Newsletters 2013-14 Focus newsletter, [1] fall | Page 16

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P R E N OA R I- N GN N ET U DSE NOT S DFI S T R I CLT I F E
P KA HE S PIN CH OL
OR

Wallin Education Partners award
27 Anoka-Hennepin graduates
with scholarships

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wenty-seven members of the Anoka
Hennepin School District’s Class of
2013 this month received scholarships from the Wallin Education Partners
(WEP), something that will help the students
afford the rising costs of college. They were
honored at ceremonies held over two nights
in May.
The 27 students representing all five of
Anoka-Hennepin’s traditional high schools,
as well as a handful of other students from
neighboring school districts, will each receive
$4,000 per year during their four years in
college, plus the assistance of Wallin mentors
who will help guide them through the ups
and downs of college life.
The first ceremony, on May 15, honored
Andover and Champlin Park high school seniors, while the second, held May 22, honored
Anoka, Blaine and Coon Rapids graduates.
Both were hosted at the district’s Educational
Service Center in Anoka.
Anoka-Hennepin students have been
receiving WEP scholarships since 2007.
In that time, every one of AnokaHennepin’s recipients have graduated from
college, in four years, according to
Gwendolyn Freed, WEP executive director.
“We feel such joy—for you and with you,”
Freed told the assembled students, families
and staff at the May 23 ceremony. “You are
about to embark upon some of the best years

The 2013 Wallin Educational Partners scholars are:

Richard S. and Kim Brown Scholar
Champlin Park High School
Lane Johnson – North Dakota State University

of your life. College is a time when you will
engage with new ideas and questions, you
will make new friends, you will see new
places. We are so glad to be here with you.”

Enterprise Scholars

The program first began in 1992 when
Winston and Maxine Wallin started a scholarship program at South High School in
Minneapolis for highly capable students from
low- and moderate-income families.
Recognizing a broader need, beginning in
2000, the Wallins extended their scholarship
program to graduates of all Minneapolis public high schools.

Anoka High School
Heather Andryski – University of St. Thomas
Hailee Gifford – University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

The scholarship program was converted to
a private operating foundation and the program continues to grow as additional donor
partners join and provide “named” scholarships representing a few of the corporate
sponsors of WEP, such as Boston Scientific,
Horton Inc. and the Enterprise Education
Foundation.
Superintendent Dennis Carlson said the
WEP recognition dinner is one of his favorite
nights of the school year. He spoke about
how thankful he was to Winston Wallin for
beginning the scholarship program and to
the donors who have helped it to grow.
“The Wallins have made a life-changing
gift to hundreds of students and now they are
making it to you,” Carlson told the students.
“They are giving you an opportunity of a lifetime. We are grateful beyond words.” ■

Anoka, Champlin Park and Coon Rapids high school Wallin scholarship recipients. Andover
and Blaine students were recognized a different night and are not pictured.

Andover High School
Erik Jones – St. Olaf College

Champlin Park High School
Logan Oglesby - University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Wallin Scholars
Andover High School
Nick Erickson - University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Maria Noel – Gustavus Adolphus College
Connor Schlotfeldt – North Dakota State University
Anoka High School
Alysa Cross – St. Mary’s University
Miller LaMotte – St. Olaf College
Blaine High School
Lisa Levoir – Macalester College
Andrew Nelson - University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Kelli Renner - University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Madeline Shogren – University of St. Thomas
Sanjana Varghese - University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Champlin Park High School
Branden Abramson – South Dakota School of Mines and
Technology
Adeel Ahmad - University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Cody Baird - University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Vivian Ma - University of Minnesota, Rochester
Sarah Mrozek - University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Mackenzie Rue - Undecided
Brady Soderstrom – Bethel University
Vanessa Tu – St. Cloud State University
Coon Rapids High School
Brandon Corey - University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Ian Marquez - University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Steven Mueggenberg – College of St. Scholastica
Anna Truong - University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Anoka-Hennepin looks to become Minnesota’s
first ‘Seizure Smart’ school district

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t’s estimated there are more than 500
Anoka-Hennepin students and families
dealing with the challenges of Epileptic
seizures. As a result, Anoka-Hennepin has partnered with the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota
(EFM) to make the entire school district the first
in the state to become “Seizure Smart.”

disorder, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and
Parkinson’s disease combined, according to the
EFM.

“There are students in each of our schools who
deal with epilepsy—who deal with seizures,” said
Superintendent Dennis Carlson. “We’re committed to making sure these students and their families know we are here for them—to support them
and offer them resources.”

Since seizures are unpredictable and can occur
anywhere and at any time, being Seizure Smart
means working with all school staff including
administration, school nurses, teachers, bus drivers and students, in partnership with the EFM.
Anyone who comes in contact with students will
know how to recognize and respond to a seizure of
any kind. In addition, students and families in the
district will have readily available resources at
their disposal.

Epilepsy, also known as a seizure disorder, is a
medical condition that produces seizures affecting
a variety of mental and physical functions.
Epilepsy is more common than autism spectrum

“Parents are also key to making our schools
Seizure Smart,” said Vicki Kopplin, the executive
director of the EFM. “We know it takes all of
us working together to make the best possible

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environment for our students with seizures.”
Since one in 10 people will have a seizure at
some point in their life, training everyone on how
to properly respond to a seizure keeps people safe,
Kopplin said.
“Seizures are much more common than people
realize,” she said.
Free resources available to schools include
seizure recognition and response trainings for
school nurses, teachers and students. In addition,
the EFM provides free resources for parents and
programs designed especially for youth with
seizures. For more information on these free
resources, parents are encouraged to contact
the EFM at [phone] or online at
www.efmn.org. ■

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