Mounds Park Academy

April 5, 2024

The Reid Family comes from St. Louis Park. Warner ’26 and Hazel ’27 both started at MPA in ninth grade. Get to know their family!

What’s the best thing about being part of the MPA community?
Our teens have been able to find their own places and interests at school and other like-minded kids who support them in those interests. It feels cozy, welcoming, and full of joy.

What is your favorite MPA tradition or event?
We are still fairly new to MPA, but so far, we have really enjoyed the choir concerts and art shows. MPA does a wonderful job of seeing the whole student, and these events highlight one facet of many students.

Complete this sentence: MPA teaches my child…
To persevere, to fail, to set goals, to express themselves, and to explore what’s possible.

If your child has attended another school, how has your experience at MPA been different?
The community of students at MPA embraced our new ninth graders in their separate years, giving them a fresh start and a safe environment in which to learn and dream big. Read More

Parents Association News and Events April 4, 2024

April 4, 2024

Parents Association News & Events
MPA Merch Pickup Dates
If you ordered merchandise from the MPA PA and Talisman collaboration, those items are here! Pick up your spirit wear on April 4, in the Family Commons, from 3-3:45 PM. Pick-up will also be available at the Lower School Art and Music Show that same evening, again in the Family Commons. We will also have items available for pick up and purchase on April 11 at our Cultural Celebration Day, on April 18 and 20 at the track meets, and on May 3 at the Panther Party for new MPA families. If you wanted to order something but missed this round, items will be available for purchase during those pick-up times. Come check it out!

Panther Committee Meeting
Friday, April 5, 1:30-3 PM, Porter Conference Room
Are you passionate about athletics at MPA? If you have a sporty Lower School student and see MPA athletics in the future, this is a great place to join the team! If you have a Middle School student who plays club sports and you’re not sure how that translates to MPA sports, this is the spot for you. If you have an Upper School athlete who is hoping to play their sport in college, we may be able to connect you with like-minded families. The Panther Committee will determine topics of interest and work closely with Dan Haase, athletic director, to support MPA athletics. Interested parents can just come or reach out to Christine Larson at clarsonPA@moundsparkacademy.org.

Lower School Parents LGBTQ+ Family Group
Thursday, April 6, 1-2:30 PM
Contact Rachael Weber at rachaeleweber@gmail.com for more details.

Cultural Celebration Day
Thursday, April 11, 3-6 PM
The MPA Parents Association invites you to a Cultural Celebration event on April 11 from 3-6 PM. Enjoy sweet and savory street food from around the world and an international tea bar. Experience beautiful music and interactive folk and classical dance performances. Engage with community members who will be sharing their cultural heritage. Go home with some cool body art from an expert henna artist. Try your hand at global crafts — Greek laurel wreath making and Chinese paper lanterns. Learn how to use chopsticks. Attend a food demonstration. On offer are fun activities for the whole family! Looking to help out at Cultural Celebration Day? Sign up to volunteer! Food and drink tickets ($1 each) will be sold at the event. Zabiha, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options will be available.

Dr. Hudson’s Book Club
April 18 at 6 PM
Please join Dr. Bill Hudson and fellow book-loving parents in the MPA Library for a discussion of “The Covenant of Water” by Abraham Verghese on April 18. “The Covenant of Water” is “a stunning and magisterial epic of love, faith, and medicine, set in Kerala, South India, following three generations of a family seeking the answers to a strange secret.” Sign up today to read this hotly anticipated novel by a beloved author!

Track Meet Concessions
Thursday, April 18 and Saturday, April 20
The Parents Association is excited to support athletics as we host our very own track meets this spring! In recent years MPA has not been able to host home track meets because of the condition of our track. Thanks to our generous community, we raised funds, and it was resurfaced last summer! We are hosting two track meets this spring: Varsity on Thursday, April 18, and Middle School on Saturday, April 20.

Please consider donating items for our concessions stand: Sports drinks, fruits, and snacks are on the wish list. Athletes need fuel to race! Offering concessions is a standard at other meets and an opportunity to serve everyone in attendance. If you are coming to watch your athlete, we’d appreciate your help manning the sales tables. Sign up to donate items or your time! If you have any questions, please reach out to Christine Larson at 612-251-1156 or clarsonPA@moundsparkacademy.org. Thanks in advance for your support of Panther athletes!

