May 24, 2012
MPA senior Louise Edwards has
been involved in the Future Problem Solvers Program International (FPSPI) since the 6th grade. Founded by
creativity pioneer, Dr. E. Paul Torrance, FSPSI stimulates critical and
creative thinking skills, encourages students to develop a vision for the
future, and prepares students for leadership roles. Her involvement in the
program has paid off in more ways than one. This week, Edwards was awarded
FPSPI’s “Creating the Future” Scholarship.
“This experience has had a profound
impact on me and the way I view the world,” said Edwards, who started a
Future Problem Solving Program at MPA three years ago when she was a 10th
grader. The MPA team members are Annette Eneanya, Kate Nicholson, Betsy
Krenkel, Chrissy Saul, and Eliza Edwards. MPA alumnus Wade Peterson coaches the
team. “As a team, we have advanced to state every year,” Edwards
said.
Below is the announcement posted on the FPSPI website:
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The “Creating the |
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2011 Scholarship Recipients Announced!
Louise Edwards
Mounds Park Academy, St. Paul, Minnesota
Louise Edwards has
participated in Future Problem Solving for seven years. During that time, she has attended the Minnesota FPS State Bowl each year and qualified for the FPSPI International Conference in three years. She has competed in team Global Issues Problem Solving and Presentation of Action Plan, winning many awards. When Louise moved from middle school to high school, she found herself in a school without Future Problem Solving. For the first year she continued as a member of her former team, but then turned her efforts to establishing an FPS program in her new school. Through extensive communication, persistence, and persuasiveness, she was able to recruit students to begin the program, and served as a leader of the group for the next three years. During this time, Louise also found and created numerous opportunities to apply her problem solving skills. She was selected by the Minnesota Citizens League to serve as a teen leader, facilitating youth discussions and input on Minnesota’s 50-year transportation plan. After months of work, she presented the teen perspective to the state steering committee. Louise went on to join the Civic Institute for Emerging Leaders, which provided year-long training in policy making and civic leadership. Through a public policy course at her school, Louise formed a group called Students Demanding Change that partnered with the non-profit PACER center. Together they worked on supporting anti-bullying legislation at the state level. Her coach states, “[Louise] has a truly global outlook and is focused on the world…[She] will help to change the world.” |
