Local students prospering on gridiron, fashion show

Sam Widmer, a recent Wasilla High School graduate, established himself as a leader during his high school career. Now, he is being honored for those same leadership qualities.

Widmer was recently accepted into the prestigious Emerging Leaders Academy, sponsored by the Harold Schafer Leadership Center at the University of Mary. Widmer has enrolled at the University of Mary, which is located in Bismarck, N.D.

"We welcome these new freshmen to our growing University of Mary family and are proud to have them participate in an innovative values-based, hands-on learning experience," said U of M president Sister Thomas Welder.

The leadership center boasts a 100-percent employment rate for graduates, organizers said. A former governor from North Dakota attended the school.

Widmer was a standout for the Warrior football team, and he plans to play collegiately at U of M. The school has been in the playoffs for the last five years, and Widmer hopes to add to that tradition. He is the son of Ken and Kathy Widmer of Wasilla.

While Widmer is prospering on the gridiron, another Valley student is prospering on the runway.

Sara Rose Block recently graduated from the Art Institute of Seattle, with an associate's degree in applied arts for fashion design. She is going to New York City this fall to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology. She is a 2001 graduate of Palmer High School and is the daughter of Dale and Terri Block of Sutton.

While in Seattle, Block participated in numerous fashion shows at the Moore Theatre. She directed, curated and organized a fashion show at Consolidated Works that featured designs by more than 20 independent artists from around the Pacific Northwest and Arizona. She is currently organizing a show at the Bellevue Art Museum.

The show is being held in conjunction with an exhibit exploring fashion as "a new breed of performance art." The show features work by Alexander McQueen, Viktor and Rolf and Hussein Chalayan.

Currently, Block's designs are being sold at two Seattle boutiques, the Vain and Damsel.

In other student news …

KELLY QUINN, of Wasilla, was named to the honor roll at Central Washington University. She had to earn a grade-point average of at least 3.5 to qualify.

Quinn is a sophomore at Central Washington University.

PETER TEGELER, of Wasilla, was named to the honor roll at Central Washington University. He had to earn a grade-point average of at least 3.5 to qualify. Tegeler is a junior.

JOSHUA HOELDT, of Palmer, was named to the dean's list at Eastern Oregon University. He had to earn a grade-point average of at least 3.5 to qualify.

DANIELLE BOOTH, of Talkeetna, was named to the dean's list at Eastern Oregon University. She had to earn a grade-point average of at least 3.5 to qualify.

THERESA BORGESON, of Palmer, was recently named to the dean's list at the University of Idaho. She is enrolled in the College of Education.

SARA SAKIS, of Palmer, was recently named to the dean's list at the University of Idaho. She is enrolled in the College of Engineering and the College of Science.

KIT WORLEY, of Wasilla, was recently named to the dean's list at the University of Idaho. She is enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

CHAD SCHIERMAN, of Wasilla, was recently named to the dean's list at the University of Idaho. He is enrolled in the College of Engineering.

JOSEPH WILLIAMS, of Wasilla, was recently named to the dean's list at the University of Idaho. He is enrolled in the College of Engineering.

TEAGEN KROON, of Wasilla, was recently named to the dean's list at the University of Idaho. He is enrolled in the College of Engineering.

MELISSA ANN-MARIE CHLUPACH, of Willow, was recently named to the dean's list at the University of Idaho. She is enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

JOANNE LAWTON, recently graduated from the University of Oregon with a master's degree in English.