2008 Legacy Award Recipients

Join us as we congratulate the 2008 Lakeview Legacy Award Recipients!

Miss Nicole Fitzgerald

High School Senior Legacy Award

A senior at Eastview High School in Apple Valley, Nicole has already demonstrated a long-term commitment to serving others, both within her school and in the greater community. She has taken very visible roles in student council and in leading a freshman service day, but has also provided behind-the-scenes support for a variety of other service projects as a:

• volunteer with Feed My Starving Children;
  
• member of National Honor Society;
  
• four-year volunteer at Fairview Ridges Hospital; and
  
• participant in weekend fund-raising walks and various charity events.
  

In addition to her extensive community service and maintaining her academics, Nicole also holds a part-time job at Lifetime Fitness, where she works with children and hosts weekend birthday parties for kids.

Nicole has yet to select a college but is interested in pursuing a career in physical therapy. Her experience at Fairview Ridges has allowed her to see opportunities for continued interaction with people interested in improving their lives and health.

Nicole sums up her own infectious attitude by saying, “I’ve often encouraged my friends to volunteer, too. Community service provides endless rewards – and that’s something I am proud to have shared with them.

Mr. Brian Roseen

Citizen/Volunteer Legacy Award

Brian has made Lakeville his home for the past 16 years and has been a pilot for Sun Country Airlines for 20 years. He has taken his commitment to the community seriously and says he wants to do his part to make this city a better place to live.

Nearly all volunteers distinguish themselves through a commitment to select causes. While some do so through the breadth of their activities, others, like Brian, commit the majority of their time and effort to a single organization. In his case, his passion for baseball, coaching and young people led him to create the Lakeville Miracle League, the local chapter of a statewide nonprofit group that provides the opportunity for children with disabilities ages 3 to 19 to play baseball.

In his spare time, Brian also coaches in the Lakeville Baseball Association (LBA) and has coordinated the organization’s master calendar and volunteers for the past three years. His Saturday nights from October to March are spent – you guessed it – serving as a volunteer coach for high school players at the Rosemount Dome.

While the students he works with through the Miracle League and the students he coaches through more traditional outlets might not interact on a daily basis, he ensures that traveling players from the LBA are scheduled to participate in at least one Miracle League game. Brian says, “We want to provide opportunities for LBA children to interact with those who need their help.” He’s already seen success – recently an 11-year-old asked for donations to the Miracle League in lieu of birthday gifts.

This extension of service into future generations is exactly what we would hope from leaders in our community. We’re delighted that this award can help him fulfill his goal of building the Lakeville Miracle League field.

Mr. Tom Wroblewski

Business Manager Legacy Award

Tom serves as the General Manager of Applebee’s in Lakeville, and when asked where he sees himself in five years, he replies, “Furthering my same career path towards area manager so I can have a greater influence in helping our company and others develop their true potential.” This truly represents a continuation of Tom’s past efforts, both in his career and in our community.

Over the past 17 years, Tom has been actively involved in the south metro area. He has served as a member of the Leadership Lakeville Steering Committee and volunteers with the March of Dimes. He has demonstrated a significant commitment to the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce, serving as chair of the Ambassador Group and Fall Gala Committee in addition to his role as a board member.

In his professional life, Tom lives out the Applebee’s corporate mission to nourish, enrich and celebrate guests, associates and the community. He views his job as more than running a restaurant – he also sees it filling a need as a place where members of the community can gather to socialize, celebrate and enjoy a meal as family. He has also enhanced our community by helping to ensure that Applebee’s actively supports local causes through fund-raising efforts and donations of corporate time.

“I believe it’s important both as an individual and a business to give back to others,” Tom says. If past is prologue, Tom will continue to live that value personally and professionally.