Mounds Park Academy

July 31, 2018

What are you currently doing, professionally and/or personally? I am spending this summer in Washington D.C. working as an intern in Minnesota Congressman Erik Paulsen’s office. I’m learning so much about government and democracy. My responsibilities include answering constituent phone calls, running errands, attending hearings, writing memos, and giving tours of the Capitol. Through my internship, I’ve been able to attend events at the FBI, “The Washington Post,” and the White House. One of my favorite parts is seeing people who are on the news (or in the news) in person!

Helping People Reach Their Dreams

July 31, 2018

Ross Kigner ’08 Is Helping People Reach Their Dreams

After graduating from MPA in 2008, I continued my academic and athletic careers at the University of Minneosta-Morris, graduating in 2012. Following graduation, I resumed my direct support professional work for New Directions, Inc., while preparing for my first year coaching football at Roseville Area High School. New Directions, Inc. is a family-run organization that provides support for adults with disabilities. Our purpose is to assist and support individuals in forming and achieving a life of their own choosing; that they may have personal well-being, satisfying personal relationships, participation in community life and engagement in preferred pursuits in their home and community. I gradually increased my responsibilities at New Directions including expense management, team management, and property management. Time has flown by, but I love my work because of the reward that comes with helping people reach their dreams.

The major hurdles we face at New Directions include staffing and providing the same support with decreased funding from the government. In my leadership role, I don’t have as many hands-on opportunities with the people we support as I once did, as my focus has shifted to big-picture topics centered around upholding the standard of support our organization has provided since 1981.

Heidi Kunz Mahtomedi Invitational

June 28, 2018

After being rescheduled from April to May due to snow, the Heidi Kunz Mahtomedi Invitational brought with it all the cold, rain and wind of early April, yet MPA athletes overcame the poor weather with strong performances across the board.

On the girls side, the 4x800m team of senior Sarah Ley, sophomore Skylar Cernohous, ninth grader Katie Dahiya, and seventh grader Margo N. placed third. Sophomore Nasri Maktal made her season debut in the 100m hurdles, running a personal best of 21.51. In the 100m, senior Quinn Campbell ran a personal best 14.26 to place fifth. The girls 4x200m team of junior Ellie Quam, sophomores Catherine Moore, and Aaliyah Kellogg, and ninth grader Izzy Quam placed fourth with a time of 1:53.84, just off the MPA top 10 list.

Section 4A True Team Meet

June 28, 2018

The Panthers traveled to Howard Lake-Waverly-Winstead High School on May 8 for the Section 4A True Team Meet.

In a typical meet, only the top eight individuals and top six relays score, but in a True Team meet, every participant scores. There are 16 teams in Section 4A, and with each team able to put up to two athletes in an event, many individual events had 32 athletes. This is a very competitive meet and MPA athletes stepped up with great performances.

St. Croix Lutheran Invitational

June 28, 2018

On Wednesday, May 23, the Panthers traveled to West St. Paul for the St. Croix Lutheran Invitational. With most MPA athletes performing in the choir concert, MPA focused on the first events and only entered those not in choir in later events.

On the girls side, our relays made a statement. MPA girls placed first in the 4x800m with a time of 10:43.5. The team of Junior Gabby Law, ninth graders Izzy Quam and Katie Dahiya, and seventh grader Margo N. ran almost a minute faster than any other team. The 4x200m team of senior Maya Sayers, junior Ellie Quam, sophomore Catherine Moore, and ninth grader Izzy Quam, placed second with a time of 1:51.9, good for a spot on the MSHSL honor roll and fifth best all-time at MPA. The 4x100m team of seniors Maya Sayers and Quinn Campbell and sophomores Aaliyah Kellogg and Catherine Moore finished third with a time of 54.0.

IMAC Championships

June 28, 2018

MPA Track and Field traveled to Providence Academy for the IMAC Championships on Thursday, May 17.

The girls placed sixth with 27 points, just 3 points behind fifth place. The girls’ top finish came from junior Ellie Quam, who was the conference champion in the 100m hurdles, winning in a time of 17.52, just off her personal best. In the 800m, ninth grader Izzy Quam finished fifth, scoring for the Panthers with a personal best of 2:33.21 and just missing the MPA top 10 list. In the 1600m, seventh grader Margo N. scored for the Panthers with her sixth place finish. She ran 5:56.06, just off her personal best.

IMAC Relays

June 28, 2018

MPA opened the 2018 outdoor season later than usual due to surprise April snows, but finally got underway with our first meet on May 3 at the IMAC relays, a relay-only meet.

Highlights from the girls team included the 4x1600m team of senior Sarah Ley, ninth graders Izzy Quam and Katie Dahiya, and seventh grader Margo N. placing third with a total time of 26:29.41. Margo N. finished in fifth place in the 1600m individually with a personal best time of 5:53.35! In the 800m sprint medley, the team of seniors Maya Sayers and Quinn Campbell, junior Catherine Moore, and ninth grader Izzy Quam placed second. Their time of 1:59.42 is the third fastest in MPA history!

MSHSL State Championships

June 28, 2018

Three MPA athletes qualified for the MSHSL State Championships held on Friday and Saturday, June eighth and ninth at Hamline University.

Senior Blake Henke finished in fifth place in the Wheelchair Shot Put (Category 1) with a put of 12’8 ¾. His throw established a new MPA school record in the Wheelchair Shot Put!

In the high jump, junior Yahya Madar placed fourth, clearing 6’5 in a near personal best performance.

Section 4A Championships

June 28, 2018

The Section 4A Championships are the culmination of months of hard work for our team, and MPA athletes showed exceptional talent and drive at this competitive, 26-team meet.

On the girls side, our 4x800m team of junior Gabby Law, ninth graders Izzy Quam, and Katie Dahiya, and seventh grader Margo N. earned a medal with their fourth place finish. In the 100m hurdles, junior Ellie Quam placed third with a time of 17.23, the fastest time at MPA in 15 years.

In the 4x200m, the team of senior Maya Sayers, junior Ellie Quam, sophomore Catherine Moore, and ninth grader Izzy Quam ran 1:50.36 to place second in their preliminary heat and qualify for finals. That time was their fastest time this season, the third fastest time ever at MPA, and the fastest time since 1999. While they didn’t do as well in finals, they still scored with an eighth place finish. Their time from prelims qualifies them for the MSHSL honor roll.

Meet Morgan Emmans ’15

June 13, 2018

What are you currently doing, professionally and/or personally?

Currently I am attending St. Cloud State University, where I am majoring in Elementary Education and minoring in Human Relations. I am a member and captain of the softball team at St. Cloud State. This fall, I will be entering my senior year at St. Cloud State. Over the summer, I am coaching the 12U Silver Bullets softball team, and ironically, MPA student, Siri S. is one of my players.

How did you get there? Are there some career moves or other key experiences or relationships that have inspired you?