ISD 728 School Board Honors Students from 2025-2026 Twin Lakes Patrol, ERHS, Ivan Sand Community School

The ISD 728 School Board continued its regular recognition of students who are leaders among their peers at its meeting on March 6, 2026. 

This month's recipients from Twin Lakes Elementary were the leaders of the School Patrol program. From Ivan Sand Community School, Principal Kevin Jost and staff honored a pair of students for their contributions to the school community. And Elk River High leaders and staff honored a pair of CTE students for their hard work in and out of the classroom. 

Twin Lakes Elementary

Gunnar Legatt

Weston James

Isabelle Wolverton

Brinley Juillerat

Tendai Stein

Gabby Gindele

Keira Guss

Everly Virchow

We selected our school corner patrol to receive this recognition for their leadership and responsibility.  The corner patrol is such a huge commitment.  They go out in all kinds of weather to help students safely cross roads for the whole school year.  They have to be good communicators, follow the guidelines of safety, and be responsible with time and accountability.  I’m proud of the safety patrol members because they act as role models and exhibit leadership and good citizenship for our students.

Ivan Sand Community School

Natalie Kenyon 

Natalie is being recognized for the quiet excellence she brings to Ivan Sand Community High School each day. Natalie consistently demonstrates the qualities we hope to see in all of our students, kindness, self-awareness, self-control, resilience, and a strong growth mindset. She advocates for herself and for others, and she treats those around her with acceptance, inclusion, and respect.

Natalie is a thoughtful and diligent student whose work ethic stands out across the building. She approaches her classes with focus and determination and consistently performs at a high level. In fact, she regularly ranks in the top 10 students in our weekly measured categories, demonstrating both consistency and commitment to her learning.

Academically, Natalie is currently working at 140% productivity, placing her in the 95th percentile among her peers. This level of effort reflects not only her intelligence and creativity, but also her determination to do her best each day.

While Natalie is often quiet and humble about her accomplishments, those who work with her see the tremendous positive influence she has on our school community. She is welcoming, friendly, and supportive of her peers, and she continues to grow in confidence and leadership. Natalie truly represents the values of Ivan Sand, and she is someone others can look to as a positive example.

I am proud to recognize Natalie tonight and look forward to seeing the continued impact she will make in our school and beyond.

Breana Dominguez 

I am extremely  pleased to recognize Breana for the many positive contributions she brings to Ivan Sand Community High School.

Breana is a creative, resilient, and determined student who approaches her work with initiative and purpose. She is someone who gets things done when she sets her mind to a task.  She demonstrates the skills and perseverance needed to complete work of all levels of complexity. Her determination and consistency lead to strong performance across her coursework and reflect the strong aptitude she brings to her learning.

An important part of Breana’s journey is the decision she made to attend Ivan Sand. Breana recognized that she needed to make a change, and she made the responsible choice to seek out a different path for herself. That decision required a great deal of self-reflection and the willingness to take ownership of previous decisions. It speaks to her maturity and determination to grow and move forward in a positive direction. I have had the privilege of working with Breana since she was in 7th grade, and I can’t express how proud I am of her in terms of the growth she has shown since then. 

Breana is knowledgeable across a variety of subjects and continues to build the skills that will support her success in the next stage of her life. Beyond her academic efforts, Breana is a positive and valued member of our school community. She is empathetic, caring, and welcoming to those around her. Her optimism and enthusiasm help make Ivan Sand a supportive place for students and staff alike. I am proud to recognize Breana tonight and appreciate the initiative, resilience, and determination she demonstrates each day.

Elk River High School

Katelyn Vonada

Katelyn is being recognized as a remarkable Senior at Elk River High School, for her exceptional commitment to her Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway and her early entry into the healthcare field.

Last school year, Katelyn successfully completed the Nursing Assistant course offered here and earned her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate.

Building on this success, she began her CTE Internship as a Resident Assistant at Guardian Angels Assisted Living Center during the second semester of her junior year and has continued in this vital role throughout her senior year. As a Resident Assistant, Katelyn assists residents with basic living skills, demonstrating maturity, compassion, and a strong work ethic.

Katelyn’s initiative to apply her classroom learning in a professional setting, combined with her dedication to serving her community, is truly commendable. She is an outstanding example of the caliber of students in our CTE programs.

Please join me in congratulating Katelyn Vonada on her achievements and wishing her the very best in her future endeavors.

Jacob Smeby

Jacob is being recognized as an outstanding Junior at Elk River High School, for his achievements in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway, with a focus on skilled trades and mechanical fields.

Jacob has demonstrated a strong commitment to hands-on learning by successfully completing a robust set of courses, including Woods 1 & 2, Carpentry, Engineering Welding and Manufacturing 1, and Small Engines. These classes have provided him with a foundational knowledge and practical skills essential for his future goals.

Building on this coursework, Jacob is currently serving as a Service Technician Intern at AT Repair in Elk River. This internship allows him to apply his classroom knowledge in a real-world setting, gaining valuable experience as he works toward his ultimate career goals of becoming a Heavy Equipment Operator or a Diesel Mechanic.

Jacob's dedication to mastering these complex skills and his initiative to pursue a professional internship make him a commendable role model for his peers and highlight the success of our CTE programs.

Please join me in congratulating Jacob Smeby on his accomplishments and wishing him the very best as he pursues a career in the skilled trades.