Spring Auction: Together, We Can Move Mountains
Friday, April 19
Don’t forget about the upcoming Spring Auction! Be sure to buy your tickets here. If you cannot attend in person, there are many ways to get involved! You can buy a Golden Ticket for a teacher, or you can buy a ticket to the event for a teacher or teachers of your choice. Also, the new fund-a-need will support encouraging strong executive functioning skills for all our students. Giving to that fund is a great way to support student learning and development!

Save the Date
Tuesday, May 7
The last Faculty and Staff Appreciation event of the year is coming on Tuesday, May 7, which is National Teacher Appreciation Day. More details coming soon.

Save the Date for These Summer Events
Saturday, June 22: Minnesota United FC game
Friday, July 26: St. Paul Saints game

MPA Sailing: All Are Welcome, Grades 7-12!

April 4, 2024

Interested in giving the sport a try? The team is welcoming friends of any team member to come out and see what sailing is all about on April 9.

The MPA Sailing team sails out of White Bear Sailing School with and against teams from White Bear Lake, Mahtomedi High School, Stillwater High School, Saint Croix Prep, Mounds View High School, Hill Murray, and Totino-Grace, gaining crucial communication skills and cooperation on the water.

The White Bear Sailing School features three MPA alums in prominent roles as Toby Sullivan ’19 is the waterfront director, Josh Sullivan ’16 is head coach, and Henry Seum ’23 is a summer coach.

Cultural Celebration Day Is A Week Away!

April 4, 2024

Are you ready for Cultural Celebration Day at MPA? The celebration, which will be held on April 11, from 3-6 PM in the Family Commons, is just a week away! Organized by the MPA Parents Association, the night will feature many of the different backgrounds at our school.

Cultural Celebration Day will entail sweet and savory street food from around the world, including a boba tea bar hosted by Treats, a cereal bar and Boba shop based out of St. Paul. In addition to the food from different cultures, the event aims to teach the steps to Sirtaki, a Greek folk dance, and feature a Kathak dance workshop, a classical Indian dance form, presented by the Katha Dance Theater. Other offerings include going home with some cool body art from an expert henna artist, trying your hand at global crafts such as Greek laurel wreath making or Rangoli, and learning how to use chopsticks. Speaking to community members with booths set up to share their culture and or offer samples of their cuisine is strongly encouraged! Food and drink tickets ($1 each) will be sold at the event. Zabiha, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options are available.

Looking to help out at Cultural Celebration Day? Sign up to volunteer! Please email sanwarPA@moundsparkacademy.org with any questions regarding Cultural Celebration Day at MPA!

Upper School Division News April 4, 2024

April 4, 2024

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, April 5: US End Of Quarter 3
Monday, April 9: US/LS Solar Eclipse Party, 8-10:30 AM, Family Commons
Tuesday, April 9: HeadSpace “Mental Health Crisis,” 3-15-4:15 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
Wednesday, April 10: No Classes, Eid al-Fitr
Thursday, April 11: PA Cultural Celebration Day, 3-6 PM, Family Commons
Friday, April 12: US BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting, 11:20-12 PM, Room 150-151
Thursday, April 18: Senior Performances 8-9:15 AM, Nicholson Center
Thursday, April 18: Spring Book Club With Dr. Hudson, 6-7:30 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
Friday, April 19: US BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting, 11:20-12 PM, Room 150-151
Friday, April 19: Pairing Assembly, 2:20-3 PM
Friday, April 19: Spring Auction, 6:30-11 PM, Dellwood Golf Club
Wednesday, April 24: Spring Musical Preview Performance, 1:35-3 PM, Nicholson Center
Thursday, April 25: LS/US Haiti Cultural Celebration, 1-3 PM, Family Commons, Gallery
Friday, April 26: US BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting, 11:20-12 PM, Room 150-151
Friday, April 26: Spring Musical Performance, 7-9 PM, Nicholson Center
Saturday, April 27: Spring Musical Performance, 7-9 PM, Nicholson Center
Sunday, April 28: Spring Musical Performance, 2-4 PM, Nicholson Center
Thursday, May 2: MS/US Grade 8 Parent Meeting, 6-6:45 PM, Recital Hall
Friday, May 3: US Parent Quarterly Coffee, 8-9 AM, PCR
Friday, May 3: US BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting, 11:20-12 PM, Room 150-151
Friday, May 3: New Family Panther Party, 4-5:30 PM, MPA Campus
Saturday, May 4: Prom, 8-11 PM, American Swedish Institute
Wednesday, May 8: MS/US Orchestra Concert, 7-8 PM, Nicholson Center
Friday, May 10: US BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting, 11:20-12 PM, Room 150-151

