Dear St. James School Community,
Yesterday was a wonderful day to celebrate our seniors, their accomplishments, and the incredible generosity of the St. James community.
At this year’s Scholarship Assembly, a record $123,250 was awarded to members of the Class of 2026. Even more exciting, 41 different students received at least one scholarship. Since 1991, this community has now provided over $2 million in scholarship support to St. James graduates.
That is something truly special.
These scholarships represent more than financial assistance. They represent encouragement, opportunity, and a community that believes in its students. We are deeply grateful to every donor, organization, family, business, and community member who has helped make this tradition possible.
The Class of 2026 also has much to celebrate academically. This outstanding group of 75 seniors will graduate having earned 842 college credits, with 657 of those credits earned right here at St. James High School with our own teachers. In total, 43 seniors took at least one college class, creating an estimated savings of approximately $278,000 for students and families.
A special thank you goes to our teachers who teach college-credit courses. Your work has created tremendous opportunities for our students and has made a lasting difference in their futures.
As our seniors prepare for their next chapter, we are proud to share that 29 students plan to attend a four-year college, 25 plan to attend a two-year or community college, 18 are entering the workforce, 3 are heading to specialty school, and 1 senior will be joining the National Guard. Among the top schools our graduates will be attending are South Central College, South Dakota State University, Minnesota State University, Mankato, and Minnesota West.
A special thank you also goes to Mr. Fugazzi, Mr. Burman, Mr. Witcraft, and Mrs. Spitzner for their incredible work in helping organize and support this year’s Scholarship Assembly. Events like this require thoughtful planning, coordination, and care, and their efforts helped make the day a meaningful celebration for our students, families, donors, and school community.
Congratulations to the Class of 2026! We are proud of you, we celebrate you, and we are excited to see the impact you will make in the years ahead.
Thank you, St. James, for continuing to show what it means to support our students and invest in their futures.