MPA is proud to award five $500 scholarships in 2020: four for higher education and one for drum corps. In addition, one of the college scholarships is designated as the Kayla Koranda Memorial Scholarship (see more about this special scholarship below).

Congratulations to our scholarship winners! And thank you to all the very impressive applicants.

Winners

College scholarships:

• Cole Carlson: Buffalo HS (Kayla Koranda Memorial College Scholarship)
• Daniel Vazquez: Burnsville HS
• Caleb Nadeau: Forest Lake HS
• Griffin Laihinen: Rosemount HS

Drum corps scholarship:

• Kylie Johnson: Dassel-Cokato HS and River City Rhythm

Kayla Koranda Memorial Scholarship

Kayla Koranda loved music and was heavily involved in music and fine arts at Rochester Lourdes High School. She enjoyed playing the flute, the vibraphone, the piano, singing, and performing in plays. Kayla was part of the Lourdes Marching Band, Concert Band, Pep Band, the Hi-lighters Jazz Band, Jazz Lab Ensembles, and the Winter Drumline. Kayla brought a huge smile, strong leadership, and wonderful kindness to all of these activities. She was always first to pitch in to help and had a special way of making sure everyone felt included. After Kayla graduated from Lourdes High School in 2013, she went to attend the University of Minnesota and joined MBI Indoor Percussion. Kayla was tragically killed in January 2014 while trying to help a friend. As one of the ways to help remember and honor Kayla, her family created the Kayla Koranda Memorial College Scholarship.