Alumni Awards to Honor Vikings Star, Director, Researcher and More

The Minnetonka Alumni Association will honor five alumni and two teachers at the Fifth Annual Minnetonka Alumni Awards on Sept. 21, the district announced Monday.

The association will award the following honors at the event. Descriptions provided by the school district.

Distinguished Alumni Award: Minnetonka’s premier alumni honor, recognizes distinguished professional achievement, distinguished leadership and/or distinguished service toward the greater good. Recipients must have graduated from Minnetonka High School at least 20 years prior to receiving award.

• Stephen Pouliot ’63: As a writer, producer, and director, Stephen Pouliot has had a remarkable career. He has received numerous awards and entertained millions. His works include Miss America pageants, reunion shows of Happy Days, Dallas and Knots Landing. Click here to read more.
• Mary Story ’69: Mary Story is a professor in epidemiology and community health at the University of Minnesota and senior associate dean for academic and student affairs. Her research focuses on children and adolescents’ eating behaviors and preventing obesity. Click here to read more.

Distinguished Service Award: Open to any Minnetonka alumni, recognizing significant volunteer service benefiting the greater good, philanthropic leadership or service/contribution to the Minnetonka Alumni Association. 

• Bob Williams ‘39 (Excelsior High School): Bob Williams has dedicated himself to his community over the last 70 years. He is a former local newspaper editor and public relations director for the Old Log Theater in Greenwood. He has earned a number of accolades, including being name the Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year and a WCCO-Radio “Good Neighbor,” and has long been known as Excelsior’s unofficial historian. Click here to read more.

Skippers Hall of Fame: 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.

• Diane D’Aquila ’69: Diana D’Aquila has had an award-winning career in acting for more than 40 years, on occasion traveling the world for her craft. While much of her career has been focused on the theater, she also has more than 40 film and television roles to her credit. Click here to read more.
• Keith Nord ’75: Keith Nord became a special teams captain of the Minnesota Vikings and one of the state’s best-known professional athletes in the 1980s. Today, he gives presentations and speaks about leadership, personal development, hard work and how to be influential. Click here to read more.

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.

• Lynn Krafve - MHS Teacher & Coach: Lynn Krafve arrived at Minnetonka High School as a new math teacher in the fall of 1958 eager to do what he could to make the school a better place. He coached for the basketball and track and field programs as well before retiring in 1996. Click here to read more.
• Bob Rogness - MHS Teacher & Coach: Bob Rogness enjoyed a 33-year career as a social studies teacher and coach at Minnetonka High School. In the classroom he ensured a quality learning experience, while his girls’ track teams won five state championships and his cross country teams captured three state titles. Click here to read more.

The awards banquet takes place from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 21 at Minnetonka High School. Tickets cost $15 and are available for purchase here.