Brett Penning, formerly of the Kiester and Alden areas, recently volunteered his time and skills for the United States Olympic Team. He offered two weeks of his summer to work with athletes in Lake Placid, N.Y., while they prepared for their upcoming competition in Canada. He was assigned to the Junior National kayak team. He monitored their practices and offered preventative and hands on therapies during his stay.

Penning attended school in Bricelyn, Kiester and graduated from Alden-Conger in 2003. He attended Minnesota State University and went on to achieve his master’s degree at Michigan State University in Lansing, Mich. He currently serves as athletic trainer for Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Ill.