Elliot Thompson. Photos: Chris Emeott
The future is bright for the Class of 2027. From academic achievements to creative pursuits, Maple Grove’s seniors have spent their high school careers making meaningful contributions throughout their schools and within their communities.
Earlier this year, we gathered nominations of outstanding students who are leaving positive imprints on their schools. These students—nominated by school administrators, advisors, principals and teachers—are leaders in their classrooms and communities. Of the many wonderful nominees, three stood out to our panel for their commitment to not only pursuing their passions but sharing their gifts with the broader community.
Now, without further ado, we’re pleased to welcome three representatives of Maple Grove’s Class of 2027.
Elliot Thompson
Maple Grove Senior High School
“Elliot is a tremendous young man and excellent student with a particular passion for sharing his love of art, specifically ceramics. He has thrived in his classes here at Maple Grove, and he was honored to be inducted into our National Honor Society in May of his sophomore year. His junior year included three Advanced Placement [AP] courses with continued straight As. Outside of the classroom, Elliot has committed to sharing his enjoyment of art with his home business called Endless Vessels. He promoted and facilitated his own ceramics workshop to teach wheel throwing and glazing to students and community members.” —Bart Becker, principal
Which teacher or staff member had the biggest impact on you and why? Without a doubt, my ceramics teacher, Mr. Manders, had the largest impact on me. Obviously, he introduced me to the craft of pottery and how nuanced it was. His influence was so strong that immediately after Ceramics B concluded, I purchased my own wheel and started my business. He has also helped me immensely throughout my pottery journey from firing my pots to providing glazes to helping me submit pieces to competitions and much, much more.
What is something that your peers might not know about you? One thing my peers may not know about me is my absolute infatuation with music. Last year, I logged over 100,000 minutes of music on my streaming service of choice. I listen to anything and everything at least once, which makes my playlists quite eclectic. One minute, I may be listening to Ray Charles’ I Believe to My Soul, the next it’ll be It’s Real Love by Yellow Days and the next it’ll be All My Love by Noah Kahan. I attribute much of my creativity to this exploration of styles from all different walks of life.
Describe yourself in three adjectives. Dedicated, introspective, sentimental
What skill or talent have you always wanted to learn? I’ve always wanted to learn how to pull like Korean potters who make massive moon jars. They make it look so effortless, but I just can’t figure it out.
What is your favorite motto or quote? “Carpe diem.” Humans only have a limited amount of time, so one must seize the day like it’s their last.
What is your dream job? Either an art teacher—preferably in ceramics or photography—or a full-time potter who sells his work.
Mahnoor Zaman
Parnassus Preparatory Academy
“Mahnoor is an intellectually ambitious and service-oriented student who consistently seeks opportunities to deepen her knowledge and contribute to her community. She is an active member of student government and has held leadership roles across multiple extracurricular activities, demonstrating initiative and reliability. A dedicated linguist, she studies Latin, Greek, French and Spanish at school and has independently pursued Urdu, Hindi and Arabic, reflecting both discipline and cultural fluency. Committed to a future career in medicine, Mahnoor has gained practical exposure to the field through an internship in a dental laboratory and by working with physician assistants, studying sleep apnea. These experiences have strengthened her understanding of clinical environments and patient care.” —Katherine Good, interim executive director
Which teacher or staff member had the biggest impact on you and why? Every teacher and staff member has helped me on my journey, but the biggest is likely my history professor, Dr. Jameson. His workload, even though it’s a lot, pushes me every time and makes me realize I can do whatever I put my mind to. He’s pushed me beyond my limits, challenged my intellectuality and made me realize I’m capable of surpassing my limits.
What is something that your peers might not know about you? Many of my peers don’t know that on top of the work I do, I also have a goal in mind that I don’t tell anyone about. I don’t want to just be a physician assistant or a dentist; I want to get involved in government—maybe as a mayor or a congresswoman. I want to help my community. If I’ve been blessed with so many talents, why shouldn’t I use them for the better? We have so many problems in our society today just waiting for someone to take charge and implement solutions. And I, for one, am ready for the task.
Describe yourself in three adjectives. Efficient, confident, creative
What is your favorite day of the year? My favorite day of the year has to be the first day of Ramadan. As a Muslim, it’s a core part of my religion, and the day is followed by many more days of positivity, optimism, love and joy.
What fictional character or celebrity do you identify with? I think I would identify with Enola Holmes—smart, confident, independent and she knows her worth.
What skill or talent have you always wanted to learn? Sewing. I feel like it’s such a necessary skill that can be used in so many circumstances.
Adel Jenabzadeh
Heritage Christian Academy
“Besides being a stellar student—highest honor roll, at least half his course load is AP classes—and athlete, Adel is a mature, responsible and kind young man who is proud of his [Persian] heritage. He is a gentleman who steps up to the plate to serve others, specifically by cleaning the inner city through Substance Church and working with Feed My Starving Children. Adel intends to pursue a medical career as a surgeon, having enjoyed an internship at Specialists in General Surgery in Maple Grove. Last year, Adel produced an award-winning documentary featuring … Iran for his Bible class, in which he highlighted the ancient biblical history of Iran.” —Julie Herman, director of community relations and admissions
Which teacher or staff member had the biggest impact on you and why? One teacher who has had a major impact on me is my Bible teacher, Mr. Dallow. Since sixth grade, he has guided my classmates and me through lessons from the Bible, history and his own life experiences. He often shares practical wisdom, especially about relationships and marriage. I have always enjoyed talking with him, and his advice has helped me think more seriously about my values and future.
What is something that your peers might not know about you? Whenever I felt lonely or didn’t have much to do, I would go outside on the deck, look at the stars and think. Sometimes, I’ll light a fire and stare at it for a couple of hours, just thinking about the past, present and future.
Describe yourself in three adjectives. Respectful, protective, athletic
What skill or talent have you always wanted to learn? How to play the piano.
What is your favorite motto or quote? “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift.” God has given me each day of my life, and I don’t plan on wasting it.
What is your dream job? General surgeon
We would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to Eastman Nature Center for hosting our Senior Spotlight photoshoot.
