Inspire Magazine 2026

The Eden Prairie Schools 100 Years of Inspiring Each Oral History Project captures personal stories from former students, staff and community members. Through 15 interviews spanning the classes of 1953 to 2024, hear how the district evolved from a small farming town into a diverse and thriving community.

Conducted by oral historian Vicki Albu and funded by the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants program, this project offers a vivid glimpse into the district’s past, present and future, bringing its history to life through the voices of those who experienced it firsthand.

Hear more from staff and alumni who are featured in this issue of INSPIRE. Plus Eden Prairie Mayor Dr. Ron case, Historical Society President Kathie Case, Lois Long (‘53) and more!

Visit our Oral History Project page to listen to stories from all of our narrators. 

FALL 2025

• Forest Hills recognized with a 2025 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award
  Forest Hills’ recognition as a Blue Ribbon school was built on several key strengths, including student achievement; designation as a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) Exemplar School for helping students be safe, kind and responsible; and a strong, positive school climate that helps every child thrive.

• EPHS teacher Sheila Stalberger wins Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence
  An industrial technology teacher, Ms. Stalberger was one of just 25 national winners of the prize in 2025 and the only winner in Minnesota. The prestigious prize included $35,000 for the EPHS industrial technology program and $15,000 for Ms. Stalberger herself. 

• EPHS math teacher Alyce Price was named a 2025 finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. This honor, administered by the National Science Foundation on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, recognizes the highest achievements of K-12 STEM teachers across the United States.

• Oak Point Elementary School art teacher Jules Belmont was recognized as the 2025 Elementary Art Educator of the Year by Art Educators Minnesota.

• 17 EPHS 12th graders were selected as Commended Students in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program, recognized for exceptional academic potential.

• 2025 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Linda “Wally” Wallenberg was honored with the Parr Prize for Excellence in Teaching Shakespeare. In addition to the Parr Prize, Wally also received the organization’s inaugural Legend Award, which recognizes how her love of Shakespeare makes her an inspirational role model for others.

• School Board Chair Aaron Casper was named to the Minnesota All-State School Board, a reflection of his outstanding contributions to supporting staff, students and families.

WINTER 2025-26

• Linda Wallenberg named one of five finalists for National Teacher of the Year
  This was the first time Eden Prairie Schools had a national finalist. As the 2025 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, Wallenberg traveled around the country sharing her story to inspire other educators. 
• Then-12th grader Tarun Tammana (‘26) one of 150 high school seniors named a Coca Cola Scholar in 2026
  Selected from an initial pool of 107,000+ applicants from across the country, Tarun received a $20,000 college scholarship in recognition of his leadership, service and academic achievements. He was also awarded a $3,200 National Honor Society scholarship as just one of four semifinalists in the state of Minnesota.

• Then-12th-grade basketball player Hamze Yusuf (‘26) reached 1,000 career points.

• Then-12th graders Aaron Claver (‘26) and Kotono Kazama (‘26) were named EPHS’s 2025-26 Triple ‘A’ Award winners. This recognition (officially known as the Academics, Arts, and Athletics Award) honors high school seniors across Minnesota who participate in Minnesota State High School League-sponsored sports and fine arts, all while maintaining a GPA of at least 3.0. Kotono was ultimately named a region 6AA finalist.

• In January, the College Board announced that Eden Prairie High School had once again been named to its AP School Honor Roll with silver-level recognition. This achievement acknowledges a high number of students in the previous year’s graduating class who took Advanced Placement (AP) courses, achieved high scores on AP exams and earned college credit.

