May 6, 2021
by Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school
I remember sitting in the bleachers in the upper level of Jenison Fieldhouse at Michigan State University to witness the graduation of my father. At five years old, I had no appreciation for the sacrifice he and my mother made for that to happen. I didn’t know that my dad joined the Navy after high school to help support his family and that afterwards, he worked full time to put his younger brother and sister through college. I didn’t know that over the course of seven years he drove 80 miles round trip to attend classes at Michigan State all the while working a full-time job, leaving my mother to care for three small children. I didn’t know any of that, sitting in the bleachers that hot May afternoon in 1969. But I did know how important college was as I spotted my dad cross the stage to receive his diploma.
MPA seniors, together with the entire MPA community, will celebrate College Choice Day this coming Monday, May 10. Sporting their chosen college apparel, seniors will gather in and around the Upper School Commons to create their college pennants and feast on individually pre-packaged cookies and beverages. “This class has my heart,” says director of college counseling, Lisa Pederson. “The pandemic literally shut down campuses last spring break as many were arriving to tour campuses. They rebounded and conducted the rest of their college search almost entirely online, demonstrating an amazing degree of resilience, imagination, determination, optimism, and support of each other.” Read More
Let’s go Panthers! Two MPA athletes are up for winning Top Performer of the Week in their sport–vote for them with the links below. Voting ends Sunday, May 9 at 10 AM!
Click here to cast your vote for senior Evan Esch to be the MN Baseball Hub Top Performer of the Week!
The book festival has started and runs through Monday, May 3. Its goal is to encourage the love of reading and to contribute to the MPA Library. Books are available for purchase from two local booksellers, 
We invite you to join the MPA Parents Association Board! The Parents Association board is looking for volunteers to fill several positions next year. There are varying time commitments, but the experience is consistently rewarding. Over the next few weeks the current PA Board would like to share our reasons for volunteering.
Congratulations to senior Dhruv Muppidi on being named one of 625 Presidential Scholar semifinalists from out of 3.6 million seniors across the country! Since 1964, the Presidential Scholars Program has honored the nation’s most distinguished high school seniors based on academic success, leadership, and service to school and community. Dhruv is one of only 10 semifinalists from Minnesota. He will find out if he is selected as one of 160 Presidential Scholarship recipients in early May!
Congratulations to MPA sixth grader Josh M. on placing 4th out of 111 middle school competitors from across Minnesota at the Math Masters Competition’s Virtual Fact Drill and Order Of Operations Round on March 30 and 31! “It is quite a challenge for a sixth grade student to finish that highly because there are over one hundred students competing that are all very good in math,” says Middle School math teacher and Math Masters coach Chris Peterson. “As far I know, Josh is the only fifth or sixth grader from MPA to ever place in the top six in the Fact Drill and Order of Operations Round at Math Masters!” Way to go, Josh!
Congratulations to MPA Speech, the Class A State Team Champions! In the 2021 Speech Season, Mounds Park Academy had ten state finalists, two state runner-ups, and four State Champions. They also broke the prior Class A team points record. We are so proud of these students!
Congratulations to MPA’s 2021 Athena Award Winner, senior Izzy Quam for committing to St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont for Nordic Skiing! A four sport athlete, Izzy competes in Soccer, Cross Country Running, Nordic Skiing, and Track and Field. She is a captain in each of her sports. Izzy has accumulated 19 varsity letters in athletics, 9 All Conference or Honorable Mention awards from the IMAC conference, and countless team MVPs honors and coaches awards. She is also a stellar student who appears on the honor roll, has earned academic letters, and is a member of the Cum Laude Society.
by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School
The book festival has started and runs through Monday, May 3. Its goal is to encourage the love of reading and to contribute to the MPA Library fund. Books are available for purchase from two local booksellers,