Cotter High School (Winona, Minnesota)

Cotter High School is the sole Roman Catholic High School in Winona, Minnesota, and is one of the first in the state. Today, Cotter Schools consists of the Cotter High School and Cotter Junior High School. The school opened its doors on September 5, 1911 as the "Cotter School for Boys". Cotter, named for the diocese’s first bishop, Bishop Joseph Bernard Cotter, was a boys school directed by the Christian Brothers of Saint John Baptist de La Salle. In 1952, the Brothers turned the operation of the school over to the diocese and Cotter became co-educational with the combining of the Cathedral Girls High School. In 1953 a new Cotter building was erected and in 1962 an addition was added. In 1992, with help from an endowment from the Hiawatha Education Foundation, the school moved to its current location on the campus of the former College of Saint Teresa, allowing it to add a boarding school component.

Cotter Family

The term "Cotter Family" refers to all the students, teachers, parents, administrators, alumni, volunteers, and church members affiliated with the school. Many of these members are in several groups. Roughly 50% of the faculty are alumni. Roughly 25-50%, depending on the year, of the student body are children of alumni, some third and fourth generations. In 1993, local businessmen, headed by Bob Kierlin of Fastenal, started an endowment fund of several million dollars granting the school a technological make-over and allowing it to move to the Saint Teresa campus.

Relationship in the Winona Area Catholic Schools

Cotter Junior High School serves grades 7 and 8, while elementary components of Catholic education in Winona are regulated by Winona Area Catholic Schools,^[2] who run Saint Stanislaus Elementary School, and Saint Mary's Primary.

Notable alumni

• Brian Conover, owner/CEO of Baked Bread by BC men's fragrance, Class of 2009
• Paul Breza, Roman Catholic priest and founder of Winona's Polish Cultural Institute and Museum, Class of 1959
• Robert Henry Brom, Roman Catholic bishop, Class of 1956
• Donal "Mike" O'Callaghan, former Governor of the State of Nevada, Class of 1946
• Max Conrad, aviator, Class of 1921
• Michael Joseph Hoeppner, Roman Catholic bishop, Class of 1967
• Bob Kierlin, businessman and politician, Class of 1957
• John Sobolewski, NCAA DII two-time wrestling finalist in the 285-pound division and regionally acclaimed author, Class of 2009
• Anne Pellowski, international educator and Kashubian American author, Cathedral High Class of 1951

Cotter presidents

• James. G. Devine, 1991-1995 (Skyway and Golf Tournament Memorials)
• Dr. Jeanne-Marie Fauller 1995-1999
• Sandra Blank, Ann Merchlewitz, and Joan Bernard, interim team, 1999–2000
• Dr. Craig Junker, 2000–2009
• Sandra Blank, David Forney, Pat Bowlin, John Broadwater, Megan Sadowski, and Will Gibson, interim team, 2009–2010
• Jennifer Elfering, 2010-2012
• Sister Judy Schaeffer 2012-present

Trivia

Cotter High School campus

• 91% college placement
• General study and advanced placement curriculum
• Minnesota Conservatory of the Arts (dance & theatre)
• Award winning Math team
• Award winning marching band/field show (Nationwide and Internationally acclaimed)
• Two dozen sports and 23 organizations.
• 90% of students participate in one or more extracurricular activities
• Cross Cultural Ministry/Community service
• Student Exchange program with Shogaku High School in Okinawa, Japan and Liebenfrauschule High School in Cologne, Germany.
• 5-day and 7-day boarding in a safe, modern, family-like dormitory
• The local television station, HBC 25, has its studio in the basement of Cotter's building.

References

External links

• Cotter High School

Diocese of Winona Bishops Ordinaries Joseph Bernard Cotter Patrick Richard Heffron Francis Martin Kelly Edward Aloysius Fitzgerald Loras Joseph Watters John George Vlazny Bernard Joseph Harrington John M. Quinn Auxiliaries Leo Binz George Henry Speltz Churches Cathedral Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona Parishes Basilica of Saint Stanislaus Kostka, Winona Church of St. Adrian, Adrian Church of the Sacred Heart, Heron Lake Church of the Holy Trinity, Rollingstone Church of St. Kilian, Wilmont Township Education Higher Education Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary Saint Mary's University of Minnesota High Schools Cotter High School, Winona Lourdes High School, Rochester Loyola Catholic School, Mankato Pacelli High School, Austin Priests Robert Brom Frederick William Freking Michael Joseph Hoeppner John Hubert Peschges Catholicism Portal