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Lincoln Elementary School for the Arts celebrated its 75th birthday at its current location with school and district leaders, staff and students, and community supporters May 28.

Approximately 250 event attendees gathered in the school gym and auditorium to hear words from current principal, Michelle Zimmerman; assistant principal, Tara Lorence; former assistant principal, Brian Mann, who is also a student alum; associate superintendent of elementary schools, Dr. Mary Wolverton; and the Mayor of Anoka, Erik Skogquist.

“ For three-quarters of a century, Lincoln Elementary has been more than just a building. We honor the teachers and staff – past and present – who have dedicated their lives to this noble profession,” said Wolverton, associate superintendent of elementary schools at Anoka-Hennepin.“ Additionally, we are grateful to the parents and guardians, who have partnered with us and supported our mission, making Lincoln Elementary a true community. And we honor the heart and soul of this school: The students.”

The event was organized by the Lincoln Elementary Parent Teacher Organization, and included an outdoor welcome from students in the Anoka High School marching band, treats from local food vendors, historical displays, opportunities to contribute to a Lion mural on an expansive canvas to be installed over a school entrance, birthday cake and a DJ coordinating fun dance music and lights for students and families to enjoy.

Five female student-athletes— one from each of Anoka-Hennepin’ s five traditional high schools— have been recognized for their hard work in the classroom and on the playing field or court. The Athena Award is given to one senior female athlete from each participating school who has distinguished herself in a special individual athletic achievement or superior achievements in one or more sports.

Mackenzie Jones is a four-year letterwinner in hockey, track and field, earning two letters in soccer at Andover High School. In 2025, Jones was named a finalist for the Ms. Hockey Award. She finished her career with 44 goals and 89 assists, totaling 133 points in four seasons. Jones was a four-time all-conference award winner, a two-time all-state selection in hockey. She will attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she will continue her academic and hockey career.

Maddy Freking is a four-year letterwinner in basketball and softball at Anoka High School, earning one letter in volleyball. In 2025, she became Anoka’ s all-time leading scorer and rebounder in girls basketball history. She was twice named captain of the basketball team and earned all-conference and all-section honors four times. Freking earned all-state honors once in softball and has been named all-conference and all-section four times. She will continue her academic and softball career at the University of St. Thomas.

Katelyn Wozniak earned three letters in basketball and tennis and will be a four-year letterwinner in track and field for Blaine High School. She earned

Pictured is current principal, Michelle Zimmerman; assistant principal, Tara Lorence; former assistant principal, Brian Mann, who is also a student alum; associate superintendent of elementary schools, Dr. Mary Wolverton; and the Mayor of Anoka, Erik Skogquist; PTO representatives Crystal Scott and Amanda Skogquist; Superintendent Cory McIntyre; School Board co-chair Kacy Deschene and School Board representative Dr. Michelle Langenfeld.

“ Our families and the entire Anoka community have been unwavering in their support of Lincoln Elementary over the years,” Principal Zimmerman said.“ We are reminded that we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us- the students, teachers, and leaders who helped build Lincoln’ s foundation and its heart. We carry their legacy forward every day, in every classroom, with every child. Thank you to our past, our present, and our future.” n

all-conference honorable mention honors as a senior in tennis and the coaches ' award as a sophomore. In basketball, Wozniak was named a team captain her senior season and earned all-conference honorable mention honors as a junior. Wozniak is a four-time all-conference award winner in track and field and was a member of a state championship 4x400-meter relay team as a sophomore. She will continue her academic and athletic career at the University of St. Thomas.

Abby Hibbs is a six-time letterwinner in cross country and track and field, and a five-time letterwinner in Nordic skiing at Champlin Park High School( CPHS). She was twice named team captain of the Nordic ski team at CPHS. She was named MVP of the cross country team six times during her career, qualifying for the state tournament six times. She has earned six all-conference awards in cross country, four in track and field, and five in Nordic skiing. Hibbs will attend North Dakota State University in 2025 to continue her academic and athletic career.

Lily McKenzie is a four-sport athlete at Coon Rapids High School where she competed in cross country, hockey, golf and softball. She has earned five letters in cross country, four in hockey, three in softball and two in golf. She was captain of the cross country and golf teams as a senior and spent two seasons as a team captain of the hockey team. She was named a Ms. Hockey Honorable Mention athlete in 2025 after putting up 24 goals and 25 assists. McKenzie will continue her academic and hockey career at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. n

Three recent Anoka-Hennepin School District graduates received scholarships through the National Merit Scholarship( NMSC ®) Corporation.

Coon Rapids High School- Center for Biomedical Sciences and Engineering( CRHS) graduate Cole Burnett earned the highest honor, being named a 2025 National Merit Scholar.

Burnett is one of just 46 seniors from Minnesota and 2,500 students nationwide to be named a National Merit Scholar, earning the coveted $ 2,500 scholarship from the NSMC. Burnett will attend Purdue University, majoring in materials engineering and kinesiology.

Kieran Hobot, a Blaine High School— Center for Engineering, Mathematics and Science( BHS) graduate, and Elizabeth Mayor, a Champlin Park High School— International Baccalaureate Programme( CPHS) graduate, have earned College-sponsored National Merit Scholarships financed by U. S. colleges and universities.

Hobot will attend the University of Texas at Dallas and plans to study business administration, and Mayor will attend Carleton College, where she plans to study writing.

Cole Burnett

Kieran Hobot

Elizabeth Mayor

College-sponsored Merit Scholarship winners are a part of the distinguished group of more than 6,930 high school seniors who will receive National Merit Scholarships for undergraduate college study worth nearly $ 26 million. n