Alumni Archives

The Class Of 2026 Finds Their Fit

May 15, 2026

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the May 16 issue of Inside MPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

This fall, members of MPA’s Class of 2026 will begin their next chapters as Tigers, Bruins, Blue Demons, Blue Jays, Tritons, Golden Eagles, and much more.

They’ll head off to colleges and universities across the country to study everything from engineering and neuroscience to business economics, cognitive science, liberal studies, and more. Several students will also continue competing in collegiate athletics, pursuing their passions in sports like Nordic skiing and golf.

From coast to coast—and even internationally—the Class of 2026 is preparing to make its mark. MPA graduates are heading to schools in 17 different states with destinations ranging from California and Colorado to Massachusetts and North Carolina. They’ll soon call cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, among many others, home.

In total, the 55 members of the Class of 2026 will matriculate to 39 different colleges and universities, a reflection of the individualized and student-centered nature of the college search process at MPA. Rather than following a single path, students are encouraged to discover the colleges and opportunities that best align with who they are and whom they hope to become.

On May 1, seniors gathered to celebrate College Choice Day, proudly wearing apparel from their future schools while creating their annual college pennants, taking photos, sharing laughs, and soaking in one of the final traditions of their MPA experience together. See photos from the day!

“College choices are led by each student’s set of priorities in choosing a school. These priorities center on a number of different themes—academic programming, athletic interests, scholarship awards, location, research opportunities, and extracurricular pursuits—which is why our seniors matriculate to such a wonderful array of schools. We have a system in place where Dr. Quam, assistant director of college counseling, and I know each senior exceptionally well,” says director of college counseling Lisa Pederson.

Congratulations to the MPA Class of 2026! We are so proud of all you have accomplished and excited to see where your next adventures lead.

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What Does It Mean To Belong?

April 16, 2026

from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school

What does it mean to belong? I think about this a lot. I often think about questions such as: What provides comfort? What creates space to develop confidence and pride? How does an environment affect one’s ability or willingness to share their own story?

Belonging. It’s something I believe we all want to say we feel in most, if not all, places and spaces we inhabit. According to The Kids Mental Health Foundation, kids who feel like they belong, “Do better academically, are less focused on being bullied or excluded, build friendships easier, and learn new skills.” While my motto will always be students first, I believe it is fair to say that those reasons and outcomes apply to adults as well.

Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting MPA alums in the Bay Area. As my time at MPA grows, and I meet more alumni, there is a consistent theme I am able to pull from my conversations—MPA left a lasting impression because somewhere within their time as students within our community, each alum could name a place, space, event, or teacher that created the validity of belonging within the community. It’s a moving experience to hear people’s stories, and to learn of what made moments special, and sometimes hard. Just like my time in New York, it felt like I was catching up with old friends. To be welcomed into that opportunity for reflection and conversation is a privilege and one that I do not take lightly. Read More

An Update From Mirdalys Tweeton ’08

April 14, 2026

Mirdalys Tweeton ’08 is making an impressive impact in the legal and business operations space as a fractional COO with SMB Team, a firm that supports more than 250 law firms nationwide. In her role, she partners with law firm owners to streamline operations, restore profitability, and build businesses that run predictably—without requiring the owner to be involved in every decision.

Recently, Mirdalys was selected as a keynote speaker for SMB Team’s quarterly workshop in Puerto Rico, where she shared her expertise on setting effective quarterly goals to drive growth and long-term success. This recognition highlights her leadership and the value she brings to her clients and organization.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Mirdalys is a proud mother of four, an Army veteran, and will begin law school this fall as a JD candidate.

We are always looking for more alumni stories to feature. We’d love to hear about your journey since graduating from MPA! Share your updates with us by emailing alumni@moundsparkacademy.org.

A Message From Cooper Olson ’16

April 13, 2026

Each year, we look to bring on new members to the MPA Alumni Association Board, and I know from experience that most people are not totally sure what that actually involves. I was in the same position before I joined two years ago. If you have ever been looking for a low-stakes way to stay connected to MPA or to give back to the MPA community, I wanted to share a quick look at what the alumni board experience has been like for me and why it might be worth considering.

