06/17/2026
๐ช๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ก๐ผ๐ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐?
We want to highlight the many pathways our alumni pursue. Our goal is not just celebration โ it is connection โ helping current students and our community see that success takes many forms and that each Knightโs path is unique, valuable, and full of possibility. Check out this weekโs featured alumni!
๐ก๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ: Rosieanna LaFond (formerly Kelsey Weitzel)
๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ: 2008
๐ฃ๐ผ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ป๐๐๐ถ๐๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ, ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต:
Minneapolis Community and Technical College- Special Education Certificate 2013
Metropolitan State University- Independent Study: Focus- Major: Leadership and Advocacy for Youth and People with Disabilities Minor: Disability Studies- Graduation Summer 2022
MS Independent Studies: Focus: Leadership and Advocacy for Females with Disabilities in Urban Communities- Graduation Spring 2025
Current: Graduate Studies, Master's in Advocacy and Political Leadership GPA: 3.6
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฝ ๐๐ผ ๐ป๐ผ๐?
Currently I am at Metropolitan State University working on a degree in the MAPL (Masters in Advocacy and Political Leadership) program. I graduated last May with a Masters in Leadership and Advocacy for Females with Disabilities in Urban Communities. What I am currently doing with these is I am working to develop a voting program that I hope to spread across the state that will assist those with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities learn the ins and outs of voting and learn their rights for voting. I have been a Special Education Assistant with Minneapolis Public Schools since February of 2015 and currently work at North High School in North Minneapolis. I currently work in a room with students with Autism and assist them in their daily school tasks and teach them to be as independent and to advocate for themselves.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐
๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ, ๐ฐ๐น๐ฎ๐๐, ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐, ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐?
Speech made a huge impact on my life. I was in Speech, Mock Trial, and Student Congress. Mr. Frickstad made a big impact on how I learned to public speak. He was also an awesome teacher and once tried to do the soulja boy dance (viewable on youtube).
Mr. Skogen. He always believed in me and made school interesting even if he gave a million notes and sang happy birthday in the most unique way (type Mr. Skogen sings happy birthday into youtube).
Ms. Maas was my case manager starting my sophomore year when she was a first-year teacher. She taught me how to be positive and listened to my advice as a high school student. She made me feel important and like I had something to give to the world.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ด๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐?
There are many different people in this world with a wealth of experiences and knowledge. Spend time in urban areas with people who are different from you. You will grow exponentially and gain many new experiences. Also, don't let others tell you what you can or can't do, and don't underestimate yourself.
If you would like to be featured in this series, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/zjkQuceWxKdRp5MfA
