Mounds Park Academy

Wyatt Srsen ’25 Becomes Boys Basketball All-Time Leading Scorer

February 26, 2025

Congratulations to Wyatt Srsen ’25, MPA’s new all-time leading scorer for boys basketball! Srsen passed the threshold of 1,303 during the Panthers contest versus United Christian Academy on Tuesday, February 25.

Now sitting alone at the top of the MPA boys scoring list, Wyatt took a second to reflect on what the accomplishment signifies to him.

“The scoring record means a lot to me, but it’s just a small fraction of what basketball truly means to me and how it has shaped me as both a player and a leader,” Wyatt said. “It stands as a testament to all the hard work I’ve put in over the past four years. I wouldn’t be here without the support of my family, teammates, and coaches.”

“A Remarkable Community”

February 26, 2025

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the February 26 issue of Inside MPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

“MPA is a remarkable community filled with love, compassion, and a genuine interest in the well-being of not only the students but the entire family. While the facilities and academics are extremely impressive, the MPA experience extends far beyond the classrooms. From hallway smiles and community events to check-in emails and sincere gratitude, it’s an environment unlike any I’ve seen. We will be forever grateful our family was welcomed into the MPA family.” –MPA parent review on Niche.com.

Hearing stories like this never fails to make our day. Though this parent’s words are personal, their experience is not singular. Anyone at MPA will tell you that one of the best parts of our school is the joyful, welcoming, family feel. In fact, community, not just a school, is what so many of our students and families come to MPA looking for. Read More

Cretin/MPA/Minnehaha Co-op Takes On State

February 25, 2025

Ending a strong season, the Cretin/MPA/Minnehaha gymnastics team took third place at the Class AA state team competition, held on Friday, February 21, at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul! The team scored 146.25 to earn the bronze medal, just behind state champion Owatonna and runner-up New Prague.

The team wasn’t done there, however, as the following night saw Delaney Cunnington ’25 claim some individual hardware of her own! To cap off her high school career, Delaney’s busy day during the state individual competition was highlighted by a runner-up spot for her floor routine that netted her a score of 9.575!

Delaney’s day, once it was all said and done, contained a fourth-place finish on the beam (9.35), a fifth-place spot for vault (9.525), and 31st on the uneven bars (8.65). The combined scores pushed Delaney to a total of 37.15, good enough for fourth in all-around!

We are beyond proud of the showings turned in by Delaney and the rest of the Cretin/MPA/Minnehaha co-op! The high-level performance of the team matched the representation by the athletes for their respective schools.

One Teacher, One Conversation, One Opportunity

February 20, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

Delivering a senior performance is a graduation requirement at MPA that I treasure. Each one is unique, thoughtful, and deeply personal. While this tradition is a valuable exercise in public speaking, it is, more importantly, a pivotal opportunity for self-reflection. Throughout their preparations, students confront their own growth, challenges, and transformations, fostering a deeper sense of self-awareness and often realizing how much they have changed along the way.

Senior performances don’t just impact the students delivering them—they resonate throughout the entire community. They strengthen school culture by reinforcing values, traditions, and a sense of belonging. They inspire younger students by putting growth, confidence, and resilience on full display. They foster empathy and compassion as teachers, peers, leaders, and families gain a deeper understanding of each student’s unique experiences and perspectives. They also serve as reminders that growth is often uncomfortable and that meaningful change happens when students are held to high standards in a supportive environment. I try to attend every senior performance, and one delivered recently by Wyatt Srsen ’25 profoundly illustrates the journey of self-discovery and transformation that can happen in a positive school community.

With his permission, I am sharing his performance, in its entirety, below. Spoiler alert: grab a tissue!

Growing up, I was a persistent student who found school simple and straightforward. Elementary school came and went without a challenge, and then came middle school, which was more of the same. Despite a few hiccups here and there, middle school passed me by quickly and without any real problems. I had an abundance of friends and good grades, and I never struggled in school. This was all true until COVID-19 hit. I lost connections with friends; my grades struggled more than ever as I struggled to find motivation while being stuck at home with no real human interaction. Seeing this, my parents decided it was time for a change. The public school system wasn’t supportive or challenging, so they thought that private school was the best route for me to become a better student. Despite my efforts to stay with my friends and continue on the same education path, my family ended up deciding that Mounds Park Academy was the place for me. Read More

Parents Association News And Events February 20, 2025

February 20, 2025

The MPA PA is calling for volunteers! One to two volunteers are needed to pick up 15 boxes of books left over from previous years’ used book sales and take them to a donation place of their choice.

Please contact Jasmin Stees at Jasminstees@yahoo.com if available!

Welcome To MPA, Dr. Robert Perez!

February 20, 2025

Welcome to MPA, Dr. Robert Perez! Dr. Perez will hold the position of chief finance and operations officer, and we are thrilled to introduce him to the community.

