Mounds Park Academy

August 20, 2019

Meet 2019-20 Alumni Association Board member Brenna Bray ’02!

Brenna was an MPA student from grades 5-12, graduating in 2002 to attend St. Olaf for undergrad. Around 2011, Brenna lived back home in Minnesota after attending the Publishing Institute at Denver University, and was presented the opportunity to coach the MPA cross country running and ski teams. After an amazing coaching experience at MPA for two years, she went on to pursue her Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences and Neuroscience at the University of South Dakota’s Sanford School of Medicine. However, she stays in touch with many of the Panthers she coached and cheers them on from near and far.

Now once again back in Minnesota, Brenna is looking forward to reconnecting with the MPA community, and wanted to further rekindle that connection. “The Alumni Association Board provided a very fun way for me to do that,” she said.

Brenna also adds that her role on the MPA Alumni Board has provided her with many opportunities to support MPA and get involved with the school and community she loves. As part of the Board, she hopes to continue supporting, fostering, and sharing the MPA community and spirit. Read More

Meet Brendan Boyle ’14!

August 16, 2019

Meet 2019-20 Alumni Association Board member Brendan Boyle ’14!

Brendan attended MPA from kindergarten through 12th grade. After his lifer journey at MPA, he attended and graduated from NC State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and was deeply involved with several award-winning startups. Though he initially planned to attend medical school, he was offered a unique opportunity to work at Epic Games during the explosive growth of Fortnite. There, he currently works as an information security engineer and is the lead developer for account security tools. And now, as an Alumni Board member, Brendan’s goal is to re-engage alumni who have not previously worked with MPA post-graduation. Read More

Welcome Back To MPA!

August 13, 2019

Welcome home, Panthers! We are looking forward to seeing new families at New Family Orientation and returning families at Back To School Night to begin a fantastic school year! Grab your school supplies and head to campus on Monday, August 26, for an all-school assembly, time with your teachers, and a special ribbon-cutting ceremony for our new commons, cafeteria, and kitchen!

New Family Orientation: 3-6 PM

LOWER SCHOOL FAMILIES • GRADES PREK-4
3-3:30 PM – Students and parents stay together to meet homeroom teachers, put away school supplies, and locate and/or practice lockers.
3:30-4:45 PM – Students separate for an activity with Mr. Purdy, extended day coordinator, while parents meet with Ms. Wright, Lower School director, in the library.
4:45-5:30 PM – Enjoy dinner in the cafeteria.
5:30-5:45 PM – Meet Dr. Hudson, head of school, and the leadership team.
6:15-6:30 PM – All-School Welcome Back Assembly in the Lansing Center.
6:30-7:30 PM – Additional time to visit homeroom and specialist teachers and classrooms, organize school supplies, and practice student lockers.
7:15-7:30 PM – Ribbon cutting ceremony and refreshments in the cafeteria. Read More

MPA Alumni Homecoming and Reunion Weekend Details

August 13, 2019

Join fellow MPA alums on Homecoming weekend, September 27 and 28, to reconnect with friends, family, and faculty. Celebrate milestone reunions and participate in special, alumni-only activities. Welcome home, alumni, and we hope to see you soon!

Renovation Tour
Saturday, September 28, 11 AM
Lansing Lobby
Enjoy a meet and greet and tour of campus with Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school. Come see the newly renovated commons, cafeteria, + kitchen, and get a sneak peek of the library!

Co-ed Alumni Soccer Scrimmage
Saturday, September 28, 3 PM
MPA Stadium
Hit the field or cheer from the stands in our first-ever organized Co-Ed Alumni Soccer Scrimmage! Read More

Meet Kathryn Andersen ’09!

August 9, 2019

Meet 2019-20 Alumni Association Board member Kathryn Andersen ’09!

Following graduation from MPA, Kathryn attended the University of Notre Dame, majoring in History and Pre-Med. She has also earned her M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Since college, she has worked in higher education, helping students through the admissions process at the University of Notre Dame and now in the MBA Admissions department for the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. Kathryn credits MPA with instilling a love of learning, inquisitive thinking, and soft skills that have helped her throughout her education and career.

“I loved my time at MPA and am passionate about supporting the school. Especially working in education, I’ve realized all the ways in which MPA was so ahead of its time and so unique in its mission and community,” she said. Read More

Big Points For School Athletics

August 9, 2019

Building Character and Academic Success
Back to school also means back to sports, with many students reuniting with their fall teams, moving up to the next level of play, or trying out a new activity. Mounds Park Academy has been at the forefront of cultivating student athletes, with an emphasis on good sportsmanship and leadership that extends from the classroom to the courts, tracks, fields and stadiums where our Panthers compete.

