West metro school briefs: Eden Prairie community ed director hired

The Minnesota Association of School Business Officials has named Kelly Benusa, director of business services for Osseo Area Schools, the 2014 Minnesota School Business Official of the Year. She received the award on May 1 at the 2014 MASBO conference in Breezy Point.

Benusa was recognized at the MASBO spring conference where she was presented with several awards, including a $2,000 scholarship for an Osseo Area Schools student and a complimentary registration to a national leadership institute for school business leaders.

Shawn Hoffman-Bram has been hired as director of community education for Eden Prairie Schools.

She has 23 years of experience as a community education coordinator in White Bear Lake, community education director in Willmar, and most recently in the St. Cloud Area School District, where she has held that position since 1999.

While in St. Cloud, Hoffman-Bram held various leadership roles for levy efforts, communication efforts and budget reduction processes.

She is a past president of the Minnesota Community Education Association and has received national accreditation as a National Community Education Association Fellow.

Hoffman-Bram holds a bachelor's degree in leisure planning and management from Minnesota State University-Mankato, a master's in community education from the University of St. Thomas, and a doctorate in educational administration from St. Cloud State University.

The Edina Education Fund's capstone fundraiser of the year will be June 1 and 2 at the Edina Country Club.

The event will start at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 1, with a kickoff dinner, games, a silent auction and a live auction. On Monday, June 2, activities will resume at noon, with a lunch followed by golf and tennis.

Proceeds will benefit Edina Public Schools.

For more information, go to www.edinaedfund.com or call 952-848-4222.

Ana C. Evans, a junior at Armstrong High School, received the Minnesota Department of Education's Scholar of Distinction Award in Theater Arts for 2014. The award recognizes excellence in theater and requires students to demonstrate outstanding knowledge, skills and creativity in theater arts.

The final qualifying component of the award is an artistic project demonstrating expertise in a chosen area of theater arts — Evans chose acting.

Evans has participated in many productions at professional theaters in the Twin Cities in the last five years, including several productions at Stages Theater, History Theater, Illusion Theater, Bloomington Civic Theater and Children's Theatre Company as well as productions at Armstrong.

Evans is the first student from Armstrong to receive the award.