2013 Legacy Award Recipients

Join us as we congratulate the 2013 Lakeview Legacy Award Recipients!

Katherine "Alex" Knutson

High School Senior Legacy Award

There are far too many remarkable qualities and accomplishments of Alex Knutson to possibly cover in a short bio. An accomplished choral and instrumental musician, she has participated in the Minnesota Youth Symphony, is a two year selection to the Minnesota All State Choir, sings in the Now and Then Jazz Singers and is president of the LNHS Chorale, which just returned from a concert tour in Italy. An outstanding student, she is a member of the National Honor Society and has taken nine AP courses over her high school career. And, despite two successive severe injuries that derailed her soccer career, she continues to participate in alpine ski racing. She is also involved in SADD, peer tutoring, teaching vacation Bible school, and speech.

One might conclude that such success, and the dedication of time and energy required to achieve it, may not leave time to cultivate friendships. Not so for Alex, however, as it has afforded her the opportunity to demonstrate her leadership qualities and earn the respect of her peers, as evidenced by her selection as LNHS Homecoming Queen this past fall.

Perhaps the most remarkable quality of Alex, however, is her dedication to her family. Though she loves the company of peers, by her own admission she has always invested more time with her parents and sister than most people her age. In fact, she considers her mother and sister her best friends, and is proud to call her father her role model. Could there be any doubt that those feelings are mutual?

Charlie Peters

High School Senior Legacy Award

For Charlie Peters, "I believe" is more than just a personal statement of belief. It's also the title of an inspirational video he led and produced linking every sport and activity at Lakeville North High School. The video was not only a huge success with current and future LNHS students, but has also received thousands of views on YouTube. To see it for yourself, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO95LmXnZOA.

But then, inspiring others is nothing new for Charlie. A true role model, he is a member of Student Council, a Senior Class and DECA officer, and was a captain of the LNHS 2012 state runner-up football team. He has taken leadership roles in organizing blood drives both in an out of school, and last year organized Teacher Appreciation Day that included serving all of the high school teachers a free meal. Aside from his many school-related activities, he co-leads a fifth grade class at Hosanna! Lutheran Church every Wednesday evening during the school year, and also regularly volunteers at Feed My Starving Children, Here's Life Inner City, and St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Minneapolis, providing meals to the homeless.

This fall Charlie will attend Indiana University and intends to enroll in the Kelley School of Business. Undoubtedly, even at a large university, it won't be long before he is leading and inspiring others, just as he has done during his career at LNHS.

Bob Finke

Business Owner/Manager Legacy Award

"I believe we have a duty and responsibility to find ways to improve our community."

That simple statement summarizes the personal mission statement of Bob Finke, the 2013 Business Owner/Manager Legacy Award recipient. As testament to his belief, Bob contributes his time and energy to numerous Lakeville community service organizations—Rotary, Stray Cats Club, Community Convening Group, Chamber of Commerce, where he chairs the Business and Education Committee, Lakeville Arenas Board, and Community Bookshelf. He is also a past member of the District 194 Curriculum Advisory and Community Education Advisory Committees, and in 2012 received Lakeville Area Public Schools' prestigious Friend of Education award.

Bob is a 12 year employee of Northfield Hospital and was instrumental in establishing the FamilyHealth Medical Clinic in Lakeville, and currently serves as that organization's Business Development/Community Outreach Specialist. Bob is the proud father of three children and one grandson. When he isn't working or volunteering, he can likely be found supporting our local high schools' sports and arts activities.

Most important for Lakeville, however, is that he consistently seeks ways to use his considerable energy to improve his, and our, community.

Pat White

Citizen/Volunteer Legacy Award

If "Pat White" was a dictionary entry, the definition most surely would read "community service". Over the last 55 years she has assisted her husband, Jim, in expanding White Funeral Home from one location in Farmington to five communities in the south metro area. Throughout those many years she has not only been a partner in the business, but has lent emotional support to families throughout their time of loss.

For many people, the rigors of a thriving family business might have been enough, but not for Pat. As a longtime member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Farmington, she serves as a Samaritan minister, lector, communion minister, and as a Friday morning prayer service minister. That pattern of ministering to others is evident in her other volunteer passion—Trinity Care Center in Farmington, where she has served on the Board of Trustees for fifteen years. There, she assists in prayer and communion services, organizes social activities, and regularly serves communion to residents unable to leave their rooms.

And, as if a family business and passion for community service isn't enough, Pat serves in the ultimate "volunteer" role, as a mother to seven children and grandmother to 23 grandchildren. Fortunately for our community she has no intention of slowing down and, in her own words, will continue in her volunteer work "wherever, whatever, and whenever I'm needed."