Politics & Government

15 Local Teens Honored with St. Louis Park Caring Youth Awards

The ceremony recognized young people who are having a positive impact on the St. Louis Park community.

A total of 15 teenagers making a positive impact on the St. Louis Park community were honored Tuesday evening, April 22, during the 24th annual Caring Youth Recognition.

Mayor Jeff Jacobs was on hand for the festivities, saying he "never gets tired of hearing these stories" of young people volunteering to make St. Louis Park a better community.

"It's coming to events like this and meeting these kids that gives me extraordinary faith and extraordinary hope in our future," Jacobs said.

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The 2013 recipients are as follows: 

  • Samantha Bremner, a Minneapolis resident and senior at St. Louis Park High School. Bremner was recognized for volunteering on the St. Louis Park Youth Development Committee for eight years.
  • Leah Braunstein, a St. Louis Park resident and junior at Bais Yaakov of the Twin Cities. Braunstein was recognized for tutoring others in Hebrew studies, mentoring a neighbor who is home schooled and has a hard time connecting with others and growing her hair out to donate it to a local organization that makes wigs for cancer patients.
  • McKenzie Dunleavy, a Minneapolis resident and 8th grader at Benilde-St. Margaret's Junior High. Dunleavy was recognized for being a member of the Red Knight Volunteer Corps for two years and volunteering for nearly every event offered during that time.
  • Caroline Kupchella, a Golden Valley resident and junior at Benilde-St. Margaret's High School. Kupchella was recognized for being a regular volunteer at her school, where she participates in every club whose expressed intent is to serve others.
  • Fatuma Mohamud, a St. Louis Park resident and senior at St. Louis Park High School. Mohamud was recognized for being a member of the Children First marketing task force for two years.
  • Allen Quan, a St. Louis Park resident and junior at St. Louis Park High School. Quan was recognized for being on the youth advisory board with myHealth for Teens and Adults for one year.
  • Anna McCloskey, a Minneapolis residents and junior at Benilde-St. Margaret's High School. McCloskey was recognized for volunteering with the Kids Connection program at Perspectives, Inc. She has worked as a kitchen assistant in the Kids Cafe.
  • Isabella Nordahl, an Anoka resident and senior at Elk River High School. Nordahl was recognized for actively serving for Spirit of Christ Community Lutheran Church for six years, including several mission trips.
  • Mack Hoogenraad, a St. Louis Park resident and senior at St. Louis Park High School. Hoogenraad was recognized for being a member of the St. Louis Park Police Explorers for three years.
  • Jasmine Koita, a St. Louis Park resident and freshman at St. Louis Park High School. Koita was recognized for having been involved with the Meadowbrook Collaborative since kindergarten. She's been involved in service learning at various levels for six years. 
  • Morgan MacDonald, a St. Louis Park resident and senior at St. Louis Park High School. MacDonald was recognized for being a St. Louis Park Junior Ambassador from 2005-06 and currently serving as one of three young adult St. Louis Park Ambassadors for 2012-13. 
  • Eric Manuel, a St. Louis Park resident and 8th grader at St. Louis Park Middle School. Manuel was recognized for serving as a junior leader for the City of St. Louis Park's summer park program for two years. 
  • Andrew Jewell, a St. Louis Park resident who is home schooled. Jewell was recognized for volunteering with the Westwood Hills Nature Center since 2009, where he has contributed more than 230 hours of service. 
  • Alexandra Pasquale, St. Louis Park resident and senior at St. Louis Park High School. Pasquale was recognized for being an active and important part of Children Youth and Family Ministries at Westwood Lutheran Church for many years.
  • Sabrina Datt, a St. Louis Park resident and senior at St. Louis Park High School. Datt was recognized for volunteering her time as a member of the Central Clinic Advisory Council.

The Caring Young Awards have been around since 1990, when Doris and Roland Larson started the program through Westwood Lutheran Church. Its purpose is to encourage and reward young people in St. Louis Park who both care for fellow community members and volunteer their time.

Find out what's happening in St. Louis Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A full video of the 2013 Caring Youth Recognition—courtesy of our friends at ParkTV—is embedded above, for your viewing pleasure.

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