To enhance the education of PreK-12 learners in the Brooklyn Center Community Schools.
The Centaur Foundation is a volunteer organization affiliated with BCCS. The organization’s sole purpose and goal is to help support and maintain the continued excellence of BCCS. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to enhancing the academic experience for all students. The foundation is made up of alumni, district retirees, district employees and community members.
Your Support is Needed!
Way to Help
Make a donation
Attend a Foundation meeting
Connect the Foundation to businesses that would support us
Invite the Foundation to set up a table at your next community function or reunion
Future Work
In the coming years, Centaur Foundation will continue to provide grants and offer support for programs that help increase academic achievement and promote social development of all students. In addition, the Foundation will:
Expand the involvement of parents, community members, businesses and civic organizations.
Establish community connections and relationships that benefit students, staff and schools.
Enter into partnerships with community agencies that will benefit our schools
Search for sources that will provide additional funding for the Foundation’s grant program.
Grant Applications
Classroom Grants
Classroom grants are offered to BCCS staff who seek funding for special projects or classroom materials.
Centaur Foundation's Teacher Summer Professional Growth Grants are awarded to teachers for personal and professional growth with the hope that these awards will allow teachers to pursue interests that impact student learning.
Came to BCHS in 1990 and taught Biology. Served as the Q-Comp Coach and coached volleyball and track.
Member of Foundation Board since 2025.
Kris Edmonds
Came to BCHS in 1990 and taught art. Served as the school's Arts Magnet Coordinator and was the advisor for the National Honor Society. Retired in 2018.
Member of Foundation Board since 2023.
Hawa Forkpa
Graduated from BCHS in 2007.
Member of Foundation Board since 2021.
Charles Freeman
Graduated from BCHS in 2007.
Member of Foundation Board since 2021.
Marjie (King) Hay
Graduated from BCHS in 1994. Taught Spanish at BCHS 2003-2012.
Member of Foundation Board since 2013.
George Larson
Came to BCHS in 1973 to teach English. Coached hockey and girl’s track. Beginning in 1999, served as BCHS Principal.
The Centaur Foundation awarded 10 grants worth $7,900 during the 2022-2023 school year.
Brooklyn Center ARISE Youth Leaders Exploratory Ethnic Studies: Helped fund a trip to Providence, Rhode Island for 9th and 11th grade students travel participate in ARISE's two week Ethnic Studies program. A short video documentary will be produced and shared with the BC community.
Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post Field Trip: 11th grade students visited the Mille Lacs Indian Museum. They complete a scavenger hunt, explored native cultural objects, and participated in craft projects related to Native American culture.
Flocabulary: Annual subscription to Flocabulary website in which students are able to learn creative terms and concepts. They display these learnings by writing music lyrics and creating music videos.
9th Grade Overnight Trip to Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center: 9th grade students traveled to Osprey Wilds for a 3-day learning trip. They participated in STEAM and outdoor education activities (i.e. Ojibwe culture hike, rock climbing, help cooking meals, and having a campfire.
Ping Pong Enrichment: Purchased a new ping pong table, balls, and a training robot for students to participate during Enrichment.
Japanese Cultural Convention: Students attended a Japanese Cultural Convention in Minneapolis. They had been learning about Japanese culture and media in their Enrichment class, and this trip was the culmination of that learning.
2025 Class Shirts: Funded class shirts for the Class of 2025. The students created a unique design, then were taught how to utilize the school's screen printer to make the shirts.
Exploring Social Issues through Spoken Word Poetry: 9th grade students took part in an interactive series of workshops that covered
the basics of spoken word. Artist Kyle Tran Myre joined the students virtually to take them through activities, which culminated in a performance.
Social Play and Math Skills Pizza: Funded a pizza shop for 1st grade students to practice both math and social skills. They can pretend to buy pizza using different variation of coins and dollar bills.
Wolf Ridge Backpacking Trip: Funded transportation for Rising 9th grade students to attend a 2-week backpacking experience with the Wolf Ridge Environmental camp in Northern, MN. The programming costs were covered via scholarships.
Despite the arrival of COVID-19 in March 2020, the Centaur Foundation awarded 31 grants worth $16,101 during the 2019-2020 school year. Students at Brooklyn Center Middle & High School, Brooklyn Center Elementary and the Early College Academy benefitted from the grants listed below. These grants helped pay for programs, supplies, materials and activities that enriched student learning experiences. None of these grants would have been possible without the generosity of Foundation donors. The following grants were awarded during the past school year:
Power Link-4 helped teach cause and effect; making choices; and communication skills to SPED students.
6th Grade Orientation T-Shirts helped kick off the 2019 school year as students were encouraged to begin developing pride in the Class of 2026.
9th Grade Orientation T-Shirts helped welcome students, as well as their parents, to BCS.
Fourth Grade Class Rug used so that each student has a regular spot in which to do lessons and activities.
