My MPA Experience Archives

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

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

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!

Class of 2019: Mats Dahlberg, Saint Paul

June 17, 2019

As the 2018–19 school year comes to an end, we’re sharing the college choice stories of several members of the Class of 2019!

In what grade did you come to MPA?
I came to MPA in Kindergarten.

How did you come to choose the college that you did?
I chose Columbia College Chicago because it has a strong dance and visual arts program and they would let me be involved in both. I wanted to go to a college in a city surrounded by a vibrant art scene and so many museums and traveling exhibits especially because I’m studying arts. Columbia is right in the middle of the city on Michigan Avenue and has great speakers and events including some notable alumni.

What are you most excited about as you embark on your college experience?
I’m excited to explore my independence, especially in a new city. I am very excited to expand my circle and meet a new very diverse crowd of people with different viewpoints than I’ve been exposed to. I’m excited to have my ideas challenged and add to my skillset with education from new teachers and more high-level art classes. I’d love to take a printmaking class or a textile and fiber works class, something that I haven’t had the opportunity for at MPA, but have the basic artistic foundation for because of the Fine Arts education here. (And I’m excited to try all the pizza Chicago has to offer). Read More

Welcome To The Family, Ms. Drake!

June 14, 2019

Meet Lauren Drake, who is joining MPA’s faculty as an Upper School English teacher! A veteran English teacher, she has taught in both Northern California and in Colorado and recently relocated back to Minnesota. After graduating from Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., Ms. Drake matriculated to Carlton College where she received a Bachelor of Arts in English (magna cum laude) and then received a Master of Arts in British and American literature from Mills College. Learn more about her below!

What did you love about MPA right away?
I loved how MPA felt like a close-knit community that was warm and inviting. Everyone I met, from teachers, to administrators, to students, was incredibly friendly and I felt at home immediately. I also really enjoyed the portion of my interview with students. They were thoughtful, engaging, mature, and funny–I feel so grateful that I’ll get to work with students like that every day at MPA.

What’s your big dream?
My big dream is to start an experiential learning school on a farm. Through farming, students would learn about sustainability and biology. They then would learn about math, economics, and marketing by selling the produce. Of course, we’d read a lot of nature literature as well!

What are you (and your family, if you so choose) passionate about?
I am passionate about connecting with the land–through gardening, hiking, and environmental stewardship. I love spending time outside and now I get to show the beauty of the outdoors to my two young sons.

What’s your secret talent?
I am really good at making up songs on the spot!

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

Meet MPA Parents Leah And Karl Anderson

May 16, 2019

What do you love about MPA?
We love the whole child approach MPA takes to learning and development … pushing each child to pursue the best version of themselves that they can be, but in a manner uniquely designed for who that child is. This is the case not just academically, but also socially, artistically, athletically, and musically. And, MPA wraps a supportive, welcoming, positive community around all of it to make asking big questions and sharing ideas safe and possible. It’s a killer mash-up that means we have a kid who jumps out of bed in the morning excited to go to school and nearly always enthusiastically answers “GREAT!” when asked “how was your day?” Really, what more could parents ask for?

How is your child encouraged to dream big and do right at MPA?
MPA’s “there’s more than one way to solve the problem” approach is a game changer. For example, our daughter shared a story just this week about a lesson she working on in math. She said she was struggling to understand it as presented in class but thought she had found a different way to solve for the answer that she told her teacher about. In some schools, the teacher might have said “no, that’s not how you do it.” At MPA, her teacher said, “Great idea! Why don’t you try your approach with some of the problems tomorrow and see if it works.”

That is the essence of MPA—challenging our kids to excel and learn and grow in an open-ended way that spawns innovation and creative thinking. Dreaming big about possibilities, being willing to test ideas, understanding that “failing” is okay and part of progress, driving resiliency, and starting all over again is the MPA way.

If your child has attended another school, how has your experience at MPA been different?
Our daughter attended a different school for PreK. She dreaded going in the morning, wasn’t challenged academically, and in general just wasn’t energized by the community around her. It was fine, but it was FLAT. At MPA—it’s the polar opposite: ALIVE, ENGAGING, CHALLENGING, ENERGIZING, you name it. It is just night and day. We have never regretted our decision to send our daughter to MPA and plan to do so until the day she graduates. Read More

Meet Mr. Thomsen

April 22, 2019

Upper School science teacher, parent of an alumna

What do you love about MPA?
I love that it offers a liberal arts, whole child experience. Students spend each day doing a variety of things as they learn about themselves and the world.

How many years have you been at MPA?
I’ve been here for 27 years—since 1991!

How does MPA nurture students who forever dream big and do right?
MPA takes the time to nurture students’ interests and gives them a multitude of experiences to help them see the wide range of things those interests relate to.

If you have worked at another school, how has your experience at MPA been different?
The small size makes it easier to communicate with colleagues and to help ensure that no student gets “lost in the shuffle.” I like that I am in charge of my budget and the chance to obtain materials, in the right amounts, to maximize the learning from each lab.

What would you tell a parent considering MPA?
Consider how MPA offers a wide range of offerings, the small class sizes, teachers who are interested in and get to know all of their students. Teachers and administrators are accessible to their students. Each student can be in a multitude of extra curricular activities without a lot of prior experience.

Meet MPA Parent Sungwon Koo

April 8, 2019

What do you love about MPA?
I love the warmth of MPA. That’s the reason that I chose MPA for my son who had come from so far away to the United States. Throughout the application, school tour, and interview process, I could feel the warmth, respect, and sincerity from teachers, interviewers, and staff. They are all proud of being an MPA family, which makes me feel confident. MPA has something special within their heart to care for students and care for families.

How is your child encouraged to dream big and do right at MPA?
MPA is open, flexible, and encourages students to think big and explore new things. Even though my son is not an athletic person, he immediately loved to run on the Cross Country Team and also enjoyed downhill skiing. When my son is planning and selecting courses and extra activities for next semester, he is happy and really excited about what he is going to choose. He wants to learn new things and is full of high hopes and expectations for classes and teachers.

What would you tell another family considering MPA?
If you want a school that takes care of your child like a family, come and choose MPA. Faculty, students, and families are all inclusive to foreign students and new families in general. Passionate teachers are all proud that they can teach at MPA. Faculty and staff pay attention to and are ready to listen to the voices of students and families. Read More

Meet Ryan Ghose ’21

March 19, 2019

What do you love about MPA?
Waking up every morning excited about what I’m doing that day, whether it be a fun activity during class, play rehearsal, or a school dance.

How are you encouraged to dream big and do right at MPA?
I am encouraged to dream big and do right through everything MPA offers. My extracurriculars allow me to explore anything and everything I set my mind to. The volunteer work I have been doing on campaigns and for organizations I believe in continue to inspire me to do right for my peers and my community.

What would you tell a family considering MPA?
If you have a child that loves to learn and wants to explore their environment, MPA allows your child to do that in a supportive and understanding environment. Read More