It's time to spotlight some local people in our community who make an impact on others! The individuals below have been nominated as someone who deserves to be thanked, recognized and highlighted for the incredible things they do for others. I'm excited to share their stories with you and to acknowledge each of them for their contributions.
Please take a moment to review the Nominations and then Vote for who you believe deserves to be crowned our Ultimate Local Legend! Voting will take place through Nov. 19th. Tell your friends and family to vote too! One vote per person/ per email address.
Nicole Wentland
"Nicole is a fantastic and caring 7th grade math teacher. She volunteers and runs FLL Lego robotics for 4th - 6th graders and volunteer coaches FRC 9-12th grade robotics. She is active and serves through her church. She reaches out to see how she can pray for the people in her circle. She is an amazing mom to 4 boys and loving wife. Nicole will organize food for people affected by traumatic accidents and is a WONDERFUL person that enhances the lives of many people!
Nicole actively volunteers and serves on a daily basis after making a positive impact as a middle school teacher. She is one of the best people you will ever meet."
Stacey Burnham
"Stacey Burnham would be an outstanding nominee for a local legend award. Her commitment to community service and her tireless work in promoting awareness and kindness have had a significant impact. Through initiatives like the Walk to Honor, Honor to Walk – the Nicole Burnham Veterans Suicide Awareness 5K, Stacey has raised critical awareness about veterans’ mental health issues. Additionally, her leadership in establishing and nurturing the Anoka Kindness Rock Garden and her involvement with the Minnesota Kindness Alliance have inspired countless acts of kindness and connected the community. Beyond these major efforts, Stacey has organized numerous kindness rock painting events and other community-centric activities aimed at giving back. Her unwavering dedication and energy, motivated by honoring her daughter’s memory, truly make the community a better and kinder place for current and future generations."
Dua Yang
"Dua Yang, our dedicated MultiLingual Teacher Lead at Hoover Elementary, goes above and beyond to support our multilingual students and families. She ensures that all interactions at Hoover are understood and inclusive. Dua personally translates essential documents when necessary, bridging language barriers and empowering families to actively participate in our school community. Additionally, she willingly steps in as a substitute teacher and Leads/inspires our 5th-grade student ambassadors, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to our students' success. We are truly grateful to have Dua as a valued member of the Hoover team."
Theresa Myos
"Mrs. Myos is an incredible teacher at Andover Elementary school. She makes learning fun and has a special way of keeping her students engaged and involving the parents. She takes a true interest in the lives of the children in her class and challenges them in ways that develop social, emotional and intelligence skills along with building their confidence. Her positivity and kindness bring kids back to visit her year after year because of the impact that she makes in the time she has with them. She is known to not only encourage and cheer the kids on at school, but also goes above and beyond and has even attended her student's activities and sports. That is just a small sample of the way that Mrs. Myos has a way of making her students feel loved, supported and reminded that they are special."
Ricky Hasting
"He brightens everybody’s day by cracking jokes and smiling at everyone. He’s a great older gentleman who just knows the right things to say when you need it the most."
Jessica Lien
"Jessica is a Girl Scout troop leader and has done an exceptional job leading and mentoring the girls in her troop. She accepts one and all and goes above and beyond to ensure all can participate and makes accommodations for those who need them. She teaches the girls compassion and understanding, encourages and gives them the means to help improve and support the community, care for the environment and world around them, and encourages them to learn new things. She has given them many opportunities to try new things including coding, engineering, art/crafts, cultural experiences, learning/caring about the environment, and more - all to help them grow into kind, compassionate, strong and well-rounded individuals. Jessica does all this cheerfully, patiently, and passionately.
Jessica clearly spends a lot of time, effort, and planning in all she does - she goes above and beyond! She is passionate in doing what she can to make this world and community a better place and encourage all around her to do the same."
Danielle Warden
"She is an amazing realtor, but on top of that she has consistently tried to bring the community together on so many levels. She has organized ice cream socials at a local park, winter coat drives, park cleanups and has created Facebook and Instagram pages to increase the sense of community and also boost local businesses."
Tara Willits
"Tara Willits, owner of The Mindfulness Movement, has recently brought her programs to many of the local school districts through community education, local libraries, parks, wellness events, and churches in the area. Her curriculum sparks joy, creativity, and calmness in the lives of children and families. Her goal is to bring parents and children together with mindfulness, direct eye contact and play, yoga, crafts, games, and fun shared experiences. Her personality is delightful and captures and combines such positivity and focus for families. Time for phones to be on silent and to bring back our 5 senses to experience the world with each other and our children. See the positive comments from families on her website and Instagram. Already kids are excited about yoga club in their schools and families are wanting to come back again for more sessions! Tara has what it takes to bring families together, connecting in fun and unique moments and mindful ways. Namaste!"
