Fier, Stassen named top athletes; Dovre, Rabaey get music honors

Zack Fier and Ireland Stassen were named winners of the Andersen-Christianson Athletes of the Year Award, while Autumn Dovre and Sylvia Rabaey received the Andersen-Christianson Music Award at the annual Dollars for Scholars Senior Banquet on Sunday at Minneota High School.
Recipients of the Andersen-Christianson Athletic Awards must have participated in at least two sports, be a positive leader both on and off the field of play, and follow all rules and regulations.
Recipients of the Andersen-Christianson Music Award must show leadership, participate in music, and be dedicated to the music program and community.
Fier excelled in football and wrestling for the Vikings. He was a 1,000-yard rusher this season and a hard-nosed linebacker, helping Minneota capture the Class A state title. Also a 100-win wrestler, Fier placed third at 152 pounds in the Class A State Wrestling Tournament this year after finishing fourth the two previous years.
Stassen, an All-State volleyball and basketball player for the Vikings, was part of four state titles and a state runner-up in the two sports, including a state championship in volleyball her senior year. The Vikings also made it to state in basketball this winter. Stassen was a 1,000-point scorer as a forward in basketball and had over 1,900 assists and 850 kills in volleyball.
Dovre plays alto and baritone saxophone in band, where she received three letters and was selected for Honor Band several times. She was also in choir and received multiple superior ratings at the Solo/Ensemble Contest each of the last two years. She also was selected for All-State Lutheran choir last year.Rabaey plays the French horn in band and the trumpet in jazz band. She is also a soprano in the school choir and plays the piano to accompany the choir. Rabaey participated in the Solo/Ensemble contest last year and received superior rating in both vocal solo and French horn solo. She also participated this year and received a superior in vocal solo.
The Andersen-Christianson Awards are not chosen by the Dollars for Scholars committee, but all other scholarships are. Bob Andersen, a 1966 Minneota graduate, and Tom Christianson, a 1968 Minneota graduate, were killed in a car accident 53 years ago. Each was heavily involved in sports and music.
The Dollars for Scholars program began in 2001. Every senior that applies for a Minneota Dollars for Scholars Scholarship receives money to further their education. Each scholarship has certain criteria which are followed when selecting the recipient. Some of those criteria might be the field of study the student is pursuing. They may also be awarded based on things the student has already done, such as community service projects or participation in school events such as athletics, drama or music.
Senior Class President Kate Hennen welcomed the visitors to the program. Minneota Dollars for Scholars President Sue Buysse announced the award and scholarship winners and also gave closing remarks.
Over 75 scholarships were given out by Dollars for Scholars.
Scholarship/Award winners:
Andersen-Christianson Male Athlete: Zack Fier
Andersen-Christianson Female Athlete: Ireland Stassen
Andersen-Christianson Music Award: Autumn Dovre and Sylvia Rabaey
Musser Environmental Consulting Inc. Scholarships: Tara Sterzinger and Lilly Moorse
Thurmond T. Thurmond Scholarships: Reagan Bierschenk, Evan Popowski, Michael Pitzl, Peyton Gillund, McKenna Moorse
Ruth M. Przymus Memorial Scholarships: Isaac Pohlen and Kohner Thompson
Curt Breyfogle Memorial Scholarship: Michael Popowski
State Bank of Taunton Scholarship: Ella Bot
Universal Forest Products Achievement Scholarships: Logan Myhre and Joseph Verschelde
Franz Nelson Scholarships (Swede Home Lutheran Church): Lane Loyson
Nels & Junina Nelson Scholarship (Swede Home Lutheran Church): Megan Krog
Friends of Swede Home Lutheran Church Scholarship: Kate Hennen
Educator of Tomorrow Scholarship: Sylvia Rabaey
Dale Yost Memorial Baseball Scholarship: Jackson Lacek
Pete VanVooren Memorial Scholarship: Ezequiel Monzon
Rev. Richard & Mavis Erickson and Family Scholarship (in memory of Mark & Mary Ann Full): Kaitlyn Ludwikowski
Emily Ufkin Memorial Scholarship: Autumn Dovre
Marjorie A. Pesch Teacher's Scholarship: Ireland Stassen
Lyon County Farm Bureau Scholarship: Zack Fier
Schwan's Educational Scholarship: Carlos Martinez
4.0 Bus Service Scholarship: Dylan Vlaminck
Joseph Fischer Memorial Scholarship: Kaci Callens
Craig Ahmann Memorial Scholarship: Lyssa Kremin
Southwest Sportsmen's Club Scholarship: Hudson Scholten
Career and Technical Educational Scholarship: Autumn Tooley
Donny Belaen Memorial Scholarships: Joseph Verschelde, Ireland Stassen and Garet DeBoer
The Jeff and Patricia Peterson Youth in Firearms Sports Award: Evan Popowski
Minneota Wrestling Booster Club Scholarship: Zack Fier
Eagles Scholarships: Peyton Gillund and Megan Krog
Minneota Assisted Living & Home Care Scholarship: Tara Sterzinger
AgPlus Cooperative Education Scholarship: Michael Popowski
Jackie Skillings Memorial Scholarship: Jackson Lacek
PEO Chapter AS Scholarship: Lilly Moorse
Knights of Columbus Scholarship: Sylvia Rabaey
Minneota Dollars for Scholars: Multiple students