Learning more about Senior Spotlight student Elliot Thompson of Maple Grove Senior High School brought me back to my time at Edina High School. Dalen Towne was an art teacher whose classroom had an open door policy. Often during free periods, lunch or after school, the studio became a hotbed of creativity where students were free to work on creative projects, be they schoolwork or otherwise.
During my senior year, Towne helped me develop an independent study curriculum for ceramics. I spent hours after school on the wheel until my fingers were pruny. The gritty texture of the clay resulted in persistent calluses from my pinky finger to the palm of my hand. The project I remember with the most clarity was a set of mugs inspired by Dutch painter Piet Mondrian’s red, yellow and blue geometric compositions. If memory serves, Towne might have been the one who provided me with small pots of the requisite glazes—primary colors aren’t standard, especially for the average high school class.
Towne encouraged me to submit the two mugs to the annual Teen Art Show. I attended the opening night of the show at the Edina Art Center with my family and friends, where I was elated to find my work on a shelf alongside a placard announcing I’d been chosen for the Pottery Award.
Teachers who challenge students to go above and beyond their comfort zones give them invaluable lessons, and it comes as no surprise that each of our Senior Spotlight students identify a teacher who filled that role for them. Whether it’s pursuing additional academic rigor or discussing future plans in detail, being taken seriously at a young age helps mold and shape students into the people they can become after high school. Learn more about three of Maple Grove’s outstanding seniors here.
Do you know of a local student or teacher who is making a difference in their school community or Maple Grove at large? Let me know at madeline@localmedia.co.
Until next time,
Madeline Kopiecki
