Known by my friends for my loud, unforgiving laugh, Elmo’s roar was something I could strangely relate to. The sound of pure joy. Though this stuffed animal was a miniscule morsel of my younger years, it is amazing to see the impact that certain characters can have on our lives. On page 14, I spoke with Maple Grove Senior High School alumna Liz Hara about her incredible career as a writer, puppeteer and puppet builder. Striving to create a world where young viewers can see themselves represented in media, Hara was one of the founding creators behind the recent debut of Sesame Street’s first Asian American Muppet character, Ji-Young.
Continuing the legacy of the Maple Grove community are four outstanding 2023 seniors on page 18. After a two-year hiatus of our Senior Spotlight feature, writer Madeline Kopiecki honored some local students, who have accomplished so much in these tumultuous years. Cheers to a new season of growth and discovery.