Important Informantion

If your student will be absent, late, or needs to be excused early from school, please reach out to the Upper School office via cwilliams@moundsparkacademy.org.
Space is still available to attend the 2024 MPA Spring Auction, Together We Can Move Mountains, on Friday, April 19 at Dellwood Golf Club. This is your chance to attend a night of fun, inspiration, and community building while supporting MPA with fellow parents, alumni, and friends.
While the MN weather remains unpredictable, the spring athletic season has arrived. Even though the athletic department works hard to stick to the established schedule, practice and game schedules can be extremely fluid due to the weather. For this reason, it is suggested that you bookmark the MPA athletics website and ensure that the athletic department has the most up-to-date email addresses for you should there be a schedule adjustment.

For many years, I heard the statement, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” and I really did not know its meaning. Maybe it was because I was too literal or because my focus during my formative years was primarily on anything but work. Regardless, over the past 33 years of my professional life, 28 of them as an educator, I have learned that taking a break from doing schoolwork is crucial for maintaining mental health and achieving academic success. The American Psychological Association states that “constant studying (or grading) without breaks can lead to burnout, decreased motivation, and increased stress levels.” This research highlights the importance of taking regular breaks and confirms data published by the Journal of Educational Psychology that states, “Students who take short breaks during study sessions demonstrate improved focus and retention compared to those who study continuously.”

School (and work) has become more demanding in recent years, and finding intentional ways to step away from assignments and projects provides an opportunity for students to recharge and rejuvenate their minds. Psychologists, including Dr. Jules Nolan, emphasize the importance of incorporating relaxation techniques into student study routines. By stepping away from schoolwork periodically, students are then able to return with a refreshed perspective and greatly increased productivity.

It is critical to prioritize self-care in our student’s study routines as it is our job and duty to support them so they are successful and feel good about themselves. Your students and I appreciate your commitment and partnership as they make their way along their educational journey.

I look forward to seeing you on campus soon.

Middle School Division News April 4, 2024

April 4, 2024

from Dr. Jenn Milam, Middle School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, April 5: MS End Of Quarter 3
Tuesday, April 9: HeadSpace “Mental Health Crisis,” 3-15-4:15 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
Wednesday, April 10: No Classes, Eid al-Fitr, Panther Care >
Thursday, April 11: MS Grade 5/6 BIPOC Affinity Group, 2:20-3 PM, Panther Center
Thursday, April 11: PA Cultural Celebration Day, 3-6 PM, Family Commons
Wednesday, April 17: MS Grade 7/8 BIPOC Affinity Group, 2:20-3 PM, Panther Center
Thursday, April 18: Spring Book Club With Dr. Hudson, 6-7:30 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
Friday, April 19: Spring Auction, 6:30-11 PM, Dellwood Golf Club
Wednesday, April 24: Spring Musical Preview Performance, 1:35-3 PM, Nicholson Center
Thursday, April 25: MS Grade 5/6 BIPOC Affinity Group, 2:20-3 PM, Panther Center
Friday, April 26: Spring Musical Performance, 7-9 PM, Nicholson Center
Saturday, April 27: Spring Musical Performance, 7-9 PM, Nicholson Center
Sunday, April 28: Spring Musical Performance, 2-4 PM, Nicholson Center
Wednesday, May 1: MS Grade 7/8 BIPOC Affinity Group, 2:20-3 PM, Panther Center
Thursday, May 2: Middle School family dinner, 5 PM, Family Commons
Thursday, May 2: MS/US Grade 8 Parent Meeting, 6-6:45 PM, Recital Hall
Thursday, May 2: MS Transition Meetings, 6-6:45 PM
Thursday, May 2: MS Vocal Concert, 7-8 PM, Nicholson Center
Friday, May 3: New Family Panther Party, 4-5:30 PM, MPA Campus
Monday, May 6-10: MS Grade 5 Service Trip
Wednesday, May 8: MS Parent Quarterly Coffee, 8-9:30 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
Wednesday, May 8: MS/US Orchestra Concert, 7-8 PM, Nicholson Center
Thursday, May 9: MS Grade 5/6 BIPOC Affinity Group, 2:30-3 PM, Panther Center