Interactive Science Notebooks helped 2nd & 5th grade students organize, synthesize and evaluate class materials for information processing.
Flocabulary for 3rd graders is a learning program that used educational hip-hop music to engage students and increase achievement across the curriculum.
Lego Robots were built in SPED classes as students learned about production and cooperative skills.
Math Manipulative Bags were used by 1st grade students during math activities.
Flexible Seating created a classroom environment that helped establish a flexible, safe classroom for 2nd graders.
Phonic Awareness helped students learn letter names & sounds; rhyming; fluency; blending; and segmenting.
Wireless Mic & Sound Mixers for choir helped students self-assess their voices and gave teacher instant feedback for easier assessment.
Ramp Up to Reading Program gave students the opportunity to share books, respond to their reading, develop identity as readers and offer reading choices.
Cookbooks offered a way to connect a common activity with basic math and science concepts.
Flexible Seating allowed 2nd grade students to feel empowered by having some choice and control in their classroom setting by wobbling, rocking or standing.
Breakout In Learning Kits challenged students to work together to solve problems that use critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
ABC World Culture website gave 8th grade students an opportunity to learn about a country's culture, food, government and economics.
Alternative Communication Options gave EB SPED students alternative ways to communicate by using communication stations throughout the room.
English Somali Folktale Books were placed into the EB Media Center through a grant.
Noodle Tools is a suite of online tools for creating citations, annotations, notes and outlines for research projects.
BCS Musical grant was unused because of COVID-19.
Arioso Land Puppets asked that K-2 music students use only their singing voices to communicate as they work to develop their singing voices.
Special Phy. Ed. Equipment was used with SPED students as they taught other students in class.
For the Love of Reading books were purchased through a grant that helped celebrate and promote reading for pleasure.
Walker Art Institute field trip grant was canceled because of COVID-19.
Festival of Nations field trip grant was canceled because of COVID-19.
STEM Bins for Kids supplemented the engineering design process used to build creative design skills and solve problems.
9th Grade College Visits & Senior Career Day helped build student readiness for their future.
Star of the North Book Challenge had 3rd grade students reading the same culturally responsive books, evaluating them and rating their quality.
Science Museum field trip was canceled because of COVID-19.
Calming Spaces for EB Students consisted of an EB initiative involving sensory opportunities to promote self-regulation and positive social skills.
Day Brightener plants were delivered to 1st & 3rd grade students during distance learning this spring.
Centaur Foundation Awards $2,000 Scholarships to BCHS graduating seniors each year.
Scholarship Recipients
2025: Jakelin Ramirez Sanches, Tamie Wong, Christin Jefferson-Moore (pictured left to right)
2024: Erica Lee, Joycee Collins, Windy Vang
2023: Clara Johnson, Amareona Smith, Chanelle Klatt
2022: Alexander Garduno Garcia, Elizabeth Faith Karpah, Aliza Lee
2021: George Yang, Nayeli Williams
2020: Goajay Xiong, Jack Falnes, Megan Falnes
2019: Damian Gillespie and Kylee Hofner
2018: Christina Yang, Honory Fyne, Olufemi Akindumila and Molly Falnes
2017: Jade Yang, Molubah Seley, Sandy Vang, Christina Gilbert
2016: Dahje Holmes, Ariana Wilson, Gina DeLuna, Dan-neya Yancey
2015: Brian Thao, Laura Epding, Isabella Annan
2014: Anna Lee, Martin Luna Martinez, Nicole Fuller, T’shura Holmes, Larrick Potvin
2013: Gabriel Gadson, Kau Guannu, Tabatha Lee, Jacob Peterson, Andrea Diaz, Vanessa Quijada
2012: Josh Horstmann, Sarah Juris, Alexander Lehr, Mykella Auld
2011: Katie Erickson, Va Yang, Laura Olson, Jeetendra Singh
2010: Karen Thao, ABontu Koji, Adam Almstad
A $1,000 award will be given once student completes their first semester of post-secondary education. In the following year, a second $1000 will be awarded once student has completed this third semester.
Established in 1988, Centaur Foundation has given support to Brooklyn Center Elementary School STEAM and Brooklyn Center Middle and High School STEAM by awarding monetary grants. During the years since its creation, the Foundation has also contributed to BCCS by:
Offering scholarships to graduating seniors at Brooklyn Center High School
Purchasing a baby grand piano for the Rossi Auditorium
Making it possible for BCCS teaching staff to experience unique training opportunities
Offering academic and curricular grants that are used to enrich and enhance student experiences
Supporting after-school and summer programs for PreK-12 students
Providing opportunities for students to have new learning experiences away from their school by sponsoring field trips
Partnering with other Brooklyn Center organizations that support the youth in the Brooklyn Center community
Helping teachers develop programs that improve student achievement
The Centaur Foundation would like to highlight the following memorial donations made on behalf of former and dedicated BC staff, alumni, and community members. We are grateful for the generous memorial donations: Our students, teachers, and current staff at 286 schools are beneficiaries of your generosity.
