto body careers come full circle at 916
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BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
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Nearly 1,000 high school juniors and seniors across 13 school districts can gain a competitive advantage over their peers at the 916 Career and Tech Center located on the East Campus of Century College. The school offers a variety of programs, including: Information technology, animation and game design; entrepreneurship, travel and social media marketing; cosmetology; construction; welding; criminal justice and law enforcement; dental careers; emergency medical technician; medical careers series and more. “My goal for all my students, and I think our overall goal for 916 Career and Tech, is to let students come in, do some of this hands-on stuff they think they're interested in, and then rule it out or pursue it,” said Dan Burton, the instructor for the Auto and Auto Body Careers program. “Then they don’t go to a trade school right after high school without knowing what they are getting into … Really having them hone in and experience what that industry is like to allow them to make a better decision of what happens after high school.”
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Students have a tasty Thanksgiving To celebrate Thanksgiving, Press Publications asked students from White Bear Lake Area Schools what their favorite Thanksgiving food is. Responses can be found on page 11.
SEE CAREERS, PAGE 11
Mahtomedi dancers set for debut in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
Five dancers from Mahtomedi are almost ready for their big debut on a national stage. Faith Logan, Noelle Logan, Anna Skaja, Wren Richards-Wampach and Brady Wolfgram from Inspiration Performing Arts Center (IPAC) in Mahtomedi were selected to perform in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The opportunity couldn’t come at a more appropriate time, as the studio is celebrating its 20th anniversary this season. “This is just an extra opportunity for them to learn and grow as people and dancers as well,” said Lauren Martin, who has owned the company for nine years. IPAC is a part of a consortium of studios called More Than Just Great Dancing, which offers studios across the nation tools, resources and coaching to achieve “the highest standards” in the industry. Martin explained that one of the other
studios had some dancers perform in the parade previously and had a great experience. Last January, the studio applied for the opportunity by submitting a video, and was notified in February that it was selected. Martin said approximately 550 dancers (ages 14 and older) will perform in this year’s parade. “Dance studios often do national competitions. We do competitions here, too, but in lieu of nationals, we try to find more enriching opportunities for our students,” Martin explained. Back in 2023, 23 dancers danced down Main Street USA at Walt Disney World with Dance the Magic. Dancers also traveled to Poland (in 2014 and 2017) for an international dance festival. The studio is once again planning to go back in summer of 2026. Although some of the studio’s dancers have been to New York City before to take a class or see a show, the parade is a first-time experience. When Martin found out their dancers were SEE MAHTOMEDI DANCERS, PAGE 24
PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
(From left) Brady Wolfgram, Faith Logan, Anna Skaja, Noelle Logan & Wren Richards-Wampach will perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City Thursday, Nov. 27. All five dancers are form Inspiration Performing Arts Center in Mahtomedi.
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