I hope this issue of Middle School news and notes finds you all having had a wonderful spring break and looking forward to what is always a very busy and exciting spring at MPA. As always, if you have questions about what is shared here, reach out to the Middle School office.

PLEASE JOIN US! 2024 MPA Spring Auction on April 19
This year’s MPA Spring Auction: Together, We Can Move Mountains program is scheduled for Friday, April 19, at Dellwood Golf Club. The annual event is a signature community gathering to share your love of MPA and share your support for our continued forward momentum!

SPRING SPORTS – Calendars, Cancellations, and Coordinating Schedules!
While it may not feel like it this week with our recent snowfall, spring sports seasons are upon us, and schedules can be very fluid, depending on the weather. Please know that we, along with the athletic department, do our best to avoid last-minute cancellations of games and practices, but sometimes they cannot be avoided. Please bookmark the MPA athletics website on your phone and check the weekly athletic schedule regularly to plan and organize your family activities. Additionally, please ensure that Dawn Zimmerman has your most current contact information to be in touch as needed. You can reach her at dzimmerman@moundsparkacademy.org.

NO SCHOOL – Wednesday, April 10
On Wednesday of next week, we will observe Eid Al-Fitr and there will be no classes. Please plan accordingly as you look toward your family calendars for next week! Panther Care >

The FINAL QUARTER and TRANSITION MEETINGS
This Friday will be the last day of quarter three, and I encourage you to connect with your student to ensure that all assignments and assessments have been completed. Given that we have only had two weeks post-spring break, and we did most of our “catch up” prior to i-Term, it is my hope your student is feeling confident they are ending on a strong note.

The last quarter of the year begins on Monday, April 8. It can be challenging to maintain focus, engagement, and stamina at this time of year. Please take some time to visit with your Middle School student to check in, set expectations, and get excited about the next year ahead.

Please mark your calendars now for Thursday, May 2, for our Rising Grade Level meetings and Middle School Vocal Concert. This is an exciting evening when we share a meal, offer insight for you and your student about next year, our new schedule, class trips, and more. Our evening will begin with dinner at 5 PM, transition meetings at 6 PM, and then our concert at 7 PM. We hope you’ll join us for all (or part!) of our evening.

NOTE: Rising Upper School students will meet with Mr. Segal and Mr. Dean, Upper School director and assistant director, respectively. It’s another great opportunity to learn what’s ahead!

Lower School Division News April 4, 2024

April 4, 2024

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director

Mark Your Calendars

Thursday, April 4: LS Art Show Opening, 6-7 PM, Gallery, US Commons, Rossbach Art Walk, Family Commons
Thursday, April 4: LS Music Program 7-8 PM, Nicholson Center
Monday, April 9: US/LS Solar Eclipse Party, 8-10:30 AM, Family Commons
Tuesday, April 9: HeadSpace “Mental Health Crisis,” 3-15-4:15 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
Wednesday, April 10: No Classes, Eid al-Fitr, PreK Panther Care > Panther Care >
Thursday, April 11: PA Cultural Celebration Day, 3-6 PM, Family Commons
Wednesday, April 17: LS CHAMP Assembly, 8:15-9 AM, Family Commons
Wednesday, April 17: LS Duty Free Lunch, 12:15-12:45 PM, Family Commons
Thursday, April 18: Spring Book Club With Dr. Hudson, 6-7:30 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
Friday, April 19: Pairing Assembly, 2:20-3 PM
Friday, April 19: Spring Auction, 6:30-11 PM, Dellwood Golf Club
Wednesday, April 24: Spring Musical Preview Performance, 1:35-3 PM, Nicholson Center
Thursday, April 25: LS/US Haiti Cultural Celebration, 1-3 PM, Family Commons, Gallery
Friday, April 26: Spring Musical Performance, 7-9 PM, Nicholson Center
Saturday, April 27: Spring Musical Performance, 7-9 PM, Nicholson Center
Sunday, April 28: Spring Musical Performance, 2-4 PM, Nicholson Center
Tuesday, April 30: LS Parent Quarterly Coffee, 8-9 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
Friday, May 3: New Family Panther Party, 4-5:30 PM, MPA Campus

I hope all our families enjoyed a restful and fun spring break! The children have enjoyed getting back into their learning routines and gearing up for the end-of-year festivities.