Healthy mind, healthy body
MPA offers one of the broadest prep school athletic programs in the Twin Cities, including more than 20 Upper School teams and a range of competitive Middle School sports that begin in fifth grade. Our student athletes transform their gifts and talents into accomplishments that bolster their educational experience, with research showing that sports help create better students, and better citizens. For example, the University of Missouri’s Adolescent Medicine program highlights that many athletes do better academically and encourages all children to participate in sports, reinforcing that “physical exercise is good for the mind, body, and spirit. Team sports help teach adolescents accountability, dedication, leadership and other skills … [and how] to effectively communicate to solve problems.” MPA’s athletics embraces this theme, welcoming students to take part in sports at all levels of experience—developing commitment, character, perseverance, initiative, and teamwork. Read More

Celebrating Our Progress

August 8, 2019

by Jennifer Rogers-Petitt, director of development and community engagement

I hope your family has been enjoying the summer months! Two of the highlights of my summer include some much-needed family time with my two children before they are officially third and eighth graders and seeing the incredible progress that has been made on our new spaces being funded through the Together, We Dream campaign. It has been a daily reminder of the impact of our collective generosity and your commitment to the future of MPA.

I am so thrilled to share with you that after reaching our first fundraising milestone on May 1 to fully fund the new commons/cafeteria and kitchen and our beautiful new library, construction is on schedule! We’ve had a busy summer of picking out finishes, planning for the ways the new spaces will be used, and sharing our school with a large crew of dedicated men and women who are working hard to make sure our children’s smiling faces will be met with beautiful new spaces on the first day of school. Our new library could be ready well before the holiday break and will be a space that will be enjoyed and treasured by our entire community. Read More

Meet Michael Velin ’06!

August 5, 2019

Meet 2019-20 Alumni Association Board member Michael Velin ’06!

Michael attended MPA ninth through 12th grade. He is currently a financial consultant for families and works with them to transition not only their wealth and businesses to the next generation, but also their missions and values. He and his wife Ashley Cooper, Middle and Upper School counselor at MPA, live in St. Paul and are expecting their first child this month!

Ever since graduating from MPA in 2006, Michael says he has gained a deep connection and sense of gratitude for a community that has driven his desire to constantly learn and explore new adventures.

“MPA has always been a second home for me and to some degree I didn’t want to lose touch of that feeling,” he said.

He is inspired to continue the spirit of giving back and helping the community. He wants to continue to be active in the broader Twin Cities community with activism and philanthropy.

Stay tuned for more extended profiles of your 2019-20 Mounds Park Academy Alumni Association Board!

A Loving Memory And Dedication

July 30, 2019

At the most recent Spring Auction, the Schwartz family purchased the ability to name one of the sewing machines in the Makerspace. They chose to name the sewing machine in the memory of Linda Handler-Lack, who was a great aunt of MPA seventh grader Henry S.

Linda was an avid quilter who unfortunately passed away a couple of years ago after a short battle with cancer. She made quilts for all members of the family that they still cherish today. Linda would be happy to know that a sewing machine named after her is being used to teach children a skill that she loved.

Welcome To The Family, Ms. Honan!

July 29, 2019

Meet Cherie Honan, who will be our executive assistant to the head of school. Ms. Honan comes to MPA with more than 20 years of high level executive administrative experience in the legal and banking fields. She has excellent skills in project management, is organized and detailed, and communicates warmly and articulately. In her role at MPA, she will help best serve MPA families, faculty, and staff in a way that is responsive and helpful. She also has an extremely caring and joyful disposition.

What did you love about MPA right away?
After many years of working in a corporate setting, I loved the close-knit, welcoming atmosphere at MPA. I am honored to be part of the community.

What’s your big dream?
My big dream is to spend a month in Hawaii and visit every island.

What are you (and your family, if you so choose) passionate about?
My husband and I are passionate about our grandchildren, Mallard and Janelle. We are also expecting grandchild number three who is due any day.

What’s your secret talent?
My secret talent started out as a secret to me. I love event planning. The event I am most proud of is my niece Olivia’s wedding.

We can’t wait for our entire community to meet you, Ms. Honan! Stay tuned for more extended Q&A profiles of the amazing faculty and staff joining our community in the 2019-20 school year!