20 | Saturday, June 6, 2026 Elk River Star News
Indira Sivaraj
Parents: Ramya Sivaraj and Sivaraj Sivaramakrishnan Town: Elk River 1. Highlight your involvement in high school classes and extra-curricular activities this past year.
Indira Sivaraj has been selected into All-State five times during high school— including All-State band, jazz band, and orchestra— as well as All-Conference three times including Concert-master on violin and Principal Alto Saxophonist. Band director Mr. Rosner has encouraged Indira to audition and nominated her for several honor bands across the state and country. Indira has also performed with the Minnesota Youth Symphony Orchestra for 8 years, and the Northern Lights Strings for over 10 years.
Indira has been an instrumental part of the Executive Board of the ERHS chapter of the National Honor Society, serving as Treasurer during her senior year and co-founding the Fundraising committee. Indira’ s commitment to contribute to her community has included extensive peer tutoring in various subjects, performing at Senior Centers and Garden Tours, and connecting with research labs across the nation to use scholarship towards impactful goals.
Indira was selected to participate in Cancer and Diabetes related research with the City of Hope Beckman Cancer Institute in California, where she collaborated with a specialized team of researchers on using machine learning algorithms to analyze correlations— she co-authored and published two peer reviewed journal articles based on an algorithm that she helped create with encouragement from her mentors to take the lead.
Indira has also been an integral part of the ERGSD— Elk River Girls Swim and Dive Team— since her middle school years. She finished strong with a top ten finish in the 100 yard Back Stroke at the Varsity Sections this fall season. Her coaches including Coach Odegard and Coach Gilbertson were strong mentors, and Indira was awarded the Elk Award for Athletics given to one senior each year who personifies athletic commitment and contribution to community.
2. What was your most memorable high school experience? Why was it special?
Indira’ s high school experiences in athletics, arts, and academics have resulted in many memorable and significant outcomes; one of the most special experiences, however, has been her being able to nominate and recognize her teachers and administrators who have supported India’ s growth and journey. Indira recently nominated AP Calculus teacher Mrs. Lerud during her Regeneron Science / STEM Talent Search application process, which led to national recognition for one of her strongest mentors at ERHS. The Regeneron STS scholarship was also extended to the school so that Indira as one of the nation’ s Top 300 scholars was able to win $ 2000 for Elk River High School’ s STEM department.
Similarly, Indira was selected as a U. S. Presidential Scholar candidate this spring, and was able to nominate AP World History / AP Government and Politics teacher Mr. McGowan as a teacher who had a powerful impact on shaping her perspectives on critical thinking.
3. What are your plans for the future?
Indira was accepted into all of her top choice schools, including Stanford University in California, University of Wisconsin Madison, and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. She has decided to commit to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology( MIT) and will pursue Electrical Engineering along with a double major in music performance, and will have the opportunity to cross-register to take courses at Harvard University as well. Indira will be the first student from the ISD 728 school district to attend these prestigious universities in Cambridge, MA.
Ava Kallunki
Parents: Tricia and
Aaron Kallunki Town: Elk River 1. Highlight your involvement in high school classes and extra-curricular activities this past year.
Since her freshman year, Ava was heavily involved in the Elk River High School community. Her favorite class was Paul Nelson’ s Engineering, Welding, and Manufacturing class, where she was able to develop her own fishing lure— a brand new product. Ava now mass produces her lures and sells them to Lake Superior charter fishing captains through her business AK Spoons and Tackle. Aside from metal shop, she took 13 AP classes and many other college-level courses. Outside of the classroom, she was a key competitor for Math Team, where she placed first individually for the Mississippi Division. Additionally, she had the privilege of serving as the NHS secretary, facilitating many meetings and heading projects that bettered her community, including running many blood drives through the American Red Cross. Lastly, Ava was also a key member in the Elk River DECA chapter. She developed and coordinated the chapter’ s first annual mock competition— a practice competition for younger students to prepare for Districts. The competition is now an annual tradition. Additionally, Ava headed a fundraising project, working with over 100 local businesses to raise $ 2,500
Anderson Yang
Parents: Lao and
Chuexeng Yang Town: Nowthen 1. Highlight your involvement in high school classes and extra-curricular activities this past year.
Anderson has dedicated his weekends to volunteering at funeral ceremonies.
2. What was your most memorable high school experience? Why was it special?
His favorite memories of high school were the times spent laughing with friends in Mr. Kantor’ s English class— an
for the State competition. She also received the prestigious Speaker’ s Bureau Award from Minnesota DECA and placed top 3 in the state for her Sales Project senior year, and top 4 in the state for her role play sophomore year.
2. What was your most memorable high school experience? Why was it special?
Ava’ s most memorable high school experience was a combination of the 4 blood drives she had the honor to run through the American Red Cross. She was able to double the number of blood units collected by ERHS in the 2024-2025, and had an impact on up to 300 lives across the country. She is currently working with Red Cross associates to secure more drives once she is in college.
3. What are your plans for the future?
Ava plans to pursue biomedical engineering through the University of Minnesota Honors Program. She hopes to specialize in cardiovascular regenerative medicine in order to develop bioresorbable heart valves for children with congenital heart defects.
experience that made sophomore year his personal favorite.
3. What are your plans for the future?
His main goals are to get a degree in mechanical engineering and support his family.
Tyler Berklich
Parents: Tim and
Wendy Berklich Town: Elk River 1. Highlight your involvement in high school classes and extra-curricular activities this past year.
This past year Tyler has taken many college level classes, with AP classes, PSEO classes, and a concurrent enrollment class through the University of Minnesota. Tyler has worked throughout the school year at the YCMA, competed on the knowledge bowl team, and was on the track team.
2. What was your most memorable high school experience? Why was it special?
Giselle Clemons
Parents: Melanie Clemons Town: Elk River 1. Highlight your involvement in high school classes and extra-curricular activities this past year.
Giselle’ s highlight of her high school career was her involvement and role in Elk River high schools Yellow Ribbon Club. The Yellow Ribbon Club is an after school club that meets every Tuesday with their advisor Wendy Hidde. Under Ms. Hidde The Yellow Ribbon club, sets up different volunteering events such as teaching mental health seminars at the middle and high schools, working with Thumbs Up, and spreading awareness about the importance of mental health and suicide prevention. Giselle’ s senior year she became the president of Yellow Ribbon, her mission became to revive the club and spread awareness about the topic of mental health. She believes that its not about the size of the difference, but how you create a difference.
2. What was your most memorable high school experience? Why was it special?
Giselle’ s most memorable high school experience has been her work and contributions Elk River high school’ s Elk Buddies. Elk Buddies is a program within Elk River high school, that host events once a month for the special education community within the school. Through
A memorable experience for Tyler was going to knowledge bowl state. It was special because he was able to be with friends.
3. What are your plans for the future?
Tyler’ s plans for the future are to go to law school and work as a lawyer.
this program, Giselle and a couple of other students at Elk River high school have been able to bridge the gap between the special education community and the mainstream community within the school. Hosting events for homecoming, Halloween, and other various holidays Giselle and a team of students worked together to create a positive and interacting experience for students in the program. This program and experience is very special to Giselle and close to her heart because she has been able to connect with students and build friendships that will last beyond high school.
3. What are your plans for the future?
Giselle’ s plans for the future involve attending the University of Minnesota, she plans to major in Environmental Studies. With a focus specifically in management and ecology. She then hopes to study abroad in France, since her minor is french. Giselle hopes to use her major and minor to give back to not only her local community but statewide. Giselle plans to devote her career and life to fighting for sustainability, she may later decide to go down the path of environmental law and policy making to create an impact in that way.