COLLABORATING FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE PAGE 6
Anoka High School
junior Reese Dehen
named girls swimming
and diving athlete of
the year
Anoka High School (AHS) junior Reese
Dehen has been named 2019-20 AA girls
swimming and diving athlete of the year
with the selection coming during a virtual
all-state banquet held April 9.
Dehen made a lasting impact at the
MSHSL state tournament, earning two
championships. In the 200-meter individual
medley, she successfully defended the state
title she won the previous year, where she
swam an Automatic All-American time of
2:01.16. She also became a state champion
in the 100-meter breaststroke with another
Automatic All-American time of 1:02.07.
Her accomplishments at state weren’t
limited to individual success. Dehen was
an instrumental part of the team’s 200- and
400-meter freestyle relays, both of which set
AHS school records. In the 200-meter relay,
her lead time of 23.52 would have placed
fourth in the 50-meter freestyle individually.
In the 400-meter relay, her split of 51.07
was the fifth fastest overall in the meet. n
Phase two Fit for the Future projects
underway across the district
Residents of the Anoka-Hennepin School District
voted to make district schools Fit for the Future in
November 2017 by addressing facility needs for
students today and into the future.
This spring, the second phase of building projects
that are part of the district’s Fit for the Future facility
improvement plan will get underway at a number of
schools across the district and will be completed for
the start of the 2021-22 school year.
Anoka Middle School for the Arts will see work
at both campuses. At Washington, a classroom
addition will be constructed, and the school’s gym
and cafeteria will be expanded. Fred Moore will also
have a classroom addition and cafeteria expansion,
as well as the main office and front entry moved to
improve facility safety.
At Champlin-Brooklyn Park Academy for Math and
Environmental Science (CBPA), a large classroom
addition will be constructed, as well as an expansion
to the school’s media center, cafeteria, and gym.
The expansion will allow for the removal of portable
classrooms at Jackson Middle School (JMS) while
SAFETY, SECURITY, SPACE
CONSTRUCTION
TIMELINE
2018 through 2021
Get the latest information regarding
the Fit for the Future construction
timeline estimates at:
ahschools.us/construction.
also allowing JMS to reclaim a number of classrooms
that CBPA has been using.
River Trail Learning Center at L.O. Jacob will see a
classroom addition constructed, as well as a number
of special education improvements.
During phase two, Andover High School will
see improvements and expansions made to the
gymnasium and fitness spaces.
Blaine High School will see an expansion of
the fieldhouse and fitness areas, as well as the
construction of a new front entry and main office area.
Coon Rapids High School will see the link to the
fieldhouse side of the school completed, as well
as a new fitness center, a new music room, and the
remodel of several classrooms.
All district schools will also see a number of
science, media center and special education
improvements by the end of the 2022-23 school
year as part of the Fit for the Future plan.
For project updates please visit ahschools.us/
FitForTheFuture. n
2018 2019 2020 2021
START OF
SCHOOL
YEAR
Andover High School
Anoka High School
Blaine High School
Champlin Park High School
Coon Rapids High School
New elementary school
New elementary school
All district schools
Andover High School
Anoka Middle School for the Arts
Blaine High School
CBPA/Jackson Middle School
Coon Rapids High School
River Trail Learning Center
CPHS Teacher named
Best Prep educator
of excellence
Champlin Park High
School (CPHS) family
and consumer science
teacher Sadie
Oraskovich has been
recognized with an
Educator of Excellence
award from BestPrep,
a Minnesota-based
nonprofit organization
that focuses on preparing students with
business, career, and financial literacy skills
through hands-on experiences that inspire
success in work and life.
With over 600 educators participating
annually in BestPrep programs, the
Educator of Excellence award serves to
recognize the top 2% of those who go
above and beyond in their commitment
to educating Minnesota youth.
Oraskovich, now in her 13th year at CPHS,
has spent nearly 20 years working in Anoka-
Hennepin schools teaching family and
consumer sciences. She is also the internship
coordinator at CPHS, helping students
secure and navigate a variety of internship
opportunities in the community. n
Anoka-Hennepin’s Athena Award and
Triple-A Award winners for 2020
Five female student-athletes — one from each of
Anoka-Hennepin’s five traditional high schools —
have been recognized for their hard work both in the
classroom and on the court, field or rink.
While the 48th annual Minneapolis Area Athena
Awards will not be taking place due to the COVID-
19 pandemic, it is still important to recognize the
achievements of young female athletes from public
and private high schools across the state.
This year’s Anoka-Hennepin winners are:
• Andover High School: Jamie Nelson.
• Anoka High School: Maddie Mashuga.
• Blaine High School: Madison Schmidt.
• Champlin Park High School: Heather Johnson.
• Coon Rapids High School: Rachel Deters.
Each year, the Minnesota State High School
League (MSHSL) honors student-athletes with the
Jamie Nelson
Andover High School
Maddie Mashuga
Anoka High School
Madison Schmidt
Blaine High School
Triple “A” Award, which honors students who excel
in Academics (3.0 GPA or better), Athletics (at least
one MSHSL-sponsored athletic activity) and Arts
(MSHSL-sponsored debate, one-act play, speech,
visual arts, and instrumental or vocal music). The
award is given to one senior girl and one senior boy
in the state of Minnesota.
Anoka-Hennepin’s MSHSL Triple “A” Award
Nominees:
• Andover High School - Olivia McCarter and
Jack Sharon.
• Anoka High School - Alexandra Bragg and
Ben Urbaniak.
• Blaine High School - Sammi Friedric and
Tony Zhang.
• Champlin Park High School - Georgiana Stammer
and Connor Preston.
• Coon Rapids High School - Rebekah Weimholt
and Reed Smith. n
Heather Johnson
Champlin Park High School
Rachel Deters
Coon Rapids High School