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Congratulations to our wonderful Candidates. You all were amazing!
Sydney Lieser
Sponsored by: Surge Cycling
Sydney will be a junior at Maple Grove Senior High this fall and has future plans of attending
college to major in Elementary Education and Musical Theater. Earlier this year, Sydney
volunteered for a kindness retreat at Cedar Island Elementary. This was impactful for her to
realize all of the positive lessons and understanding she saw in the kids after that experience.
Sydney’s family has a tradition of cutting down their own Christmas tree the day after
Thanksgiving. Music is her passion with voice and piano lessons, performing in various musical
theater groups and this brings her interest as a song writer allowing her to express her feelings
and emotions. In that regard, she would like to meet Joshua Basset, musical artist who
appreciates his fans and donates some of his profits toward teen mental health. Sydney is the
daughter of Andy and Sommer Lieser and has a younger brother.
Sydney will be a junior at Maple Grove Senior High this fall and has future plans of attending
college to major in Elementary Education and Musical Theater. Earlier this year, Sydney
volunteered for a kindness retreat at Cedar Island Elementary. This was impactful for her to
realize all of the positive lessons and understanding she saw in the kids after that experience.
Sydney’s family has a tradition of cutting down their own Christmas tree the day after
Thanksgiving. Music is her passion with voice and piano lessons, performing in various musical
theater groups and this brings her interest as a song writer allowing her to express her feelings
and emotions. In that regard, she would like to meet Joshua Basset, musical artist who
appreciates his fans and donates some of his profits toward teen mental health. Sydney is the
daughter of Andy and Sommer Lieser and has a younger brother.
Jessica Faller
Sponsored by: The Lookout Bar and Grill
Jessica will be a junior at Wayzata High School next fall as a National Honor Society candidate.
Her future plans include furthering her education at an undecided college and degree. She has
been impacted as a volunteer at Wayzata Kids where she polishes her leadership skills, makes
connections with the kids and learns various responsibilities. She also enjoys other community
service projects at Parks Place Memory Care, Animal Humane Society and Camp Idahaupi.
Jessica is a three-sport athlete with soccer, downhill skiing and track and loves her family
tradition in Cass Lake each summer at their annual family reunion. She would like to meet
Mikaela Shiffrin who has broken the boundaries in downhill skiing. She is the daughter of Gerry
and Luci Faller and has an older sister and a younger brother.
Jessica will be a junior at Wayzata High School next fall as a National Honor Society candidate.
Her future plans include furthering her education at an undecided college and degree. She has
been impacted as a volunteer at Wayzata Kids where she polishes her leadership skills, makes
connections with the kids and learns various responsibilities. She also enjoys other community
service projects at Parks Place Memory Care, Animal Humane Society and Camp Idahaupi.
Jessica is a three-sport athlete with soccer, downhill skiing and track and loves her family
tradition in Cass Lake each summer at their annual family reunion. She would like to meet
Mikaela Shiffrin who has broken the boundaries in downhill skiing. She is the daughter of Gerry
and Luci Faller and has an older sister and a younger brother.
Olivia Plude
Sponsored by: Maple Grove Women of Today
Olivia just graduated from Maple Grove Senior High and is headed to Mankato State this fall in
pursuit of a Medical Lab Science degree. While at MGSH, she was an Iron Girl award winner
for swim and dive and a student athlete GPA award recipient. She is employed by Life Time
Fitness as a swim instructor and is CPR certified. Olivia has helped for many years, with food
needs of many families with Feed My Starving Children. She has a family tradition of baking
holiday goodies to give to neighbors, friends and family and every year they try new recipes.
Olivia would like to have met Frances Glessner Lee to learn more about her breakthroughs as a
forensic scientist which were used in solving crime. Olivia is the daughter of J J and Kirsten
Plude.
Olivia just graduated from Maple Grove Senior High and is headed to Mankato State this fall in
pursuit of a Medical Lab Science degree. While at MGSH, she was an Iron Girl award winner
for swim and dive and a student athlete GPA award recipient. She is employed by Life Time
Fitness as a swim instructor and is CPR certified. Olivia has helped for many years, with food
needs of many families with Feed My Starving Children. She has a family tradition of baking
holiday goodies to give to neighbors, friends and family and every year they try new recipes.
