Arts High School Alumni News

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  Sheena (Dean) Jimmick (Theater 2006) Makes a Difference for Minnesota Youth

  January 23, 2025

  Sheena (Dean) Jimmick (Theater 2006) is the database manager for Avenues for Youth where they partner with youth experiencing homelessness to help them achieve their dreams. When Sheena was a student at Columbia Heights High School, a drama director there told her…

  
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  Minnesota State Representatives Visit Perpich Center

  January 22, 2025

  Perpich Center for Arts Education was pleased to welcome members of the Minnesota House of Representatives to campus on January 22, 2025. Rep. Mary Frances Clardy (53A), Rep. Mike Freiberg (43B), and Rep. Bianca Virnig (52B) were in attendance.

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  Carl Les Fordahl, Veteran and Combat Artist, Speaks to Students During Common Experience

  December 9, 2024

  Veteran and combat artist, Carl Les Fordahl, spoke with Perpich Arts High School students during Common Ex on Monday, December 9th. Common Ex is a series of presentations where students often hear about the artistic life from practicing artists, many of whom…

  
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  Perpich Arts High School Dance Program Presents “In Step”

  December 9, 2024

  From all corners of the state, the dancers of the Perpich Arts High School Dance Program moved their audiences with “In Step” on December 5th and 6th. The winter concert was the culmination of a semester of work. The dancers demonstrated their…

  
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  Allegra Smisek to be Interim Executive Director of Perpich Center for Arts Education for Remainder of 24-25 School Year

  November 11, 2024

  We are happy to announce that we have a new member of the Perpich community. Allegra Smisek (smee-sheck) will serve as our interim executive director for the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year. Allegra’s start date will be 11/20/24.

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  Jennifer Mills (Music 2003) Composes and Documents a Creative Life

  November 6, 2024

  Jennifer Mills (Music 2003) is a writer and producer for the NPR show Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! Originally from Shoreview, Minnesota, Mills has been composing and documenting her creative life for decades, long before she moved to Brooklyn, New York. Her…

  
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  Nadia Oian Vust (Literary Arts 2025) Published in “The Beatnik Cowboy”

  November 1, 2024

  Congratulations to Nadia Oian Vust (Literary Arts 2025) who was recently published in the literary magazine “The Beatnik Cowboy”. Nadia had been looking at literary magazines for a long time, searching for places she could submit her work, but only recently began…

  
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  Former Lt. Governor Marlene Johnson Visits Perpich Center

  October 22, 2024

  Perpich Center for Arts Education was pleased to welcome former Lt. Governor, Marlene Johnson, to campus on October 22, 2024. Johnson served as the 42nd lieutenant governor of Minnesota, the first woman to hold the office. She was elected as the running mate…

  
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  Dessa Speaks to Students During Common Experience

  Dessa spoke with Perpich Arts High School students during Common Ex on Monday, October 21st

  October 21, 2024

  Musician, writer, performer, and artist of many talents, Dessa, spoke with Perpich Arts High School students during Common Ex on Monday, October 21st. Common…