Max Orenstein:
Max attended Groves Academy for his 5th through 8th grade years. He and his family came to Groves hoping to learn more about functioning with Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder. After those four years at Groves, Max was able to successfully transition back to a traditional school in the spring of 1999. He graduated from Hopkins High School in 2003 and went on to studio Mass Communications at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, and graduated with his Radio and Television degree in December of 2007. He was able to land a job in the field immediately following graduation. Max now resides in Des Moines Iowa and is working as a photojournalist for WGO-TV, the NBC affiliate in the area. When asked what he is most looking forward to about this new job, Max replied, “I get to work with an award winning staff of photojournalists, as well as get to help tell people's stories everyday. There's something new everyday, and I'm always on my feet.”
Scott Bean:
Scott attended Groves Academy for his 6th through 8th grad years, then transitioned to Minnehaha Academy in the spring of 1999 and gradated from high school in 2003. He then went onto complete his undergraduate degree at Gustavus Adolphus College with a double major in Russian Languages and Area Studies and Political Science and a History minor. Scott spent his entire junior year of college (August of 2005 through August of 2006) completing his coursework in St. Petersburg, Russia. Upon his homecoming to the United States, he quickly found many opportunities to continue his travels and studies abroad. He returned to St. Petersburg for the month of January 2007 and traveled to Scotland for spring break that year. Additionally, he spent another two months traveling through Russia following his graduation from Gustavus. Scott is now enrolled as a graduate student at the Monterey Institute of International studies, continuing his work on the Russian language, and also picking up German. In the short-term, he plans to return to Russia as soon as possible to further his knowledge of the language and culture. In the long-term, Scott would like to make his career as a Russian/English translator and interpreter.
Ashlee (Gerhardt) and Craig Burmaster:
Ashlee Gerhardt (’03) and Craig Burmaster (’02) were married in June of 2006. The couple met while Ashlee was in 9th grade and Craig in 10th grade at Groves. The high school sweethearts both went on to graduate from Groves Academy. They recently brought their first child, Ava, into the world. “She is wonderful. We love spending as much time with her as possible,” says Ashlee, “Babies are truly amazing. We are loving parenthood and marriage.” Craig is now working for Kraus-Anderson Construction and Ashlee for TCF Bank in the Fraud Department.
Emily Hardeman:
Emily attended Groves Academy from 4th grade all the way through her high school graduation in 2005. She recently graduated from the Aveda Institute of Minneapolis. She faced many challenges while completing her cosmetology license, but persevered on her own accord. She hopes to someday open her own salon with best friend Megan Donnelly, also from the class of 2005.
