On Monday, Blue Dragon Academy held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of the new expansion. Business leaders and other community investors attended, touring the new facility and enjoying the energy of young people as they ate their lunch in the space.
Directors Heidi Fink and Madeline Andrews, along with Blue Dragon Academy Board member Kris Frerk, shared the successes of the Blue Dragon Academy program. They currently oversee a staff of 30-35, and have been adding students each week as the staffing increases.
They thanked the Rural Electric Economic Development and Sioux Valley Energy, who together provided a $690,000 low-interest loan for much of the project, and also thanked Alliance Communications, First Bank & Trust, and the community for their instrumental help.
Pictured: Blue Dragon Academy co-director Madeline Andrews (center) cuts the ribbon while Garretson Commercial Club president Megan Rollag (left) and BDA co-director Heidi Fink hold. Representing Rural Electric Economic Development is Angie Nieses (far left) and Sioux Valley Energy is Tim McCarthy (second from left). Representing First Bank & Trust are President Rod Wolforth (front, second from right), Vice President John Brinkman (back row left), and MaryAnn Carlson (back row right). Representing Alliance Communications are Sam Williamson (center left, behind Andrews), who is also on the BDA board, and Kari Flanagan (left of Williamson). Flanagan, along with Andy Hulscher (back, second from right) were representing the Garretson School Board. Also representing the Garretson Commercial Club were Vice President Luke Dreckman (center right) and LeRoy Austin (left, second row). Also pictured: Kris Frerk (left of Rollag) and Todd Fink (back, third from right) for BDA, Merlin Cleveringa of Cleveringa Construction (back, left), and Community Supporters Charlie and Lori Holzapel (3rd & 4th from the left.)