If I had to use three words to describe my experience with the alumni board thus far, it would be low-stakes, gratifying, and warm.

Low-stakes: The commitment is very manageable. We meet once every other month on a weeknight for about an hour. Outside of our meetings, we occasionally have a small task or two to complete, which don’t take more than an hour at most. With how busy all of our lives can be, this is a critical benefit of the board. It’s something the team is extremely mindful of to ensure it continues to be a place where alumni can make an impact without needing to overstretch.

Gratifying: I’ve always loved MPA and its community. It was a second home for me throughout my years as a student, and a place I’m incredibly grateful for. The alumni board has offered me an easy opportunity to continue to support the school and help it positively impact more students the same way it impacted me.

Warm: The alumni board is a fantastic group of people. From Angie and the development team all the way down the list of board members, everyone is lovely, welcoming, and great to collaborate with. Of course, we’d expect nothing else from a group of MPA alumni… but nonetheless, this board is a great every-other-month reminder of how wonderful the MPA community is.

In addition to sharing those highlights, I also know there are a few common hesitations that come up when people think about joining, so I wanted to quickly address those:

You do not need to be based in Minnesota. Everything is set up so you can easily participate from anywhere.
You do not need any specific professional experience or skill set. If you care about MPA and want to stay involved, you’re a great fit.
You do not need a ton of free time. As I mentioned, the commitment is light, with a short meeting every other month and just a few small tasks (at most) in between.
It is not just about fundraising. The board focuses on building connections within the alumni community in a variety of ways.

If you’ve read this far and are not already on the Alumni Association Board, you probably should be. If you are interested or just want to learn more, feel free to reach out to me with any questions about my experience, or connect with Angela Gerstner at agerstner@moundsparkacademy.org.

Cooper Olson ’16

Alumni Association Board Member

Remembering Karen Benz

April 2, 2026

from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school

The Mounds Park Academy community recently lost one of its earliest founders, Karen Benz, whose vision, generosity, and steadfast commitment helped bring this remarkable school to life.

In my first year at MPA, I have found myself reflecting on the courage it took for those early founders to build something from nothing. Karen Benz was one of those people. She believed in the promise of this school before it existed—and because she did, generations of students have benefited. In many ways, we are all standing on the shoulders of Karen and her fellow founders.

MPA itself began as a dream. In December of 1981, founder Bob Kriescher gathered a small group of friends and parents from Breck School to form the first board of Mounds Park Academy. At that moment, there were no students, no teachers, and not even a building—only a compelling idea: a new kind of independent school rooted in curiosity, strong academics, and an inclusive community.

By the spring of 1982, that dream began to take shape—and one of the people who immediately believed in it was Karen. Read More

An Update From Emma Cohen ’21

March 13, 2026

Emma Cohen ’21 graduated from Wellesley College in May with a degree in peace and justice studies and environmental studies. After graduation, she traveled to Nepal to work with activist and scholar Ram Bhandari, a contact from her time with the University Network for Human Rights. Bhandari is a leader of the Nepali victim and survivor movement, a two-decade struggle for truth and justice following the 1996 to 2006 armed conflict.

Among other transitional justice-related projects, Cohen worked with Bhandari to launch the Center for Human Rights and Victims of Violations, an academic center at the Kathmandu University School of Arts focused on survivor-led change.

Cohen left Nepal in October and traveled for a time while continuing to work with the CHRV team virtually. She recently spent time working on a farm in New Zealand.

Stronger Each Time We Rise

March 2, 2026

from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending an event sponsored by St. Catherine University in connection with the Manitou Fund, featuring Kelly Hall-Tompkins, world-renowned violinist and entrepreneur. Watching and listening to her play arrangements from “Fiddler on the Roof” and other pop and classical pieces gave me goosebumps. Her music transported my mind into an imaginary space of wonder and creativity.

