At just 26, Sammy Wallace has already dedicated over a decade to Mahtomedi Community Education. A 2016 Mahtomedi High School (MHS) graduate, she now lives in Wyoming, Minnesota with her husband and two dogs but still proudly calls Mahtomedi home. “Being part of this community my whole life gives me a unique perspective in supporting it,” she says.
Her journey began in Mahtomedi Adventure Club (MAC), where she was once a student. At 14, she returned as a volunteer, eventually joining the staff and working summers throughout high school, college, and her early career as a teacher for Inver Grove Heights Public Schools.
Last August, Ms. Wallace became Mahtomedi Community Education’s Secondary and Adult Enrichment Coordinator and made an immediate impact. In just ten months, she’s built partnerships with 17 new community partners and counting, including the Royal Credit Union, the MN DNR, and The Velveteen Speakeasy. On top of this, she also played a key role in making the recent MHS Career, Internship, and Volunteer Fair a success, engaging over 25 local volunteers, 30 businesses, and 400 students.
What drives her? She thoughtfully evaluates what our community wants to see, based on both word of mouth and community needs assessment survey results: “I love building relationships with the people who consistently show up to our programs while also being strategic about how I can reach new audiences.”
Her efforts have launched innovative programs like Financial Planning for High School Students, the DNR Family Fishing Clinic, and Cocktail Making: Gin 1920s Era, each designed to meet the evolving needs of our community, such as more opportunities for high schoolers, families, and young adults.
Next up: the Community Garage Sale. Ms. Wallace is launching this event for our community July 17-19 at O.H. Anderson Elementary to support our youth scholarship program. When asked about the value of this event, she shared: “Garage sales are such a staple of summers in Minnesota. We want to bring people together for a good cause. We hope you will join us!”