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Friday, May 16, 2008
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JUNIOR FROSH Top grad Christopher Dens gets head start on his college career Staff Writer When Christopher Dens enters the University of Minnesota next fall, the 18-year-old likely will have earned enough college credits while at Brainerd High School to be considered a college junior.
Dens, the son of Kevin and Cathy Dens of Brainerd, not only successfully completed 13 advanced placement courses during his three years at BHS, but he earned a 4.409 grade-point average in the process and has become the No. 1 graduate of the Class of 2008.
By the time Dens graduates from dental school - his goal is to become a dentist - it may take him nearly the same amount of time for the two degrees that it takes many college students to earn a bachelor's degree.
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Christopher Dens, the 18-year-old son of Kevin and Cathy Dens of Brainerd, participated in a variety of activities and sports at Brainerd High School, including soccer. With his 4.409 grade-point average, Dens is the Class of 2008's top graduate.
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Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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While Dens has much to be proud of, he remains humble about his achievements.
"I just worked hard and got good grades and this is what happened," said Dens. "My goal wasn't to be valedictorian, but it's not a bad thing."
This isn't the first time a Dens has been named valedictorian. Dens' sister, Jennifer, 20, who attends the University of Minnesota, was the No. 1 BHS graduate in 2006. Dens said he feels blessed to have a supportive family. He said his parents have stressed the importance of being an individual for him and his siblings, which includes younger sister Sarah, 16.
High academics marks don't define Dens' entire high school experience. He played the trombone in band and was active in Key Club, Knowledge Bowl, Economics Challenge, BHS Leadership Team and the National Honor Society. He also participated in sports, including soccer, swimming and track. He has volunteered countless hours in a variety of capacities: Serving as the BHS blood drive chair, working in the Soup Kitchen, volunteering at Camp Confidence, bell-ringing for the Salvation Army, working as a Sunday school teacher, singing in his church choir, helping Lincoln elementary students learn to read, participating in Tuba Christmas and working as a volunteer for Fishing Has No Boundaries.
Dens said his parents were active in the Brainerd Jaycees and they would take him along to various projects when he was young, which is how he started volunteering.
"Chris is really down-to-earth," said Catherine Lepel, ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2008. "Students from all different spectrums like Chris. He's a jock, he's smart, he's nice. Everybody wants to be his friend."
"One of the best things for me in high school was the friends," said Dens. "You get exposed to so many different types of people and you can find where you fit in."
Dens plans to major in biomedical engineering at the U of M then go on to dental school. He said he has helped his dad at his dental practice on occasion, which has made him interested in dentistry.
Dens said his favorite classes at BHS were AP calculus and AP physics. Mathematics has always come easy to Dens. When he was enrolled in the Lowell Elementary School enrichment program, the principal took him aside in third- or fourth-grade and taught him algebra because he wasn't challenged enough.
"There are a lot of really good teachers here," Dens said of BHS. "They really care about the students."
Dens doesn't let himself get too worried about things.
"Honestly, I'm a pretty easygoing guy. Nothing ever seems to upset me too much," he said.
Dens' message to the Class of 2008 is to "take life in stride and make the most of it because there's a lot you can't control. So make the most of it."
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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