Author: Juliana Allen

Eden Prairie High School’s (EPHS) boys swim and dive team delivered a commanding win over Buffalo-Maple Lake on Friday night in a thrilling first dual meet of the season. The Eagles broke an astonishing seven out of the pool’s 12 existing event records during the event held on Dec. 16 at Buffalo Community Middle School. The varsity boys won their meet 102-78, and the junior varsity (JV) won 100-53. Kelly Boston, EP’s longtime head swim and dive coach, said she was pleased with how the team performed, as well as with the enthusiasm and support the swimmers showed each other.…

Craig Lee Hollenbeck, a former Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) teacher, pleaded guilty Dec. 16 to a charge of gross misdemeanor endangerment of a child, which experts in the field refer to as child grooming. The charge stems from an inappropriate relationship Hollenbeck had with an EPHS student between Feb. 1 and June 1, 2021. Eden Prairie Police received a report in September 2021 from a mandatory reporter about the inappropriate relationship. Hollenbeck, 51, is charged with violating Minnesota statute 609.3781(b)(1), which states, “A parent, legal guardian, or caretaker who endangers the child’s person or health by intentionally or recklessly…

The Eden Prairie School Board approved the administration’s proposal at its Dec. 12 meeting to reinstate a popular academic graduation honor that had been removed this summer. Board members voted 7-0 to approve the Superintendent Consent Agenda, which included a proposed student handbook change reinstating the availability of red academic recognition cords for the graduating class of 2023. There was no discussion. In the past, graduating students who had a 3.5-grade point average (GPA) and above and had earned at least six credits in certain designated advanced courses by the end of the third quarter of senior year were awarded…

This story has been updated to include Dec. 16 comments from Eden Prairie Schools. David Flom, Eden Prairie High School’s head boys varsity basketball coach, was reportedly suspended by Eden Prairie Schools last week due to inappropriate remarks made to his team during a classroom session. According to a Monday report in the Star Tribune, Flom used racist language in a discussion of social media with his team during a classroom session last week. The Star Tribune reported that Nick Ravn, which it referred to as the team’s former assistant coach, sent an email to players, family and alumni that…

The Eden Prairie School Board tonight appears to be ready to consider the future of an Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) policy eliminating a popular academic graduation honor. Many parents, and their students who have worked for years to attain the honor, have expressed their disapproval of the policy. Although the change was codified in the most recent school handbook released last summer, many students only discovered the change on Nov. 30 when EPHS Principal Nate Gibbs emailed seniors to explain the decision. The resulting anger and backlash have sparked criticism of the administration’s decision to withhold the honor, and…

There’s a new cultural offering at Eden Prairie Center: a pop-up gallery hosted by the Performing Institute of Minnesota (PiM) Arts High School. The PiM POPUP, which opened Nov. 25, is located in a retail space opposite the food court on the mall’s upper level, between Sandbox VR and American Eagle Outfitters. It will be open from 4 to 8 p.m. on Fridays and from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays until Feb. 26. The space is designed to highlight the school’s performing arts education, as well as publicize its student performances and showcases. Visitors can pick up…

A heavy snowstorm didn’t stop B&J Evergreen employees from welcoming customers to their Eden Prairie Center mall tree lot, featuring hundreds of fresh-cut trees and a wide array of holiday greens. Austin Graber, who has worked at the lot in front of Target and JCPenney for three years, said Tuesday’s snowstorm was keeping most customers away. However, the falling snow made the tree lot a beautiful sight. Graber said their most popular trees are balsam, Frasier and Canaan firs. He said they also have fresh wreaths, decorative pots, boughs, spruce tips, birch sticks, and more.  B&J Evergreen also has lots…

Eden Prairie Schools emailed families at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday to say that despite the snowstorm, schools will dismiss as normal this afternoon, except at Cedar Ridge, Oak Point, Eagle Heights, and Forest Hills. At those four schools, buses will release 10 minutes early to help minimize delays districtwide. The email said, “As our drivers take extra caution based on current road conditions, buses may still be delayed. Please check the MyStop app for the most up-to-date location of your student’s bus. We appreciate your patience and flexibility as we work to keep all students safe.” The district stated that after-school activities…

Nico Rivera, a junior at Eden Prairie’s PiM Arts High School, won the Best Student Work award at the Venice Film Festival (VIFF) last July for his independent film, “Remembrance.” Rivera wrote, directed and produced the 28-minute film and composed and performed most of the music. “Remembrance” was filmed locally in Eden Prairie, Prior Lake and Burnsville Mall. Describing the film’s plot, Rivera said, “‘Remembrance’ follows a disillusioned teen named Allison, who is given technology by her counselor that gives her the ability to view her past memories. Allison’s best friend, Julie, has grown distant and estranged from Allison. As she…

International School of Minnesota (ISM) students supported the local community by collecting almost 2,000 pounds of food and daily essentials for Eden Prairie’s PROP Food Shelf. “ISM Against Hunger,” an annual food and supplies drive, ran from Oct. 24 until Nov. 14 and was supported by the entire school. The donated items were delivered to PROP on the very snowy morning of Nov. 14 by ISM junior Andrew Cheng, who organized the event, and Sarah Bianucci, ISM’s student life coordinator. Cheng said PROP was chosen because “our priority was to support a local organization that does food/daily necessities distribution to…