SPRING-Summer 2026

• 10 EPHS students named National Merit Finalists
  Congratulations to Jessica Cao (‘26), Gwendolyn Glasrud (‘26), Kotono Kazama (‘26), Jingyi Ling (‘26), Vivian Nguyen (‘26), Eshaan Salunke (‘26), Devanshu Shah (‘26), Syon Shetty (‘26), Ojas Sonbarse (‘26) and Alexander Wycoff (‘26).
• 10 Eagles named candidates for the 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars Progra
  Recognized among 3.6 million graduating seniors nationwide for their academic achievement, leadership, service and character, candidates included Aiden Boudreau (‘26), Jia Chenchlani (‘26), Ian Gong (‘26), Shivashish Khanna (‘26), Paili Rice (‘26), Jingyi Ling (‘26), Devanshu Shah (‘26), Alexander Wycoff (‘26), Jessica Cao (‘26) and Kotono Kazama (‘26).
• Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion named a 2026 National Gold Star School by the National Association of Elementary School Principals
  This national recognition honors schools that demonstrate exemplary leadership, innovation and commitment to student success. Only 57 schools across the nation were recognized in this first year of the award, and Eagle Heights was the only school in Minnesota.
• EPHS Flag Football goes Undefeated
  The EPHS girls flag football team finished an incredible regular season undefeated and won the section title in just their second year as a team.
• CMS seventh grader Asher Rilen, EPHS 11th grader Evan Ebert and EPHS ninth grader Om Gautam earned recognition at the Minnesota History Day state competition.
• Then-fifth graders Samantha Anderson, Maddie Quinn and Alice Bittencourt won first place for Eden Lake in the Virtual Elementary category of the ZOOMS STEM Design Challenge hosted by the Minnesota Zoo. The innovative Eagles designed a squid toy for sea lions that would provide enrichment and exercise while decreasing boredom. Congratulations to other teams across the district who won awards with their designs too, including groups from Cedar Ridge, Forest Hills and Prairie View, and a second team at Eden Lake.
• The South Suburban Jets won the CI State Championship at the State Adapted Floor Hockey Tournament. This team, made up of students from several neighboring districts, included then-10th grader Isaiah Urena from EPHS. Additionally, Eagles on the South Suburban Flyers Softball Team won the State Adapted Softball Tournament.
• Finley Lane (‘26) was named Eden Prairie’s 2025-26 Athena Award winner as an outstanding three-sport athlete who excels in track, volleyball and gymnastics. She earned three varsity letters, All-Conference honors, two Honorable Mentions, and two Academic All-State recognitions and was also named the 2025 Dreamers and Doers Award recipient.
• EPHS students were recognized by the Minnesota Aspirations in Computing Awards Program for their achievements in technology and computing. With eight honorees, EPHS earned the third-highest number of recognitions in the state, including one National Honorable Mention, four State Winners and three State Honorable Mentions.
• Prairie View and Eden Lake Math Masters teams soared at the 2026 Math Masters competition and in state results, including a fifth-place state finish for Prairie View’s “5th Dimension” team and a third-place state finish for Prairie View fourth grader Khiem Nguyen in the individual round.
• EPHS students Sankalp Agrawal, Allison LaMothe, Aditya Madireddy, Anish Peri, Eliza Tippets and Bradley Wilkings earned a perfect score of 36 on the ACT, placing them among the highest-performing students in the nation.
• Industry Partnership Coordinator Karen Brettingen won the Carl Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award from the Minnesota Association for Career and Technical Education (CTE), recognizing her impact on our community.
• Eden Prairie Schools Awarded 2026 PBIS Recognitions Eden Prairie Schools was recognized for outstanding work to implement Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports across all schools. In addition to the district recognition, Cedar Ridge, Eagle Heights, Eden Lake, Forest Hills, Oak Point and Prairie View were named Sustaining Exemplar Schools for their work teaching students to be safe, kind and responsible.

The Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools (FEPS) has announced its 2025 Legacy Award recipients! The Legacy Awards are given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to students and families in Eden Prairie Schools. Thanks to this outstanding group for all they contribute to Eagle Nation! Here are the winners, with quotes from their nominations:

STAFF OF THE YEAR Katy Anderson, Q-Comp Coach

“She takes the time to form relationships with the staff so that teachers nervous about being observed feel safe and celebrated. She finds the good in every classroom she observes and makes us all feel like rockstars.”

ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEARSamantha Curtiss, Second Grade, Oak Point Elementary

“I am fully confident in getting what we need from Ms. Curtiss to help my son be the best he can be. This kind of support means the world to parents and students.”

SECONDARY TEACHER OF THE YEARLaurie Hennen, French Teacher, Eden Prairie High School

“Laurie has taught me so much about how to not just teach kids, but to connect with them. She demonstrates high levels of professionalism in guiding our conversations and ensuring that all colleagues grow together.”

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEARMary Krebs, Spanish Education Fund, Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion

“Mary has been instrumental in resurrecting the Spanish Education Fund (SEF) to its pre-pandemic glory since she took on the role of SEF Chair!”

COMMUNITY LEADER OF THE YEAROfficer Ryan Kuffel, School Resource Officer, Eden Prairie Police Department

“I constantly hear students saying, ‘I want to be Officer Ryan when I grow up.’ She works diligently to ensure that everyone around her feels seen, heard, valued and supported.”

STAFF OF THE YEARLaura Mahoney, Special Education Paraprofessional, Central Middle School

“Laura’s dedication is unwavering. Her willingness to put in extra time and effort, whether through mentoring, problem-solving or collaborating with colleagues, reflects her deep commitment to student achievement.”

STAFF OF THE YEARPamela Orellana, Cultural Liaison, Community Education

“Pamela’s love of children and willingness to support the whole child and family doesn’t go unnoticed. In her current role, Pamela goes WAY above and beyond to ensure families feel welcomed, included and informed.”