Kermit Klefsaas
Age 93 ~ Passed Away January 2025
Kermit lived in Brooklyn Center for over 50 years and taught Social Studies and coached many sports at Brooklyn Center High School 1962-1992. His contributions in the classroom and on the field will forever be remembered. Thank you, Kerm, for your amazing service to the BC Community.
Bernice Vaillancourt
Age 91 ~ Passed away May 2024
Bernice worked at Brooklyn Center High School as the lead administrative assistant to the principal until she retired in 1998. She had three daughters graduate from BCHS: Julie, Carla, and Jody. Bernice was very active in her church and the BC Community. We are grateful for her dedication and years of service to our Centaur community.
Wayne Finley
Age 76 ~ Passed away February 2024
Wayne Finley grew up in Brooklyn Center and was the oldest of five children. Wayne also raised his family in Brooklyn Center. After graduating from SCSU, Wayne taught at Earle Brown Elementary for over 30 years. He also coached hockey, football, soccer, and baseball. Wayne will forever be in the hearts of everyone who knew and loved him.
Bernie Wesloh
Age 87 ~ Passed away January 2024
Bernie taught science at BCHS for 32 years. He was a finalist for the state “Teacher of the Year” in 1978. He coached football and track and field. Bernie was proud to be the defensive coach of the 1982 Brooklyn Center High School State Football champs and head coach of the 1985 Brooklyn Center High School State Track and Field champs. He was the recipient of the Butch Nash Defensive Football Coordinators award in 1985. In 1992 Bernie was named "MN Track Coach of The Year." He retired from teaching in 1996. Mr. Wesloh will always be remembered in the BC community!
Ottavio Savina
Age 82 ~ Passed away October 2023
Ottavio taught social studies for 24 years and retired from Brooklyn Center High School. He served on the executive board of the ESNDC and was a volunteer tutor for the East Side Learning Center as well as serving on their board. His passions were music, dancing, travel, gardening, genealogy, winter and water skiing, March Madness, Christmas, meeting family and friends for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and everything Italian. He sang in the choirs of St. Ambrose Catholic Church. His memory lives on in the BC community!
Derek Hageman
Age 50 ~ Passed away March 2023
Derek graduated from BCHS in 1991. He was an exceptionally caring person who always saw the best in others. He developed and maintained life-long relationships with people who were blessed to know him. Derek graduated from the University of St. Thomas and Denver University (MBA) and spent his career working in finance. After college he was a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal where he managed a micro credit banking program for women-owned small businesses. He worked for a non profit company (AAII) where he managed portfolios and provided financial education. He enjoyed many sports including running, biking, participating in triathlons and skiing.
Eric Iverson
Age 46 ~ Passed away March 2023
Eric graduated from BCHS in 1994. He played many sports and was a wonderful friend to many classmates. His older brothers, Todd and Jeff, also graduated from BC. After graduation, Eric worked as a union carpenter. Eric is greatly missed!
Jim Norwick
Age 85 ~ Passed away January 2023
Former Centaur Foundation Board Member
Jim joined the inaugural staff that opened Brooklyn Center High School. There he established the art department and the baseball program - the first step requiring him to build the baseball field himself, modeled after Wrigley Field. In 1967 Jim was named athletic director, a role through which he championed the implementation of Title IX and the expansion of women's athletic opportunities in the district. In 1972 Jim also became the district's first community education director. Resolute in his belief and vision that public education should be available and accessible to all ages, Jim spearheaded a number of community education programs for the Brooklyn Center community. Other contributions included founding the Brooklyn Center American Legion Baseball program, establishing the Brooklyn Center Athletic Boosters club, and providing year-round indoor access to exercise opportunities through the daily, early opening of the Brookdale mall for walkers and joggers. More than any accomplishment or career legacy, Jim is remembered for his strength of character, his tireless spirit, and his connectivity. His joyful zest for life was both contagious and unmatched, and his moral compass and humble dedication to serving others fueled every breath and smile. But most of all, Jim was a role model - for love, respect, and kindness to all. He is greatly missed.
Warren Olson
Age 85 ~ Passed away May 2021
Former Centaur Foundation Board Member
Warren was a social studies classroom teacher/football coach for 35 years and retired from Brooklyn Center High School in 1991, where he was on the original staff (1961). After his retirement he continued to coach at Hamline University, Edina and Richfield High Schools. Warren was inducted into the following Halls of Fame: Hamline University Athletics, Minnesota Football Coaches Association and Minnesota Football Old Timers. Warren coached the Brooklyn Center Centaurs to victory in the Class A Prep Bowl I in 1982. Mr. Olson made an indelible impact on the lives of countless BC students and staff. His memory will live on forever in the BC community.
Download and complete the donation form and mail to:
Brooklyn Center High School
c/o The Centaur Foundation
6500 Humboldt Ave. North
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
**Please make check payable to: The Centaur Foundation
