The Sandbar Storytelling Festival team would like to thank the Saint Mary’s University community for the use of the Performance Center, gazebo, and grounds — as well as for support this past weekend. We welcomed 1,500 guests from throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa — and as far away as Colorado, Illinois, and New York — to the inaugural two-day festival. Faculty, staff, students, and administration are to be commended for making the festival such a success. Special thanks must be extended to Jim Bedtke, Lynette Johnson, and the grounds and maintenance crew, the helpful IT staff, Deb Nahrgang, Kevin Ebben, Carolyn Ayers, Yuly Gonzales, Walter Elder, Niffer Pflager, John Carrier, and Anastasia Goodwin. Thanks also to Jimmy Bickerstaff and the students in CAP499: Jose Velarde, Jack Broaders, and Joseph Shlanta for volunteering over both days, as well as for devising the audience survey. And finally, our gratitude also extends to Cassandra Sepp for her contributions as our marketing intern.
A special shout-out to the winners of the college competition. Emilie Serna, a junior at Saint Mary’s, was the third-prize winner, earning $100; Saint Mary’s senior Joe Shlanta took second prize, earning $200; and Winona State sophomore Kendall Roland took first prize, earning $300 and performing his piece onstage Saturday night.
We look forward to bringing back another round of storytelling next year!
