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State Representative Gene Pelowski Jr.
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8637
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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REP. GENE PELOWSKI RECOGNIZED ON RED WING HIGH SCHOOL WALL OF HONOR
For his high level of achievement as a teacher and state legislator, Rep. Gene Pelowski Jr. (DFL - Winona) will be inducted into the Red Wing High School Wall of Honor this Friday, September 28th.
Red Wing High School students were charged with the task of making selections for this honor. Recent Red Wing graduate Samantha Rother served on the selection committee last year that chose Rep. Pelowski as the next inductee on the Wall of Honor.
"One of the main reasons we chose Rep. Pelowski was for all he has done for education as an elected government official," said Rother. "It is a great accomplishment to be elected to public office in the first place, but his work on behalf of education in our state made him the best candidate for the award."
Rep. Pelowski is honored that he was chosen by current high school students to be inducted into the School's Wall of Honor. "My father, who was the golf professional at Red Wing Country Club when I attended Red Wing High School, and a high school business teacher, is the most excited person in the family. His only regret is that my mother passed away last year and is not going to see this with him," said Rep. Pelowski. "It was in those high school years that my parents and teachers taught me the value of education, civic engagement, and service to my community. I am honored and humbled to have been chosen for this award based on merits I first came to understand as a high school student so many years ago."
After graduating from Red Wing High School in 1970, Pelowski went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree at Winona State University in History and a Master's Degree in Education. He has been a social studies teacher at Winona Senior High School ever since.
Rep. Pelowski has been particularly influential in teaching area students about civic engagement and the legislative process through the Winona Model Legislature he organizes every year at Winona State University. For the past 30 years Pelowski has taught the legislative process in the annual Winona Model Legislature to 120 high school and middle school students from public, private, and charter schools. The project has been a huge success touching the lives of thousands of young people.
"As a teacher at Winona Senior High, I have always encouraged my students to get involved in public affairs, community service, and the political process," said Rep. Pelowski. "Eventually I decided to take my own advice and advocate for my students and our communities as an elected official in the Minnesota House. Twenty-one years later, I can look back and honestly say that I wouldn't have had it any other way."
Pelowski was elected State Representative for District 31A in 1986 where he has served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for over two decades. He currently serves as Chair of the Government Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections Committee. Pelowski's legislative work has focused primarily on education and government reform – with a particular emphasis on higher education, especially at Winona State University. Legislation he has authored has secured new infrastructure, academic programs, and the long-term health and vitality of the University itself.
Rep. Pelowski's father Gene Pelowski Sr., is proud of his son's many accomplishments: "Gene has done so much for the state of Minnesota, his students, and our community," said Pelowski Sr. "He deserves this award for all he's done. I'm very proud of him."
Pelowski Sr. is particularly proud of the work his son has done to help those affected by last month's devastating flooding throughout southeastern Minnesota.
The award ceremony will take place at a pep fest in the Red Wing High School gymnasium at 9:30am on Friday, September 28. The pep fest will be followed by a luncheon in the Summit Room at St. James Hotel at 12:00pm. Rep. Pelowski will then ride in a convertible in the Homecoming Parade at 1:00pm, and will be introduced at halftime during the Red Wing Homecoming football game.
News Items
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI: MINNESOTA STATUTE 12A IMPROVES STATE DISASTER RECOVERY PROCESS AND DISASTER RELIEF PACKAGE - (Posted: 2012-08-24 00:00:00)
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI AND SEN. JEREMY MILLER SUPPORT TWO-BRIDGE PROPOSAL - (Posted: 2012-08-23 00:00:00)
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI: STATE DISASTER RECOVERY PACKAGE SHOULD FOLLOW PROCESS OUTLINED IN 12A AND INCLUDE PUBLIC INPUT - (Posted: 2012-08-16 00:00:00)
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