Gopher 2019 Highlights - Education in District 14

 

Education is integral to so much in life.  Of course, bridge is included!  Fine bridge teachers do so much for our game.  They find and introduce new players to the greatest mind game there is.  They aid those who wish to grow their game to do so - learning more and more about all the intricacies of bridge.  They support and improve our players everywhere.

At the Gopher Regional, a number of our excellent bridge teachers were honored. In our first photo above is Sue Greenberg from Rochester.  Sue and her husband Rich do so much for bridge in so many ways - including supporting our teachers!

 

 

MaryAnn Boardman, of Cedar Rapids, Unit 163, is an ACBL accredited teacher. MaryAnn serves as a teacher, mentor and tournament chair for I/N tournaments.  She has also served in several leadership roles in District 14 and Unit 163.

As MaryAnn was unable to be at the Gopher for this presentation, Nancy Klein accepted for MaryAnn at the tournament.

 

 

Layne Vinje, from Rochester, Unit 103, has been instrumental in supporting entry level bridge and Chat Bridge. For those who are no longer able to get to and from home and bridge, Layne is the bridge chauffeur!  He also acts as a mentor several times a month by partnering I/N players and spends extra time and his own resources to support students. Layne also has served several terms as president in Rochester.

 

 

And finally, our U of Minnesota Honors Bridge coaches, from Unit 178.

 

On top is Matthew Bribitzer-Stull, Honors Dean at U of MN, pictured with his students (Matt was unable to be at the presentation). Professors Eric Hendrickson, Paul Gutterman and Glen Meeden (along with Sue G) are in our second photo. And Eric is solo in our last shot.

 

These U of MN teachers have had a profound impact on junior bridge in Minnesota. They have established the teaching of bridge as an honors program extra curricular activity and have shepherded teams into national competitions.  (One was 9th in the nation in 2018; this year, 4 teams from U of MN plan to compete.)  They have spent enormous amounts of extra time and personal resources to expand learning opportunities for our bridge students. 

 

Additionally, this year Eric put forth mighty effort to raise funds throughout our bridge community and beyond, so that more of our students could have the opportunity to attend the Summer Collegiate NABC in Las Vegas. 

 

Please join me in extending applause and huge thanks to our honored teachers!  We are so grateful to them, and to all the other teachers in our bridge community.  There contributions and efforts are helping to keep our game alive and growing, so that generations to come can enjoy and participate in the magic of our great game.