Making a difference

The recognition of Stuart Nordquist by the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame Saturday serves as a reminder of the role that coaches and other mentors play in our lives.
It makes sense to also acknowledge the many people who provide leadership to the young that aren’t officially recognized with such accolades. They, too, ought to be commended. Whether as a firearms instructor, 4-H volunteer, or church youth group leader, the people who play these roles have a lasting effect.
Most adults can quickly recall someone who helped them grow as a young person. It’s these mentors in our lives that teach responsibility, discipline, and teamwork — attributes that we carry with us throughout adulthood.
The importance of these youth leaders to the future is nearly indescribable, but a quick look at the names and faces of Nordquist’s first football team in 1974 reveals a number of local leaders and important contributors to our community.
Many people in our community serve as role models to our young people. These people possess the qualities that we want to develop in our children and they challenge these youngsters to be the best they can be. They influence mental, physical and spiritual development.
But it’s not without sacrifice that these people provide this service to our community. They give of their time, energy and many times their pocketbooks to ensure that our young people have quality experiences.
Nordquist and the many others who play leadership roles in the lives of our young people are helping to develop our youth into the kind of adults that we will see become our elected leaders, entrepreneurs and community officials.