Alumni Awards
The Minnetonka Alumni Association celebrates the accomplishments of outstanding alumni at an annual awards brunch during homecoming each year.
Alumni Awards Brunch
Saturday, September 28, 2019
10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Minnetonka High School
2019 Award Winners
Distinguished Alumni Award
- Ed Deutschlander '89
- Mike Bussey '65
Distinguished Alumni Award in Memoriam
- Bob Naegele '57
Distinguished Service Award
- Bill Loeber '69
Young Alumni Award
- Craig Bantz '04
- Kelsy Zimba '04
Skipper Hall of Fame
- Rob LaRue '97
- Gary Peterson '59
Faculty Hall of Fame
- Sue Adamek
- Juris Terauds
Up to ten awards may be presented each year. The selection committee consists of the MHS student leaders, the high school principal and MAA Board members. Awards may be presented in the following categories:
- Distinguished Alumni Award
- Distinguished Service Award
- Young Alum Achievement Award
- Skippers Hall of Fame (Arts, Activities, Athletics)
- Faculty Hall of Fame
Distinguished Alumni Award
This award is Minnetonka’s premier alumni honor, recognizing distinguished professional achievement, distinguished leadership and/or distinguished service toward the greater good. Recipient(s) must have graduated from Minnetonka High School at least 20 years prior to receiving the award.
Past recipients:
- 2009 - D. Bruce Johnstone '59
- 2009 - Matthew Slaughter '86
- 2010 - Dr. Prudence Lam '89
- 2010 - Jan Malcolm '73
- 2011 - Lee Blessing '67
- 2011 - Peter Holthe '78
- 2012 - Mark Kroll '70
- 2012 - Tom Staggs '78
- 2013 - Stephen Pouliot '63
- 2013 - Mary Story '69
- 2014 - Deborah (Smith) Mayer '65
- 2014 - Dr. Steven Miles '68
- 2015 - Donald Mark '65
- 2015 - Anna Nelson '91
- 2015 - Gary Sundem '63
- 2016 - Robin Phillips '81
- 2016 - James (Jim) Rice '65
- 2017 - Lori Palmer '65
- 2017 - Richard Humleker '67
Distinguished Service Award
Open to any Minnetonka alumni, recognizing significant volunteer service benefiting the greater good, philanthropic leadership or service/contribution to the MAA.
Past recipients:
- 2009 - Tad Shaw (Former Board Member), Bob Miller ’54 and Steve Frazier (Former Teacher)
- 2009 - Nancy Countryman '59
- 2011 - Charlie Kanan '69 and Frank Kuzma '79
- 2012 - Carl Zinn '61
- 2013 - Bob Williams '39
- 2015 - Brian Kuhnly '78
- 2016 - Bonnie Board Niles '67
- 2017 - Cornell Anderson '66
Young Alum Achievement Award
This award honors alumni within fifteen years of graduating from Minnetonka High School for distinguished post-secondary academic achievement, professional achievement, distinguished leadership and/or distinguished service toward the greater good.
Past recipients:
- 2010 - Kate Oyler Mulhern '00
- 2016 - Sarah Larsson '08
- 2017 - Ryan McCartan '11
Skippers Hall of Fame (Arts, Activities, Athletics)
Providing an opportunity to remember the good times, the Skippers Hall of Fame inducts up to five individuals or teams for achievements in arts, activities and athletics. Induction reflects achievements that stand the test of time, by alumni who graduated from MHS more than 10 years ago.
Past recipients:
- 2009 - Ryan Keating '98
- 2009 - Chris Fenwick '97
- 2009 - Elwin Burditte '76
- 2010 - Bill Carrothers '82
- 2010 - Dr. Sue Stuebner Gaylor '89
- 2010 - Steve Seamans '70
- 2010 - Jim Brower '91
- 2011 - Jill (Lindquist) Hanson '70
- 2011 - Kenni Holmen '76
- 2011 - Ann Reed '73
- 2011 - John J. Ziegler III '82
- 2012 - Bruce Johnson '66
- 2012 - Steve Comer '72
- 2012 - Justin McHugh '91
- 2012 - Missy Peterson Fowler '95
- 2013 - Diane D'Aquila '69
- 2013 - Keith Nord '75
- 2014 - 1965 Boys Basketball Team
- 2015 - Ryan Klocksien '98
- 2015 - William Leer '03
- 2015 - Marnie Mosiman '69
- 2016 - 1991 Varsity Swim Team
- 2016 - Steve Hamrick '74
- 2017 - Marty Benson '63
Faculty Hall of Fame
Nominated by a former student and selected through an online vote of MAA members, the Faculty Hall of Fame will honor a Minnetonka School District teacher or administrator who inspired in students a passion to excel with confidence and hope.
Past recipients:
- 2009 - Martin Thames, Chemistry Teacher
- 2009 - Dan Geldert, Band Director
- 2009 - Raymond Minkler, Choir and Band Director
- 2010 - Einer Anderson, Physical Education Teacher
- 2010 - David Ringstad, Social Studies Teacher
- 2010 - Mary Skoy, English Teacher
- 2011 - Joe Lane, Physical Education Teacher and Coach
- 2011 - Roger "Bud" Leak, Social Studies Teacher and Coach
- 2011 - Yosh Sudo, Social Studies Teacher
- 2012 - Ed Haley, Guidance Counselor and Teacher
- 2012 - Harold Melby, Principal at Groveland Elementary
- 2013 - Lynn Krafve, Teacher and Coach
- 2013 - Bob Rogness, Teacher and Coach
- 2014 - Brad Board '66, Principal at Deephaven and Minnewashta, MHS Athletic Director
- 2014 - William Chisholm, English Teacher
- 2015 - Steve Frazier, Counselor and Social Studies Teacher
- 2015 - Jane Ann Goltz, Special Education Teacher
- 2015 - Lloyd Law, Principal at Groveland, Minnewashta and Excelsior
- 2015 - Randy Nelson, Social Studies Teacher, Work Experience Coordinator and Soccer Coach
- 2016 - Lynn Johnson Owens '62 , Second Grade Teacher at Deephaven
- 2016 - Walt "Doc" West, Physical Education Teacher, Athletic Director and Coach
- 2017 - Howard Young
- 2017 - Bill Seibert '64
Deadline: Nominations are accepted throughout the year. Decisions for the annual awards are made in June each year. Nominations submitted after February 1 will be considered for the following year.
In This Section
Contact
President: Dan Heiland '74
Secretary: Marietta Jacobsen '70
Treasurer: Lisa Mayer '79
alumni@minnetonkaschools.org
Minnetonka Alumni Association
P.O. Box 103
Excelsior, MN 55331
Transcripts
Order transcripts online. There is a $5 fee, payable online.