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Grant Hegstad Surprised with $25,000 Milken Educator Award for Contributions to a Captivating High School Career Program and Positive School Culture

Milken Family Foundation's nationwide tour touches down in Orange City to recognize excellence in education

February 15, 2024

Santa Monica, Calif. — Grant Hegstad lends his leadership and positive attitude to all areas of campus life, serving as MOC-Floyd Valley High School's assistant principal, Extended Career Experiences (ECE) coordinator, Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) instructor and head football coach. While balancing these duties, today, Hegstad was given one more title to add to his repertoire: Iowa's sole 2023-24 Milken Educator Award recipient.

At an all-school assembly filled with cheering students, colleagues, dignitaries and media, Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley explained that the Milken Family Foundation's stop in Orange City, Iowa, is part of a nationwide tour honoring excellence in K-12 education. Then, with Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow and MOC-Floyd Valley Community School District Superintendent Russ Adams joining in the celebration, Dr. Foley presented Hegstad with his surprise Milken Educator Award — and a $25,000 cash prize he can use however he chooses.

"Grant Hegstad is a natural-born leader, learner and educator," said Dr. Foley, who is also a 1994 Milken Educator from Indiana. "Providing all students with invaluable, hands-on opportunities to pursue their goals and dreams has been a game-changer. The local partnerships he has built with families, colleagues and community members will continue to elevate educational opportunities for his students. Congratulations, Grant, and welcome to the Milken Educator family!"

Hailed as the "Oscars of Teaching," the Awards will honor up to 75 recipients across the country in 2023-24 as part of the Milken Family Foundation’s Journey to the 3,000^th Milken Educator. 2023-24 will reach $75 million in individual financial prizes spanning the length of the initiative and more than $144 million invested in the Milken Educator Award national network overall, empowering recipients to "Celebrate, Elevate, and Activate" the K-12 profession and inspiring young, capable people to pursue teaching as a career.

"As the Department of Education continues to celebrate incredible teachers across the state, I am excited to invite the national Milken Educator Award back to Iowa," said Director McKenzie Snow. "Together, we honor Grant Hegstad for his impactful leadership connecting the classroom to the workplace and preparing students for in-demand, high-wage and public good careers. Grant supports his fellow teachers in professional learning and builds strong partnerships with industry, growing work-based learning opportunities for students in MOC-Floyd Valley and across Iowa. On behalf of all of us at the Department of Education, congratulations Grant!"

Hegstad is the first recipient in MOC-Floyd Valley Community School District since 2003, when Superintendent Adams received his Award as principal at MOC-Floyd Valley High School. Today, Adams looked on proudly as he watched Hegstad receive the prestigious Award that once opened doors in his own career.

"We are extremely fortunate to have Grant serving and leading at MOC-Floyd Valley! His vision for teaching and learning and his commitment to helping students grow through authentic experiences is unparalleled," said Superintendent Adams. "He is a true difference maker and an absolute blessing to everyone fortunate enough to know him!"

Hegstad was completely unaware of his candidacy for the Award. Recipients are sought out while early to mid-career for what they have achieved – and for the promise of what they will accomplish given the resources and opportunities afforded by the Award.

More About Grant Hegstad

Motivating Career-Driven Students: MOC-Floyd Valley High School Assistant Principal and Extended Career Experiences (ECE) Coordinator Grant Hegstad is a leader in creating a culture that is generating strong, ambitious students ready to succeed after graduation. A former special education teacher, Hegstad now directs the school's CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) program in addition to his administrator role. Through a partnership with local business owners and community members, MOC-Floyd Valley students gain on-the-job training, real-world experiences and the opportunity to explore a variety of different career paths. 

Furthering Opportunities for All: With Hegstad's guidance and commitment, the CAPS/ECE program has grown from a handful of students to some 50 students this academic year. CAPS students meet within the local STAPLES corporate office so that students can have direct exposure to the business environment. His hard work is paying off: Students who participated in the program with local businesses have turned those internships into full-time jobs post-graduation, and others have found employment as welders after completing their CAPS/ECE coursework. Students have expressed high praise for CAPS in presentations to the school board, noting the relevance of their career experiences in their plans for the future.

Expanding a Program: Hegstad's enthusiasm for the program led him to bring CAPS students to Des Moines to present at the Governor's annual STEM Day. He has also provided guidance and leadership to assist a dozen area school districts who have joined the Siouxland CAPS network. On a constant mission to grow and improve, Hegstad regularly seeks out new business partners to help expand the program’s offerings for students. Under his guidance, MOC-Floyd Valley is in the process of adding CAPS Medicine and CAPS Education programs to the lineup. 

A Community-Oriented Leader: The legacy of Hegstad's work in this community is his commitment to see the best in every student and teacher at MOC-Floyd Valley High School – and to empower them to believe in themselves. He makes time in his busy days to mentor new teachers, participates in the school’s professional learning community, and even "tackled" leadership of the MOC-Floyd Valley Football Program where he serves as head coach – go, Dutchmen!

Education: Hegstad earned his Bachelor of Arts in business education in 2010 from Northwestern College, and has continued the relationship with the university through his assistance in Accelerate Siouxland – a regional leadership development program under the Center for Innovation and Leadership. Hegstad received a Master of Education in educational leadership in 2014 from the University of Sioux Falls.

More about the Milken Educator Award Journey: "The Future Belongs to the Educated"

• The honorees attend an all-expenses-paid Milken Educator Awards Forum in Los Angeles this June, where they will network with their new colleagues as well as veteran Milken Educators and other education leaders about how to broaden their impact on K-12 education.
• Honorees receive powerful mentorship opportunities for expanded leadership roles that strengthen education practice and policy. Milken Friends Forever (MFF) pairs a new recipient with a veteran Milken Educator mentor; the Expanding MFF Resource and Explorer Program fosters individual veteran Milken Educator partnerships around a specific topic area; and Activating Milken Educators (AME) promotes group collaboration in and across states to tackle pressing educational needs.
• Veteran Milken Educators demonstrate a wide range of leadership roles at state, national and international levels.
• The $25,000 cash Award is unrestricted. Recipients have used the money in diverse ways. Some recipients have spent the funds on their children's or their own continuing education, financing dream field trips, establishing scholarships, and even adopting children. 

Follow the Milken Educator Awards tour and use the #MEA3K and #MilkenAward hashtags on: Facebook (MilkenEducatorAwards) | X (Milken) | YouTube (MilkenAward) | Instagram (MilkenFamilyFdn) | LinkedIn (MilkenFamilyFdn) | TikTok (MilkenAward).

Visit MilkenEducatorAwards.org or call the Milken Family Foundation at (310) 570-4772 for more information.

About the Milken Educator Awards
The first Milken Educator Awards were presented by the Milken Family Foundation in 1987. Created by Lowell Milken, the Awards provide public recognition and individual financial rewards of $25,000 to elementary and secondary school teachers, principals, and specialists from around the country who are furthering excellence in education. Recipients are heralded in early to mid-career for what they have achieved and for the promise of what they will accomplish. The Milken Family Foundation celebrates more than 40 years of elevating education in America and around the world. Learn more at MFF.org.

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