Olivia would like to have met Frances Glessner Lee to learn more about her breakthroughs as a
forensic scientist which were used in solving crime. Olivia is the daughter of J J and Kirsten
Plude.
Megan Barker
Sponsored by: Maple Grove Rotary
Megan has just completed her junior year at Parnassus Preparatory School. She is an honor roll
student, recipient of the Dedication Award in 2022 and Gold Award recipient this year. After
graduation in 2025, she would like to attend the University of Greenwich and study International
Law and eventually obtain a Masters in Global Health. Megan has volunteered with the Gary
Sinise Foundation Snowball Express for three years and finds joy in connecting with the children
of those military families who have lost someone. Megan’s friends tell her she is their “yellow”
as she has a warm and inviting personality and she loves her St. Patrick’s Day family tradition of
hiding a treasured bobblehead in obscure places. She would have been thrilled to have met
Queen Elizabeth II as she seemed like someone easy to talk to and learn more about her work as
a mechanic in WWII. Megan is the daughter of Pamela Barker.
Megan has just completed her junior year at Parnassus Preparatory School. She is an honor roll
student, recipient of the Dedication Award in 2022 and Gold Award recipient this year. After
graduation in 2025, she would like to attend the University of Greenwich and study International
Law and eventually obtain a Masters in Global Health. Megan has volunteered with the Gary
Sinise Foundation Snowball Express for three years and finds joy in connecting with the children
of those military families who have lost someone. Megan’s friends tell her she is their “yellow”
as she has a warm and inviting personality and she loves her St. Patrick’s Day family tradition of
hiding a treasured bobblehead in obscure places. She would have been thrilled to have met
Queen Elizabeth II as she seemed like someone easy to talk to and learn more about her work as
a mechanic in WWII. Megan is the daughter of Pamela Barker.
Claire Prudhomme
Sponsored by: Donato's Floral
Claire will graduate high school in 2026 and is currently participating in PSEO studies through
Northwestern University, St. Paul. After high school she would like a career in Psychology. She
is employed as a lifeguard at the Holiday Inn Arbor Lakes Waterpark. Claire spent a week in
Guatemala helping communities in extreme poverty which added to her interest in learning more
about the world around her. She enjoys cross-country skiing with her family and stays involved
with youth as an I9 sports referee and coaching for the Minnesota Youth Ski League. She would
have liked meeting Emmett Till and his mother as they showcased the need for social and racial
reform in the 1950’s. Claire is the daughter of Leah Hiller and John Prudhomme and has an
older brother, younger brother and younger sister.
Claire will graduate high school in 2026 and is currently participating in PSEO studies through
Northwestern University, St. Paul. After high school she would like a career in Psychology. She
is employed as a lifeguard at the Holiday Inn Arbor Lakes Waterpark. Claire spent a week in
Guatemala helping communities in extreme poverty which added to her interest in learning more
about the world around her. She enjoys cross-country skiing with her family and stays involved
with youth as an I9 sports referee and coaching for the Minnesota Youth Ski League. She would
have liked meeting Emmett Till and his mother as they showcased the need for social and racial
reform in the 1950’s. Claire is the daughter of Leah Hiller and John Prudhomme and has an
older brother, younger brother and younger sister.
Hannah Nielsen
Sponsored by: Kozlak-Radulovich Funeral Chapels
Hannah attends Osseo Senior High. She enters her junior year in the fall as an A Honor Roll
student. Her future plans include attending college and med school to study Orthopedic Care.
She has had meaningful volunteering time with Feed My Starving Children and Second Harvest
to know she was helping struggling families. She is also active in her church, Osseo United
Methodist. Hannah enjoys playing hockey and softball, has a family tradition of finding a
hidden pickle in their Christmas tree, takes haunted hayrides in the fall and loves to travel. She
would like to meet Noah Kahan and Hozier in admiration for their music. Hannah is the
daughter of Tim and Jenna Nielsen and has a younger sister.
Hannah attends Osseo Senior High. She enters her junior year in the fall as an A Honor Roll
student. Her future plans include attending college and med school to study Orthopedic Care.
