Triton student to lead state student group

Triton High School Senior Charles Groll will be leading the Minnesota Business Professionals of America group for the next year.

He was elected president of the group at the fall BPA Leadership Conference.

Groll told members of the Triton School Board that he was one of nine candidates for the position and ran his campaign on a platform of networking. While other candidates made flyers and posters as part of their campaigns, Groll said he concentrated on meeting the voters person to person.

The goal of the new officer team, he said, will be increasing membership in the organization.

“Charlie is the first Triton student to be a state officer,” Superintendent Brett Joyce told board members. The BPA program has been operating at Triton for only four or five years, he said.

“I know you will represent the school well,” Joyce said.

“I could not contain my excitement,” said BPA Advisor Rebecca Sandager. “This is a huge accomplishment for Charlie and Triton. Triton should be proud.”

The BPA organization is in 23 states, she said, with the Minnesota Chapter aiming for 2,000 members.

As a candidate, Sandager said, candidates first took a test and then were interviewed by the board. Candidates then gave a two minute speech before all the members of BPA. The next morning there were regional caucuses before the vote.

Groll is also one of two Student Council representative to the Triton School Board.

Also at last week’s school board meeting, Activities Director Don Henderson gave a review of fall activities at the school.

During the presentation a discussion arose about the “sports culture” in schools in general and issues such as playing time and “winning at any cost.” It was decided that the topic should be put on a future board agenda for further discussion.

Henderson also told a board member that being in a cross-country coop with Kasson-Mantorville was a good thing for this year.

Board members asked about fielding a Triton team next year and Henderson said a decision on that did not have to be made immediately. He said if a new agreement were signed with Kasson-Mantorville or another school for cross-country the district would not be able to have its own team for two years.

Regarding soccer, Henderson said it’s coming at some point.

“I think it’s something that’s coming, it’s just when and how,” he said.

Twenty-nine students participated in the Community Education Cobra Soccer Club this past summer.