Austin residents Jordan Flugum, Jordon Jensen, Seth Peterson, Mike Queen, Kenzie Luna, Corey Todalen and Mike Hanson participated in the SkillsUSA Championships, held in Bloomington, Minn., on April 5-7. The conference was a showcase of career and technical education students through 80 hands-on trade, technical and leadership contests.

State winners were: Jordan Flugum, first place in graphic communications; Seth Peterson, first place in screen printing; Corey Todalen, first place in graphic imaging-sublimation, Mike McQueen, second place in screen printing, Jordon Jensen, third place in computer programming.

Austin High School SkillsUSA Advisory Craig Knippel was named SkillsUSA MN Advisor of the Year.

Class of 1978 reunion

A reunion for the Austin High School class of 1978 will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Austin Eagles. Organizers are looking to get in touch with classmates, including: Tim Adamson, Diane Adler, Cheryl Allen, Jeffrey E. Allen, Jeffrey Jon Allen, Craig Anderson, David Anderson, Debora K. Anderson, Holly Anderson, Kari Anderson Donovan, Kathy Anderson Winkelman, Bobby Arneson, Wayne Barber, Mike Baxter, Virginia Beck Lyng, Diana Blake, Jodi Braden, Sherry Brooks, Beth Burgstahler, Kimberly Camerer Day, Leigh Carpenter, Wendy Christianson.

For a full list of classmates, visit the “Education” section of www.austindailyherald.com. Classmates should contact Ed or Teresa Arnold at 507-433-5300 or ahsclassof78@hotmail.com.

Austin Community Scholarships taking applications

The application deadline for scholarships from the Austin Community Scholarship Committee is June 17. Send a request for an application and eligibility rules to: austincommunityscholarship@gmail.com, complete with name, address and phone number information.

To be eligible, students need to be entering their junior or senior year of college or enrolling in post-graduate studies in the fall. Students must be residents of Mower County, London Township in Freeborn County or Union or Otranto townships in Mitchell County, Iowa. Students attending college away from the eligibility area must have parents who are current residents of the eligibility area.

Scholarship recipients are encouraged to contribute to the organization upon completion of their education. Contributions may be sent to P.O. Box 62, Austin, MN 55912.

Kindergarten readiness program offered

On Tuesday, Austin Public Schools is offering a free parent event allowing parents of children ages 3, 4 and 5 to learn about the skills needed for kindergarten, play games and learn activities they can do at home with their children to help them gain these skills and be ready to learn when they get to kindergarten.

The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation provided a grant to Austin Public Schools to increase the capacity of providers and parents in building skills children need to be kindergarten-ready.

The event will be at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, 306 Second St. NW from 5 to 7 p.m., beginning with a free pizza dinner. Games, activities, resources and prizes will follow. There will be childcare provided for children younger than 3.

Preregistration is required. Call Austin Community Education at 507-460-1700.

Dean’s list

Gabriel Ramirez-Hernandez of Austin was named to the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities fall 2012 dean’s list.