School district awarded
Columbia Heights Public Schools (CHPS) received the Association of School Business Officials International’s Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting Award. This marks the 19th year in a row that the CHPS’s Finance Team has received the award.
“School district finances are complex and can be difficult to understand for those not directly involved in them on a daily basis. We continue to recognize the importance of going above and beyond in our financial reporting to demonstrate excellence, accountability, and transparency in the district’s finances,” Director of Finance and Operations Bryan Hennekens said in a statement. “I am very proud of the Finance Team’s continued dedication and effort in achieving this award once again.”
A construction team breaks ground at the Upper Harbor Amphitheater. The 8,000-capacity outdoor concert venue, operated jointly by First Avenue and the Minnesota Orchestra, is slated for a 2027 opening. The theater is part of a broader redevelopment covering 48 acres along the Mississippi River. (City of Minneapolis)
Construction begins on amphitheater
On May 4, city officials broke ground on a new construction project at the Upper Harbor site in Minneapolis: An 8,000-capacity outdoor music venue.
The amphitheater will be located just across the Mississippi River from Northeast near Dowling Avenue North.
The project, which is slated to open in summer 2027, will be jointly operated by First Avenue and the Minnesota Orchestra. $3 in proceeds from each ticket sale, according to a press release, will be “reinvested directly into the local community” via a partnership with the African American Community Development Center.
The project is estimated to create over 500 construction jobs, and operations at the amphitheater are anticipated to employ more than 250 people.
Congrats, students
Tour’e Gates, Columbia Heights; Kaylene Kerber, St. Anthony Village; and Jamal Adigun, Jennifer Crippen, Corey Hughes, Joshua Lytton, Sara Pettis and Caitlin Sorenson, Minneapolis, graduated as part of Minnesota State Mankato’s Spring 2026 class.
Olivia Aardappel, Lori Wolf, Abdirahman Dahir and Kellen Crum, Minneapolis, were named to the Spring 2026 President’s List at Southern New Hampshire University.
Joscelin Lenius, St. Anthony West, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Augsburg University. Lenius also received recognition for membership in Psi Chi, an organization that recognizes individuals for advancements in the field of psychology.
Errin Brudwick, Jihan Jama and Samuel Clarke were elected to membership in The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.