Como Park Choir sings with famed VocalEssence

By ERIC ERICKSON

• Como Park Choir students participated in a special concert with the Minneapolis musical institution VocalEssence on Feb. 22. VocalEssence director G. Phillip Schoultz, III led selected Como Choir students in a concert at Como with members of VocalEssence. The relationship between Carole Whitney’s choir program and Schoultz’s renowned group is based on the VocalEssence Talented Tenth Apprenticeship Program (TTAP). The TTAP is founded on the W.E.B. DuBois theory that if you train one-tenth of any population, the talent will work its way through the entire group.

Como Choir students selected to participate were Andrew Cardoza, Raphael Forrest, Jacoria Layrock, Natalie Moua, Justine Sanchez, Ethan Wesby, Nasue Xiong, and Titi Yusuf. An enthusiastic and appreciative audience of Como Choir members and other classes from the student body gave rave reviews of the performance. The Choirs will host their next full concert in the Como Auditorium on Mon., Mar. 28.

• The Como Bands and Orchestra under Dr. Phil Fried conducted a performance on Feb. 25 in the school auditorium. An ensemble recital included works from the Band, Jazz Band, and the Strings. The Tri M program, which is the musical honor society, will host its annual variety show on Thur., Mar. 24.

• The Academy of Finance (AOF) continues to engage students with off-campus visits that help connect AOF students to their business components. Fifteen AOF students volunteered at Junior Achievement’s Biz Town on Feb. 19. On Mar. 1, 30 sophomores job-shadowed at US Bank. On Mar. 9, 30 freshmen were part of a site visit and job-shadow at Thomson Reuters, the multinational mass media company in Eagan that has established a business partnership with Como Park High. AOF is a small learning community that provides students an opportunity to study accounting, international trade, business leadership and technology in preparation for college and careers in the financial services industry.

• The Academy of Finance has another new community partnership with the Minnesota United Soccer team, which will make the Midway its permanent home after the completion of the new stadium in the neighborhood. AOF teacher Ms. Kris Somerville has coordinated “Como Night” with United for this season’s May 14 game. Como AOF students and players from both Como’s boys and girls soccer programs will be guests of the team. The team is partnering with Como to provide service and employment opportunities, support existing programs, and potentially develop internships for AOF students.

• Seventeen seniors, who are studying AP Government and AP Macroeconomics, recently returned from a unique and powerful experience in Washington D.C. The participating students were part of the national Close Up program, which promotes civic engagement and uses the capital as a living classroom. Students visited the monuments, memorials, the Smithsonian, the Supreme Court, the U.S. Capitol, and prominent Washington neighborhoods. They had meetings with their Senators and Congresswoman on Capitol Hill, and throughout the week they discussed policy issues with professionals and political experts while interacting with peers from across the nation.

• BKBM Engineers visited Como on Feb. 25 for Engineering Day. The event held in Robyn Asher’s science classroom included a presentation and several instructional hands-on activities.

• Cadets Antania Goff and Kaelah Foreman were representatives of the Como MJROTC at the MSP International Airport for the arrival of Medal of Honor Recipient Thomas Kelley (US Navy - Retired). They were part of the welcoming delegation along with several other JROTC Cadets from Minnesota schools.

• Sophomore Corey Guenther was the Section 4AA Wrestling champion in the heavyweight division. By winning the section, Guenther earned the opportunity to wrestle in the State Tournament held Feb. 26-27 at the Xcel Energy Center. Guenther lost his first-round match in State but concluded the season in the arena every Minnesota high school wrestler wants to be. Coach Tijl van der Wege is confident the young sophomore can return to the Xcel if he continues to work at a high level.

• The Lady Cougars Basketball team won the St. Paul City Conference and the Twin Cities Championship. They defeated Minneapolis Southwest in the Twin Cities Game on Feb. 27 to finish the regular season with a 22-5 record. The Cougars earned the #1 seed for the Section 4AAA playoffs which were beginning as the Monitor went to press. Look for an update in the next issue!