Awards

2005- Minnesota Department of Education Minnesota Student Service Award for Outstanding Service Learning: Footprints of Saint Paul

2005- MCEA Youth Contribution Award for districts greater than 20,000, awarded to Fresh Force student Simeaon Gary Rucker
2005- MCEA Multicultural Leadership and Involvement Award, awarded to Fresh Force student Mhonpaj Lee
2005- MCEA Outstanding Project Award for Footprints of Saint Paul, Echoes of the Past, Present, and Future, Creating a Historic Legacy
2005- MCEA Outstanding Project Award for Fresh Force and Inver Hills Community College, Community Action Collaboration, Literacy Initiative
2004- MCEA Outstanding Project Award for Peace Sanctuary Community
2004- Kare 11 Award, awarded to Zong Xiong
2004- Youth Service Degree of Honor Awards
2004- Minnesota Department of Education Minnesota Student Service Award for Outstanding Service Learning: “The Study of Emergent Disease and Agents of Biological Warfare”
2003- MCEA Youth Leadership Award, awarded to Fresh Force student Michelle Windey
2003- NCEA Youth Leadership Award, awarded to Fresh Force student Zong Xiong
2003- National and Minnesota State Outstanding Contributions to Service Learning award to Mary Ellen Arvanitis
2003- Minnesota Student Service and Service Learning Project Award for Outstanding Service Learning Program
2003- Minnesota Community Education Association Outstanding Project Award, The Fresh Force Service Learning and Leadership East Mississippi Riverfront Project
2002- National Community Education Award for Outstanding Organization
2002- National Community Education Professional Service Award, awarded to Mary Ellen Arvanitis, Director of Fresh Force
1998- Won first Team-Up award sanctioned by the NBA on behalf of the Minnesota Timberwolves partnership initiative
1996- Fresh Force student Suerjee Lee wins Prudential Spirit Award
1992 – Fresh Force Service Learning and Leadership Program inducted to the Governor’s Hall of Fame for best practices of service learning

smiles at nursing home
"I go to nursing homes to teach seniors a little bit about crafts and cooking, but in the end they actually teach me way more about life"