22 | Saturday, June 6, 2026 Elk River Star News
Jillian Roberts
Parents: Tanya Burdine and Keith Roberts Town: Elk River 1. Highlight your involvement in high school classes and extra-curricular activities this past year.
Jillian has been taking Honors, AP, and college courses throughout her 4 years of high school. She also has an interest in Jewelry, and took 3 jewelry classes and designed and created many pieces. Jillian loves hockey, so during her Junior year, she became a manager for the Girls Hockey team, and continued in her Senior year.
2. What was your most memorable high school experience? Why was it special?
Jillian’ s most memorable high school experience was managing the Girls Hockey team. It helped her grow, and learn valuable skills
Mya Nelson
Parents: Joe and Deanna
Nelson Town: Nowthen 1. Highlight your involvement in high school classes and extra-curricular activities this past year.
During high school, Mya challenged herself academically by taking a wide variety of courses, including a combination of PSEO college-level courses, AP courses, high school classes, and a Nursing Assistant class. In addition to her academics, Mya was highly involved in athletics. Mya has been a dedicated member of the varsity tennis team since 7th grade. She also ran track for three seasons as a distance runner and played for the 2026 girls flag football team. Mya was also a member of the Elk River National Honor Society for three years. Where she was committed to taking her time to give back to the community.
2. What was your most
Annika Kangas
Parents: Jake Kangas and Mary Kangas Town: Elk River 1. Highlight your involvement in high school classes and extra-curricular activities this past year.
Annika participated in Girls Varsity Golf and National Honor Society that made her into the person she is today. The new friendships, tasks, and being around hockey every day was something Jillian will always remember.
3. What are your plans for the future?
Jillian will be attending the University of Manitoba in the fall. She will be studying Kinesiology. She hopes to pursue a career in Athletic Training after college.
memorable high school experience? Why was it special?
Mya’ s most memorable high school experience was playing on the Elk River Girls Tennis Team. She created long lasting friendships and continued to grow in her sport. She was a 4x Individual State Doubles Participant.
3. What are your plans for the future?
Mya will be attending the College of Saint Benedict, where she plans to pursue a major in Nursing. She will continue her tennis career as a member of the college’ s tennis team.
throughout her senior year.
2. What was your most memorable high school experience? Why was it special?
Annika’ s most memorable high school experience was going to state on the girls golf team her junior year.
3. What are your plans
Breanna Allen
Parents: Chris and Teara
Allen Town: Elk River 1. Highlight your involvement in high school classes and extra-curricular activities this past year.
Breanna took AP Statistics, Physics, Government, Senior Composition, Economics, and Contemporary Literature during her senior year, learning how to persevere through challenges and organize her time. She was on the Swim & Dive team for five years and Track & Field team for six years, competing as a diver and a pole vaulter, developing time management skills and teamwork. She also participated in Book Club, which strengthened her communication skills and critical thinking.
2. What was your most memorable high school experience? Why was it special?
Breanna’ s most memorable experience was going to Starbucks and the strip mall with her best friends on the last day of school. She
Carly Bauer
Parents: Brenda Bauer Town: Elk River 1. Highlight your involvement in high school classes and extra-curricular activities this past year.
She was involved in several AP courses and participated in National Honor Society. She was also a dedicated intern at a local organization where she helped manage social media accounts and community outreach.
2. What was your most memorable high school experience? Why was it special?
Her most memorable experience in high school was being able to intern at a local organization for over two years. Her experience there helped her understand how even a
for the future?
Annika’ s plans after high school is to attend University of North Dakota and major in Health Sciences. Her goal is to become a Physician Assistant.
was able to hang-out with her friends and talk about anything before summer break started. This moment was memorable because it allowed her to reflect on her friendships and build a strong bond with her best friends.
3. What are your plans for the future?
She plans on going to Anoka Ramsey Community College then transferring to St. Cloud to finish her bachelor’ s degree in Electrical Engineering. She is interested in this field because of problem solving and being able to contribute to powering homes. She hopes to compete on the Track & Field team in college while earning her degree.
small amount of effort can have a lasting impact in the community.
3. What are your plans for the future?
This fall, she will go to college to major in architecture and minor in interior design. She looks forward to creating spaces strengthen her community.
Grace Dols
Parents: Shane and Colleen Dols Town: Elk River 1. Highlight your involvement in high school classes and extra-curricular activities this past year.
Grace is actively involved in leadership, athletics, and service through several organizations. Through DECA, she serves as Elk River’ s Chapter President and School- Based Enterprise Director of Finance, helping to oversee 150 + chapter members and four channels of retail that generate over $ 100K in yearly revenue. She is also a part of Minnesota DECA’ s leadership as the State Vice President of Digital Engagement, where she facilitates a conference of 3,000 + attendees while competing at the state level. Grace has placed six times at the DECA District Level, four times at the State Level, and once at the International Level, earning 7th place in Financial Literacy Project Management.
Outside of DECA, Grace serves as Team Captain of the girls’ varsity lacrosse team, helping lead the program to the Minnesota State Tournament for three consecutive years. She also works as a Marketing and Administrative Intern at
Sunalee Johnson
Parents: Lee and Vanna
Johnson Town: Elk River 1. Highlight your involvement in high school classes and extra-curricular activities this past year.
Sunalee has taken multiple college courses, including PSEO courses through Anoka Ramsey Community College, the University of Northwestern St. Paul, Human Physiology and AP Calculus. She enjoyed participating in the Elk River Girls Tennis Team, Yellow Ribbon Club, and National Honor Society.
2. What was your most memorable high school experience? Why was it special?
Sunalee’ s most memorable high school experience was discovering her love of learning, especially in the subjects of literature, math and the sciences.
a local mortgage lender, gaining experience with client management tools like Salesforce while helping train team members on new technology platforms. Additionally, Grace serves as Vice President of the National Honor Society, where she helps lead community service initiatives and volunteer efforts.”
2. What was your most memorable high school experience? Why was it special?
Grace’ s most memorable high school experience was all of her DECA competitions. Most notably during her junior year where she placed 7th internationally in project management financial literacy.
3. What are your plans for the future?
Grace is attending the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities where she plans to major in management information systems and minoring in finance.
Her favorite classes in high school have been Human Physiology, Chemistry, and Literature.
3. What are your plans for the future?
Sunalee is pursuing a major in Nursing with a minor in Chemistry at the College of St. Benedict. She is excited to continue pushing herself academically beyond high school. She hopes to become a registered and forensic nurse and have a career involved in the health sciences.