District 279 Foundation’s 2026 Investment in Youth Celebration took place on Sunday, May 3 at Park Center Senior High School: An IB World School.

For years, District 279 Foundation has held the annual event to honor scholars, volunteers and staff in Osseo Area Schools. This year, 72 award recipients were celebrated with dinner prepared by Osseo Area Schools Food & Nutrition Services staff, a program, performance by Maple Grove Crimsonettes and readings by Osseo Senior High Black Student Union. 

District 279 Foundation is honored to recognize the award recipients for their significant investment under one of the following categories:

Significant Investment in Developing Their Own Talents: Exhibiting unique expressions of creativity or talent.

Orchid Yang, Student 279Online

Clara Larson, Student Edinbrook Elementary School

Anousack Sithiphanh, Support Staff Educational Service Center

Nathan Odam, Student Maple Grove Middle School

Naomi Cooper-Grear, Student Park Center Senior High School

Xavier Womack, Student Zanewood Community at STEAM School School 

Significant Investment in Helping the Community: Exhibiting involvement and dedication toward the community and its members.
Xavi Burgos, Student Brooklyn Middle STEAM School
Kim Monette, Educator Brooklyn Middle STEAM School
Merrill Norman, Student Early Childhood Family Education
Kelly Deines, Support Staff Elm Creek Elementary School
Addy Kraetz, Student Elm Creek Elementary School
Noemi Sandoval, Educator Garden City Elementary School
Cheryl & Kyle Sorensen, Volunteer Oak View Elementary School
Teagan Petersen, Student Osseo Middle School
Anas Ahmed, Student Osseo Senior High School
Edali Terrones Martinez, Support Staff Palmer Lake Elementary School
Tanvi Rastogi, Educator Palmer Lake Elementary School
Elvia Huitron Romero, Support Staff Park Brook Elementary School 
Rico Calvert Jr., Student Park Center Senior High School 
Thomas Madden, Support Staff Weaver Lake: A Science, Math & Technology School

Significant Investment in Modeling for Youth: Demonstrating through words and actions an example for young people. 

Rayanne Overton, Student Basswood Elementary School 

Jayemei Baker, Student Birch Grove School for the Arts 

Henrik Dobson, Student Cedar Island Elementary School 

Josie Scheidecker, Student Cedar Island Elementary School 

Caitlyn Kreye, Student Maple Grove Senior High School 

Gaetano Sanders, Student Osseo Education Center

Eli Karmo, Student Palmer Lake Elementary School 

Alyssa Negussie, Student Rice Lake Elementary School 

Alexis Hallman, Educator Woodland Elementary School 

 

Significant Investment in Overcoming Adversity: Displaying the will and courage to overcome major challenges. 

Tia Brown, Student Adult Basic Education 

Athina Meza, Student Adult Basic Education 

D’Mori Chester-Mitchell, Student Early Childhood Special Education 

Jeanne Barr, Educator Enrollment Center 

Maraiah Fox, Student Fernbrook Elementary School 

Norma Nistler, Support Staff Osseo Senior High School 

 

Significant Investment in the Betterment of Education: Showing commitment to education by giving of their time, talents or resources. 

John Davis, Educator 279Online 

Michelle Wolf, Support Staff 279Online 

Shiann Johnson, Educator Basswood Elementary School 

Tamera Hanschen, Support Staff Birch Grove Elementary School for the Arts

Connie Baesler, Support Staff Community-Based Vocational Assessment & Training 

Pam Mol, Educator Early Childhood Family Education 

Claire Becerra, Support Staff Early Childhood Special Education 

Jackie Welle, Support Staff Edinbrook Elementary School 

Lisa Elsesser, Kay Kust, Kristin Myers, Anne Woods, Student Services Staff Development Specialist team Education Service Center

Katherine Martin, Educator Enrollment Center 

Liz Stock, Educator Fair Oaks Elementary School 

Amy Rosin, Educator Fernbrook Elementary School 

Sadie Pierce, Educator Maple Grove Middle School 

Julie Demos, Support Staff Maple Grove Senior High School 

Rachel Wilkerson, Educator Osseo Area Learning Center 

Sue Simons, Retired Educator Osseo Area Retired Educators 

Ann Bloomfield, Support Staff Osseo Education Center 

Michelle Arbeiter, Educator Osseo Middle School 

Kerry Battaglia, Support Staff Rice Lake Elementary School 

Lynette Johnson, Support Staff Rush Creek Elementary School 

Daren Hill, Educator Zanewood Community: A STEAM School 

 

Significant Investment in Their Own Learning: Demonstrating perseverance, love of learning or pursuit of knowledge by study or experience. 

Fatima Almusawey, Student 279Online 

Makayla Peterson, Student Community-Based Vocational Assessment & Training 

Ivan Vang, Student Fair Oaks Elementary School 

Lucas Dawodu, Student Garden City Elementary School 

Nasra Abdullahi, Student North View Middle School 

Nishwaq Hassan, Student North View Middle School 

Jase Byars, Student Oak View Elementary School 

Sofia Villeda, Student Osseo Area Learning Center 

Thao Chi Nguyen, Student Park Brook Elementary School 

Alina Munyeneh, Student Rush Creek Elementary School 

Krish Vijaykarthik, Student Weaver Lake: A Science, Math & Technology School 

Gina Nguyen, Student Woodland Elementary School

The program was recorded and will replay during the month of May on CCX Media Channel 20 or Channel 859 through Comcast Cable. Check local listings for date and time.