She has had meaningful volunteering time with Feed My Starving Children and Second Harvest
to know she was helping struggling families. She is also active in her church, Osseo United
Methodist. Hannah enjoys playing hockey and softball, has a family tradition of finding a
hidden pickle in their Christmas tree, takes haunted hayrides in the fall and loves to travel. She
would like to meet Noah Kahan and Hozier in admiration for their music. Hannah is the
daughter of Tim and Jenna Nielsen and has a younger sister.
Lexi Lipovsky
Sponsored by: K2 Sound & Light
Lexi is an Honor Roll student and will be a junior this fall at Osseo Senior High. Yet undecided
she plans to attend college or join the Marine Corps. She holds a job as receptionist at Fantastic
Sams. She and her grandmother enjoy visiting nursing home residents to sit, engage in
wonderful conversation and who are all very sweet and fun to talk to. She has also volunteered
time at St. Therese At Oxbow Lake and Creative Church. Lexi and her family spend holidays
together at her grandmother’s house and over the years she has gained strength and confidence
growing up in a supportive household. Lexi would like to meet guests who were on the Titanic
and hear their sympathetic stories. She is the daughter of Dale and Elizabeth Lipovsky and has
one older brother, one younger brother and a younger sister.
Lexi is an Honor Roll student and will be a junior this fall at Osseo Senior High. Yet undecided
she plans to attend college or join the Marine Corps. She holds a job as receptionist at Fantastic
Sams. She and her grandmother enjoy visiting nursing home residents to sit, engage in
wonderful conversation and who are all very sweet and fun to talk to. She has also volunteered
time at St. Therese At Oxbow Lake and Creative Church. Lexi and her family spend holidays
together at her grandmother’s house and over the years she has gained strength and confidence
growing up in a supportive household. Lexi would like to meet guests who were on the Titanic
and hear their sympathetic stories. She is the daughter of Dale and Elizabeth Lipovsky and has
one older brother, one younger brother and a younger sister.
Whitney Kowalski
Sponsored by: Maple Grove Auto Service
Whitney is a 2024 Maple Grove Senior High graduate and will be a freshman at BYU Idaho this
fall to study Animal Science. She is a GPA Award recipient and a student athlete having been
on the track team for six years and is captain this year. She had a meaningful volunteer
experience as a teacher’s aide where she was able to help students in their biology studies. She
holds a job at Pet Smart as a Pet Care Specialist and loves her family tradition of summer
camping where they all become detached from their devices and social media. Whitney would
like to meet Mary Temple Grandin. Grandin has such an inspiring story thriving through autism
and is a proponent of the humane treatment of livestock. Whitney is the daughter of Zachary and
Tina Kowalski and has an older and a younger sister.
Whitney is a 2024 Maple Grove Senior High graduate and will be a freshman at BYU Idaho this
fall to study Animal Science. She is a GPA Award recipient and a student athlete having been
on the track team for six years and is captain this year. She had a meaningful volunteer
experience as a teacher’s aide where she was able to help students in their biology studies. She
holds a job at Pet Smart as a Pet Care Specialist and loves her family tradition of summer
camping where they all become detached from their devices and social media. Whitney would
like to meet Mary Temple Grandin. Grandin has such an inspiring story thriving through autism
and is a proponent of the humane treatment of livestock. Whitney is the daughter of Zachary and
Tina Kowalski and has an older and a younger sister.
2024 Candidate
Experience
Thank you
Sponsors
THANK YOU TO OUR
2024 CANDIDATE SPONSORS
Donato's Floral
K2 Sound & Light
Kozlak-Radulovich Funeral Chapels
Maple Grove Auto
Maple Grove Rotary
Maple Grove Women of Today
Surge Cycling
The Lookout Bar and Grill
THANK YOU TO OUR PROGRAM SPONSORS
Brimeyer family
Goldwear Jewelers
Kampa family
Maple Grove Community Organization
Maple Grove Firefighters Relief Assoc.
Maple Grove Lions
James Miller
Northwest Area Jaycees
Osseo-Maple Grove American Legion
Michelene Radulovich
Tara Traxler
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