From what school/organization are you coming?
I am coming from Minnesota State Colleges and Universities: Anoka-Ramsey Community College and Anoka Technical College.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
Serving student needs and advancing education have been my primary goals throughout my educational and professional career. I attended California State University, Dominguez Hills, where I obtained a bachelor’s degree in Business/Public Administration and a Master’s of Public Administration concentrating in Non-Profit Management. I obtained my doctoral degree in Education from Saint Cloud State University, focusing on Administration. I consider my professional experience as being hands-on, gaining experience in various roles in auxiliary services, business affairs and fiscal services. Most recently, I served as vice president and chief financial officer at Anoka-Ramsey Community College and Anoka Technical College.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
From the moment I set foot on campus at MPA, I felt at home. As I toured the campus and met with administrators, the passion for developing students as dreamers and doers was evident. MPA’s commitment to academic rigor, experiential learning, mutual respect, meaningful service, technology, and emphasis on arts and athletics played a key role in my decision to join MPA. Lastly, MPA’s exceptional faculty and staff and their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion align with my values.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA and its students?
My lasting impact would be to play a key role in building upon MPA’s strengths. In my role in particular, I would like to enhance the customer service experience while building an even stronger financial foundation that promotes enduring stability and growth where and when the MPA community feels appropriate. An enduring “reinvestment in our students and the campus” would be my ultimate goal.
Read More

Cretin/MPA/Minnehaha Co-op Heads To State

February 20, 2025

The Cretin/MPA/Minnehaha gymnastics co-op is once again returning to the state meet after winning the Section 4AA team title! The team vaulted to the title for the second straight year, holding off the second-place White Bear Lake by a 143.80 to 141.65 margin.

Delaney Cunnington ’25, a reigning state champion on the uneven bars, again starred for the co-op. Delaney sprang to the all-around title for the meet, totaling 38.225 to advance individually to the state meet. The scoring led her to collect first place on bars and floor while claiming second place for beam and vault. The performances also send Delaney to compete individually in all four events.

Marching on to the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul for the state competition, it will be a busy weekend for the co-op. Cretin/MPA/Minnehaha will first compete in the team championships starting at 6 PM on Friday, February 21, followed the next day by individual and all-around championships, again starting at 6 PM.

Good luck to Delaney and the rest of the team! Tickets to the state competition can be bought here.

MPA All-State And Honors Music Updates

February 20, 2025

Congratulations to Truman Wilgocki ’26, Chali Yang ’26, and Warner Reid ’26, who performed with the All-State Choirs over the weekend! Truman and Chali were members of the Tenor-Bass Choir, while Warner sang with the Mixed Choir.

They auditioned and were selected for membership, attended a week-long camp this past summer, and had a reunion concert at Orchestra Hall. Truman, Chali, and Warner gave a beautiful, expressive, joy-filled performance. All three are members of the MPA Concert Choir and Madrigal Singers.

Finnley Henrikssen-Myers ’28 also had a big weekend singing in the State 9-10 Honor Choir! Finnley auditioned last fall and was selected to be a member of the Tenor-Baritone-Bass Choir under the direction of Marques L.A. Garrett. Read More

Welcome To MPA, Ms. Emily Kang!

February 20, 2025

Welcome to MPA, Ms. Emily Kang! Ms. Kang will take over as the part-time school nurse, pairing with Ms. Deb Stone, and we are thrilled to introduce her to the community!

From what school/organization are you coming?
For the past 10 years, I’ve been at home with our kids.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I worked as a (primarily) pediatric CRNA at M Health Fairview and as a NICU nurse.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
I graduated from MPA in 1996 and attended K-12 here. Now, two of our four children are enrolled—one in fourth grade and another in first grade. MPA was like a second home to me, so when the opportunity arose, I volunteered to fill a need. Now, I’m proud to be on staff as an RN in the health office, helping serve the community. We are deeply grateful for the incredible educators here who spend so much time with our children and work alongside us daily to help shape them into kind, strong humans.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA and its students?
I hope to support the students and staff so that educators can focus on teaching and students can engage in joyful learning.
Read More

Five Things To Know About MPA From Robin H.

February 19, 2025

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a Middle School student at MPA? Let Robin walk you through the top five things he thinks everyone should know about MPA, from his perspective as a seventh-grader!

1. MPA has an amazing theatre program.

Every year, there are many wonderful drama performances and I have participated in them. These performances are not only fun but also a great learning experience. During the last performance, I worked as a lighting technician and the teacher taught us a lot of useful skills. The whole process of performing was really enjoyable!

2. MPA’S robotics team is excellent.

Middle School students participate in the FTC robotics competition, while Upper School students compete in the FRC robotics competition. Our teams have achieved great results in these competitions. I love exploring, designing, and building robots with my teammates. It’s a fantastic experience of collaboration and innovation!

3. We have all-school assemblies.

My favorite MPA school-wide event is SnoDaze! One of the most fun activities during the assembly is when students got to slap whipped cream on teachers’ faces. It’s always hilarious and so much fun! This is one of the events I look forward to the most every year! Read More