CHAMP News
At our CHAMP Assembly on March 27, we focused on the CHAMP attribute of accountability. Our song about being accountable was set to the awesome Rolling Stones song, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” During the month of March, the Lower School students also enjoyed reading passages about important women in our world during our lunchtime announcements. We learned so much about Amelia Earhart, Oprah Winfrey, and more! Our next CHAMP Assembly is April 17, and we will be learning about being friendly. Please send your child to school on April 17 wearing their CHAMP colors!

Reminder: Lower School Art and Music Show on Thursday, April 4
On Thursday, April 4, the kindergarten through grade four students will be showcasing their artistic and musical talents during the Art and Music Show from 6-8 PM. Please join us in the Rossbach Art Walk, Gallery, and the Nicholson Center to enjoy all the talent that our students have to offer.

Reminder: LS Visiting Author: Yangsook Choi on April 15
Soon, we will have the pleasure of welcoming Yangsook Choi, author of the beloved children’s book “The Name Jar,” as our visiting author. Yangsook is from Seoul, Korea, and she is an incredible writer and illustrator. She will lead writing and illustration workshops for our PreK through grade four students while she is visiting. Please remember to order your copy of “The Name Jar” to be signed by the author by Friday, April 5.

Neighborhood House Food Drive, Led by Fourth Grade
The fourth-grade students are finishing up the book “Home of the Brave” by Katherine Applegate. This story, about a young refugee boy who relocates to Minnesota, is the catalyst that inspired this food drive to collect items for Neighborhood House in St. Paul. Lower School students and their families are asked to donate items between March 28 and April 8. A flyer from Neighborhood House with a wish list of suggested items has been shared on Schoology. This is not an exhaustive list, and personal care items, as well as other foods, are also welcome. Please keep MPA’s food allergy policy in mind when purchasing items. More information about Neighborhood House can be found here. Last year MPA sent over 2,000 pounds of food to Neighborhood House. Let’s see what we can do together this year!

2024 MPA Spring Auction on April 19
We hope to see you at the 2024 MPA Spring Auction: Together, We Can Move Mountains program on Friday, April 19 at Dellwood Country Club. This is your chance to attend a night of fun, inspiration, and community building while supporting MPA with fellow parents, alumni, and friends.

Introducing The Center for Inclusive Teaching & Learning

April 4, 2024

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

Editor’s Note: Periodically, you will find a guest Head’s Message here from members of the administrative team. We hope you will enjoy reading their thoughts and reflections about life at MPA.

From an early age, I loved stories. I would make them up for myself at playtime. When I began to devour them in books, I couldn’t put them down, and when I started to write down the fantastical comings and goings of my active mind, I never wanted to stop. As I’ve gotten older, had children, and experienced the highs and lows that life offers, I’ve continued to go back to the stories that have opened my eyes, inspired my heart, and made me think. As a fundraiser, I witness the power of our personal and collective stories every day when:

I hear from an alum that their appreciation for MPA grows the more they experience in life;
I hear from parents about their journey to MPA and their hopes and dreams for what it can offer their children; and
I hear the joys and wishes of our faculty and staff as we dream about continuing to do right by our mission and the children in our care.

When I first came to MPA, my own story unfolded: someone not from Minnesota who had never experienced the independent school world and a fundraiser who had always wanted to be thoughtful about how I approached my work. Throughout my career, I have witnessed that if we dream big, tell stories, and stay true to our mission, we will once again spark the beautiful generosity of our community. I’ve now had six years of seeing that generosity come to life at MPA in so many ways: our incredible Family Commons and Martin Lenz Harrison Library, new tools and technology for students, a renovated outdoor track, new scholarship opportunities, COVID crisis funding, underwriting our diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, an innovation fund for teachers, and now, the Center for Inclusive Teaching & Learning. Throughout it all, I have talked with hundreds of community supporters and heard and shared stories of our collective impact through these funds.

