Students recognized through Rotary’s ‘Above and Beyond’ award 

Eden Prairie High School Principal Conn McCartan told the audience gathered at Olympic Hills Golf Club that they would walk out of there “with a completely new definition of what success is.”

The success on display Thursday evening for the second annual Above and Beyond Recognition Dinner goes beyond simple categories. Instead, the Above and Beyond awards, sponsored by the Eden Prairie A.M. Rotary, looks to recognize those high school seniors who stand out, for their decency, their good spirits and determination in the face of struggles. Either way, it involves some amazing stories:

 “In our halls every day are these remarkable stories,” said McCartan during the presentation.

The students honored included: Afia Addo, Osman Ahmed, Taylor Brenny, Sam Buck, Arisa Grier, Fadumo Ibrahim, Alban Ignabode, Amira Jama, Erwin Kruk, Kyle Miller, Andrew Nelson, Alyssa Newton, Nolan O’Brien, Bianca Rogers, Ivann Ibarra Salas, Juan Spielman and Kim Tran.

During the evening McCartan called each student up and gave a summary of their story. Counselors, teachers and others in the community nominated the students.

Afia Addo: Addo lost her father to a heart attack when she was in the eighth grade. Originally born in Ghana, she has lived in Italy and eventually moved to Eden Prairie with her uncle and started class. McCartan noted that Addo’s grades have improved each year in high school. She has completed two years of Japanese and is a member of the Step Team and Diversity Club.

 “She also joined a grief group to help others who have lost a significant person in their lives.”

Osman Ahmed: Was described as “highly self motivated.” He came from Kenya, via Somalia, four years ago. He started in ELL, with the goal of refining his academic English and to be the first in his family to graduate from high school.

This past year, he took part in peer counseling, offering his assistance to current ELL students who seek him out.

Taylor Brenny: Brenny lost her father when she was in the ninth grade. Since there was a shortage of money, Brenny worked and helped to take care of her family. Her grades were not very strong at the time, and after living this way for a year, she wanted a fresh start, said McCartan. Brenny moved to Eden Prairie to live with an aunt and uncle last August.

“Since being here, she earned all As in her classes,” he said.

Brenny qualified to participate in the top choir program, teaches swim lessons and is a life guard. She’s going to college to pursue a business degree.

“They’re going to make a movie out of you,” McCartan said.

Sam Buck: McCartan described Buck as a strong school leader, “honest, sincere and reliable.”

The qualities that stand out are “the fact that he is a strong leader, and a role model for all the members of our school and the greater community,” said McCartan

Because of how Buck lives, teachers and students have high regard for him.

McCartan said he has seen students seek out Buck to find support and guidance.

Arisa Grier: She was born with multiple health issues, but has hurdled over those obstacles over the past four years of high school.

“Arisa has since grown in self confidence and the ability to advocate for and take charge of her health care needs,” said McCartan, reading from Arisa’s nomination.

She has taken academic risks and has discovered opportunities available, added McCartan.

Fadume Ibrahim: “She lives with a friend of her mother, just so she can go to Eden Prairie High School.”

For a while, Ibrahim rode the bus from Minneapolis, sometimes driving a dilapidated car, “just so she could stay here,” noted McCartan.

After started out in English Language Learner classes, Ibrahim now is in all mainstream classes and has a 3.5 GPA.

McCartan said she has applied to return to school next year to take advanced English and science classes to prepare her for acceptance to the University Minnesota and help her in her goal of becoming a doctor.

Alban Ignabode: Moved from Central Africa in 2005. Speaking little English, he “faced numerous obstacles trying to graduate.

“Securing his academic records from Africa took over a year.”

Ignabode completed a college level French course in high school. He’ll attend Normandale Community College next year.

Amira Jama: Her family moved from Somali, to Saudi Arabia, to New York and to Eden Prairie. Jama’s family includes nine children and a mother and father who placed high value in education, said McCartan.

Jama has “succeeded in some of our most challenging courses.”

Jama plans go to University of Minnesota to become either a teacher or psychologist.

“We can only hope that someday, Amira will come back to Eden Prairie High School as a teacher.”

Erwin Kruk: He was born in Poland, but moved to Eden Prairie in the fifth grade.

He started in ELL classes, but moved to mainstream classes after ninth grade.

Kruk “has continually improved as a student.”

Today, he speaks polish, Spanish, Italian and English along with being an “accomplished musician and artist.”

He is currently working on a mural of historically significant figures in a hallway at the high school.

Next year he’ll continue his studies at McNally Smith College of Music.

 Kyle Miller: McCartan described Miller as a “renaissance man.” Not only did Miller help start the school’s FIRST Robotics team, but he’s also placed first in a composition contest for a string piece he’d written, and is involved with the school’s math team.

“It is so easy to work with Kyle,” noted McCartan.

Andrew Nelson: As a freshman, Nelson was diagnosed with cancer and had a tough road to travel.

“He faced it with courage, dignity and a positive attitude,”

People who know Nelson say he impacts the climate wherever he is with his positive disposition, said McCartan. Nelson has been cancer free for two years.

Alyssa Newton: Was described as a true inspiration to staff and students.

She started an after-school tutoring program for mostly Somali students.

Additionally, she plans to go to Hungary this summer in her words “to experience a culture completely foreign to my own and pick up at least a little bit of a non indo-European language in an attempt to further my linguistic horizons,” read McCartan.

Her character, according to the NHS adviser, is honest, caring and motivated by the commitment that she can make a positive difference in people’s lives.

Nolan O’Brien: Someone who his teacher describes as “always doing for others.”

In the music department, he’s always around to help when needed.

If there’s a substitute teacher, he assists and helps with tasks.

His enthusiasm to serve goes beyond the music department – he also fills the role of manager in football, wresting and baseball.

Every day, Nolan finds a way to provide the subtle leadership that is displayed with serving with pride, said McCartan.

Bianca Rogers: “Has demonstrated a wiliness to challenge herself academically,” noted McCartan.

“Bianca’s tenacity and hard work allowed her to be successful in class,” said McCartan, reading a quote from her teacher.

This tenacity helps her in caring for her grandmother and involvement in church groups and an inner city outreach organization as well.

Ivan Ibarra Salas: This student only spoke Spanish upon arrival in Eden Prairie in fifth grade. This year, he had a big challenge to graduate and his GPA shot up from the 2.0 of the previous year. He has earned over 3.0 every term this year and has been in all mainstream classes.

“[He] completed a most remarkable academic rally,” noted McCartan.

Salas will attend college at Normandale next year.

Juan Spielman: He grew up in the foster care system in Florida, but was eventually adopted by Rick and Michelle Spielman of Eden Prairie. He moved to Eden Prairie in 2004 with his brother and sister. He maintains As and Bs, and participates in track and wrestling.

Next years, he plans to attend HTC.

 “He has come a long way in a very short time.”

Kim Tran: Is a student leader in the A Better Chance Foundation. She has a 4.0 grade point average and maintains membership in National Honor Society.

Also as a “leader in the ABC program,” she mentors younger students just joining to the program.