LEAF Announces 2021 Award Winners
St. Cloud, MN – The District 742 Local Education & Activities Foundation (LEAF) recently recognized and thanked community supporters at the annual LEAF Community Report and Awards Reception via Zoom on Monday, February 22, 2021. Awards were presented for lifetime service, volunteerism, charitable donations, and instructional excellence.
View the Zoom recording of the meeting on YouTube or in our Video Gallery.
The following individuals were recognized:
Volunteer Service Award for significant and ongoing volunteer involvement with LEAF.
- Paul & Marsha Shoemaker
- Marty Heine
Charitable Giving Award for significant financial or in-kind contributions to LEAF.
Business Category:
- Scheels of St. Cloud – Jamie M. Mortland representing Scheels
Individual Donor Category:
- Mike & Karel Helgeson
- Gene and Mary Margaret Bjorklun
- Mary Ann and Vern Leitch
Instructional Excellence Award in recognition of educational excellence and accomplishment.
- Kristin Herbert, North Junior Hight School
- Alexandra Badger, Apollo High School
- District 742 Cooks and Nutritional Services Staff
Lifetime Service Award for significant and ongoing service to and support of the LEAF Mission.
- Elizabeth Reisinger
LEAF 2021 Service Award Winners
Pictured left to right top row: Mary Ann & Vern Leitch, Mary Margaret & Gene Bjorklun, Kristin Herbert. Second row: Marty Heine, Alexandra Badger, Elizabeth Reisinger. Third Row: Karel & Mike Helgeson, Marsha & Paul Shoemaker, Jamie M. Mortland from Scheels.
LEAF also welcomed five new members to the LEAF Board of Directors: Fardowsa Iman, Diane Moeller, Hani Omar-Jacobson, Andrea Preppernau, and Rob Voshell are beginning their first term on the board. Five board members ended their six-year term on the board: Patrick Kruchten, Pat Krueger, Jim Michaud, Laura Pfannenstein and Elizabeth Reisinger.
The LEAF Board realizes that it would be impossible to achieve our mission without the work of individual citizens like those recognized at our annual Awards event.
The District 742 Local Education & Activities Foundation (LEAF) was founded in 1993 as a fully independent, non-profit organization for the purpose of promoting and enhancing school-based, extra-curricular activities and academic opportunities in District 742 Public Schools. LEAF’s endowment fund provides supplemental funding for academic, activities, arts, athletic, and student support services programming in the district’s schools.
During 2020 LEAF provided over $191,000 in grants to District 742 Academic, Activities, Arts, Athletic, and Student Support Services programs. Since 1996 LEAF has been able to be the conduit for over $2.1 million to programs in District 742.