Asha Blake, Tom Kaluza, Rosann Lorenz, and Craig Sturlaugson will be inducted into the Centennial School District Hall of Fame today, Friday, September 25. Induction coincides with various homecoming events, including a luncheon, pep fest and the homecoming half-time show. The induction will take place at 11:45am at Chomonix Golf Course in Lino Lakes, Minn. The District’s Hall of Fame recognizes its alumni and members of the community for their professional accomplishments and commitment to our youth and communities.
“Today we recognize Centennial alumni and individuals who have made a significant impact on Centennial Schools,” said Brian Dietz, Superintendent of Centennial Schools. “Our recipients demonstrate outstanding professional accomplishments and have a longstanding history of service to the District.”
Asha Blake, Distinguished Alumna, Class of 1979. Blake is an Emmy Award-winning national news anchor and network news and entertainment show anchor/host for the ABC and NBC networks. She’s interviewed world leaders, reported on natural disasters and has conducted celebrity interviews. She was the celebrity ambassador for UNICEF and launched a public service website, “4 My Emergency” which provides a planning guide to help organize personal information in the event of an emergency. Blake began her career in broadcast journalism in the Twin Cities.
Tom Kaluza, Distinguished Service, 1963-1998. Kaluza taught fourth grade at Centennial for 35 years and was named Centennial’s Teacher of the Year in 1969. He’s raised money for Centennial Scholarships, was one of the founders of the Centennial Basketball Association, and today, gives back to the community through volunteer efforts at Loaves and Fishes and at Stepping Stone, a homeless shelter; delivers meals for Meals on Wheels. He also received WCCO’s “Good Neighbor Award” for his work at the Centennial Community Food Shelf.
Rosann Lorenz, Distinguished Service, 1980-1996. Lorenz dedicated her time and talent to found the Centennial Dance Team. The team started out with 12 girls and grew to 50-100 auditioning annually. The team traveled to Hawaii in 1983 with the Centennial High School Band to compete in a parade and placed first. And, the girls danced in the 1992 Super Bowl Halftime Show. The Dance Team continues to be strong today thanks to the solid foundation Lorenz built.
Craig Sturlaugson, Distinguished Service, 1970-2015. Sturlaugson was a Centennial Middle School geography teacher and coach and named Centennial’s Teacher of the Year in 1997. He has coached 123 teams in nine different sports over the past 45 years. His coaching career tallied more than 1,000 wins. Today, look for him teaching behind-the-wheel, to ensure responsible and respectful drivers, or working as an usher at a Twins game.