Sharing The Position Description

April 2, 2024

Original publish date: March 8, 2024

Dear Mounds Park Academy Community,

The search committee is happy to report that the search for our next head of school is well underway. Our motto, “Dream Big. Do Right.” sends a strong message to the world about our priorities. Through the decades of its existence, MPA has come to be known as a school that values the whole child, has strong academics, and is a welcoming and inclusive community. Our next head of school will be joining a school that is well-positioned for the future.

As many of you are aware, our search consultants, Jennifer Wong Christensen and Bob Vitalo from Carney Sandoe & Associates, were on campus on February 22 and 23. During that time, they met in person or virtually with more than 70 community members, including faculty, staff, students, current and former parents, alumni, and trustees. Each participant was asked to explore the same three question threads:

What makes Mounds Park Academy special and distinct? What do you value? What should never change?
What is the work ahead for the next head of school? What is on the “to-do” list for the next two, four, and six years?
What are the personal qualities, skills, and experiences you want to see in the next head of school that will make that person successful at MPA?

The visit concluded with an orientation for the search committee and a workshop for the board of trustees in which Jennifer and Bob heard from each participant their thoughts on the three sets of questions that had been posed to the community.

Thank you to everyone who filled out the community survey. There were more than 100 responses. Your confidential feedback was thoughtful, inspiring, and reflective of the diverse perspectives that characterize the MPA community. The aggregated results of the survey, combined with the interviews, confirm several prevailing themes that will factor heavily into our search process:

When asked what they value most about Mounds Park Academy, there is general agreement that all members appreciate the small classes and the close and caring relationships that exist between teachers and students. There is also very high regard for the exceptional faculty and the focus that is given to growing critical thinking skills and creativity.
In all the meetings that were held, the recruitment and retention of high-quality faculty were seen as the most important priorities for the next head of school. There was also much discussion about maintaining academic excellence, having a vision for the school’s future curriculum needs, and connecting the PreK-12 experience.
The school community will be looking for its next head of school to come with experience in an independent school and with a proven track record of nurturing and supporting the growth of excellent teachers and of being a responsible financial steward who is able to ensure the support and growth of MPA’s dynamic program and talented professional community.
MPA wants its next leader to be visible, accessible, approachable, honest, and trustworthy. The community highly values leadership skills such as decisiveness and being a clear communicator in writing and in person.

The feedback we received from the survey and meetings has guided the creation of the head of school position description. This document serves as a primary tool in the recruitment process, offering potential candidates a glimpse into our school community and culture.

Our consultants have already begun engaging with prospective candidates, and more formal, confidential interviews with the search committee will begin later this spring. The community’s next engagement opportunity is tentatively scheduled for May, when finalists will be on campus for two-day interviews.

We feel confident that as we search for MPA’s next head of school, the varied voices within our greater community are being heard and that our consultants understand our core values. We will continue to update you as the process unfolds.

Sincerely,
Betsy Van Hecke
MPA Parent of Alumni
Chair, Search Committee

If you have any questions, please email headsearch@moundsparkacademy.org.

Four MPA Artists Selected for High School Visual Arts Exhibition

March 28, 2024

Please join us in celebrating the four MPA artists who had their artwork selected for inclusion in the annual juried High School Visual Arts Exhibition at White Bear Center for the Arts: Lia Sonka ’24, Clara Deneault ’25, Piper Hubert ’26, and Nom-Ujin Byambatsogt ‘26.

Lia was selected for her two ceramic pieces, “Cacti” and “Lotus and Lily”; Clara will have her drawing “Fragmented Still Life” and painting “Color Bubble Koi Fish”; Nom-Ujin has painting “Bubbles and Bones” and drawing “The Mori Tower,” while Piper is to be represented by her drawing, “Ribbon.”

Their work will be part of an exhibition that runs from April 15 to May 22, with an awards reception on Thursday, April 25. All are welcome to attend the reception to honor young artists from the region. We are so proud of Lia, Clara, Piper, and Nom-Ujin!