SNAP SHOTS

FALL 2024

Reprinted from The Hilltopper Magazine, Fall 2024

 

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1.  After a series of weather delays, the Hilltopper 11 weather balloon successfully launched in June. Retired science teacher Dave “Mr. DJ” Johnson was there, as always, to assist Scott “Mr. KJ” Kylander-Johnson ’90 with flight training and launch.

 

 

2.  We continued an endearing tradition in the Forest School this year­­­—a spring Grandparents and Grandfriends Day! More than 150 community members joined our young K-4 students to learn about and participate in our fun and unique Forest School programming.

 

 

3.  Four Class of 2024 members were celebrated as Legacy Students, which designates children of past Hilltopper alumni. Congratulations to Dylan Nygaard ’24 (Lara Maki Nygaard ’96), Ellen Guerndt ’24 (Karen Pagel-Guerndt ’90), Jake Widdes ’24 (Josh Widdes ’91), and Elise Sydow ’24 (Stephen Sydow ’84).

 

 

4.  Forest School students and their families ended the 2023-2024 school year with a celebration at Chester Bowl. They hiked to the park, enjoyed live music and dancing around two colorful maypoles, and brought another adventurous year to a close.

 

 

5.  Members of the Class of 2023 were some of the first to meet our new head of school during the What’s the Scoop? event in June. These students came back to campus for ice cream, and to share with their beloved former teachers how things went during their first year of college.

 

 

6.  Marshall’s 42-acre campus is the perfect place for summer camp! We hosted nine themed weeks of camps this summer. We had students, alumni, and teachers who organized and worked these camps for hundreds of area students. Mariah Lucero ’26 smiles with one of the young campers.

 

 

7.  Our international students jumped into Minnesota life within their first days on campus with a canoe and fishing trip at Munger Landing. Quinn Le ’27 (Vietnam) is joined by student ambassador Mabel Goodman ’27. Ambassadors help welcome students into our Hilltopper community before and after they arrive from abroad.

 

 

8.  105 new Hilltoppers were enrolled at Marshall as we started the 2024-2025 school year in August. The year began with a full day for our Forest School students, and an abbreviated orientation day for middle and upper school students. 

 

 

9.  Marshall’s Senior Class of 2025 traveled to North Shore Adventure Park in Silver Bay for fun team-building activities on the first day of school. Ray Anderson ’25 climbs through the sky as the the class supported each other in conquering fears and reaching new heights. 

 

 

10.  Students from all grade levels gathered in the auditorium on the first Friday of the new school year, bringing together the themes of New Beginnings and One Marshall. Head of School Anthony Pisapia sang a song to show students they could explore their hidden talents this year, and be courageous enough to share them with others.