Following her performance, she and Sarah Hicks, also world-renowned for her orchestral conducting, came together to reflect on their past, present, and future experiences as female leaders. Together, they spoke about the importance of knowing and creating one’s own sense of belonging. During the Q&A, Kelly Hall-Tompkins shared a reflection that resonated deeply with me as I think about education, our students, and the world we are preparing them to navigate. I will do my best to paraphrase what she offered:

“There is no doubt that you will fall or fail. It’s how quickly you get back up and try again that will determine your ability to succeed. You might see what you believe to be the result in the distance, but if you don’t get there, what did you learn along the way? Where did the journey take you?”

Her words lingered with me, and I see that same message reflected in our own community.

Last Friday afternoon, I attended our annual Upper School SnowDaze event. It had been nearly 15 years since I last wore a pair of ice skates. With the help of a “walker,” I made it around the rink once before deciding it might be better for me to cheer and observe others as they confidently (and sometimes nervously) made their way across the ice. Students of all levels took to the rink. I watched them encourage one another, hold hands, laugh, fall, and get back up again. Read More

Announcing The Fund A Need For The MPA Spring Auction!

February 17, 2026

At the 2024 Spring Auction, our community said “yes” to strengthening how we support all learners through the Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning. Teachers were equipped with new strategies and tools to meet students where they are. Classrooms became more flexible, more thoughtful, more responsive. But there is still so much more we can do to not only support neurodiverse learners but all students at MPA.

Over the past two years at MPA, we have watched possibility turn into progress. Last year, teachers partnered with an instructional coach and strengthened their practice through Universal Design for Learning. Flexible seating has entered classrooms. Collaboration across divisions has grown.

And we know we can do more. Read More

Then & Now: The Band Program

February 16, 2026

From Gavin Thorson ’22

As I look forward to my graduation this May from Montana State University, reflecting on how I’ve grown as an academic and as a human during my time in Bozeman, I have often thought about the version of myself that was in a similar position four years ago, in the waning months of my senior year at Mounds Park Academy. This review of the last four years of my life dredged up some of my fondest memories of that spring of 2022, and perhaps my happiest memories are of playing trumpet in the band.

The band program at MPA is special, and not least because of how it began. In 1983, music educator Sarah Kumagai was looking for a change. She had bounced between schools for years, and in those days when men dominated education, opportunities for serious advancement were nonexistent. A friend steered her in the direction of MPA: “a new, progressive school.” At her meeting with Bob and Sandy Kreischer, Kumagai proposed a band program which stipulated that each band student receive individual lessons. Only through one-on-one lessons would students ever receive the care and attention necessary to improve their musical skills. Other programs often grouped students together, which was detrimental in Kumagai’s view.

The Kreischers were ready and willing to take on a young woman as their band director, and regarding her proposal about lessons, they replied: “Great — do it!”

So began Kumagai’s 18-year tenure at MPA, which saw the school’s enrollment blossom and its music program similarly thrive. Students received individual lessons, and the volume of students eventually required the employment of an additional staff member for the band program. Eventually, Kumagai was working with the drama department on producing Broadway musicals, which provided challenging scores for Kumagai’s students who played in the pit band. MPA grew bigger and bigger and sent its many graduates off into the world with pleasant memories of making music with friends. “Thank you,” is what they say to Kumagai when they see her now. She says to them, “Thank you for playing with me.” Read More

An Update From Kaija Kunze-Hoeg ’22

February 13, 2026

Kaija Kunze-Hoeg ’22 is a senior at Wellesley College and is majoring in international relations and economics while competing on the college’s volleyball team.

She has embraced the challenge of collegiate athletics, earning all-region and All-American honors. She credits her athletic experience at MPA with helping prepare her to compete at the next level.

MPA also laid the foundation for success in Wellesley’s rigorous academic environment. Most importantly, she says, the school taught her how to build meaningful relationships with professors and peers.

She is now planning her path to graduate school, applying to law schools, and considering a year of beach volleyball. She looks forward to what comes next.