Edward “Teddy” Bower. Photos: Mycah Bain Photography
If there is any year that brings with it a whirlpool of emotions, memories and questions about the future it has to be the senior year of high school. It’s also a time to recognize our area graduates and their unique places in the Class of 2026.
As we do each year, this issue highlights a selection of students, who were nominated by their schools for leaving a positive imprint and exemplifying the best of their school communities. Please welcome to our pages Edward “Teddy” Bower, Zoya Aghamirzai, Aiden Albin Zapzalka and Layla Chakhvashvili.
Edward “Teddy” Bower
Blake School
“Teddy Bower exemplifies kindness, respect and mindfulness. He is polite, considerate and inclusive of both peers and teachers. As a highly accomplished and driven student, Teddy embodies excellence both in and out of the classroom. Teddy serves as captain of the Blake Sailing Team and co-captain of the Chess Club, demonstrating exceptional leadership through mentoring and leading by example. Outside of school, he actively participates in prestigious sailing organizations, competing in various regattas. Academically, Teddy has excelled at The School for Ethics and Global Leadership, where he co-authored a policy document presented to the U.S. State Department. His dedication to global issues earned him the Blake Dean’s Award, and he has achieved significant success in chess, including top 10 placements at the Minnesota State Scholastic Chess Championship and a victory at the National Scholastic Chess Championship. Teddy’s sailing accomplishments, such as victories at the Great Oaks National Invitational and the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association High Point Award, highlight his athletic talent. His leadership, academic excellence and extracurricular achievements make him a standout student both within our school community, the Lake Minnetonka area and in our state.” —Pachao Yajcherthao, instructor and advisor, Blake School
A high school experience you’re most proud of: I am especially proud of winning the Great Oaks National Sailing Regatta … I was able to anticipate, strategize and execute maneuvers while maintaining speed across the course. My pride was amplified by my little brother, Olly, who sailed the regatta with me. He was an excellent crew, and his hard work led to our shared achievement. It was an honor to represent Blake and the Lake Minnetonka community at the national level, be coached by Gordy Bowers and add our names to trophies previously won by Orono and Minnetonka teams.
What your peers might not know about you: I really enjoy making paper airplanes, as they lend themselves well to experimentation. Adjusting things like wing size to see how it impacts stability or altering the center of mass by shifting the folds can transform the plane’s flight path. For me, it’s rewarding to see each small tweak I make result in more air time or interesting flight dynamics …
Dream graduation speaker: Benjamin Franklin
The soundtrack to your high school career: The Planets by Gustav Holst
Adventure and sailing are at the fore in Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome, writing, “It was like exploring a place that you have seen in a dream, where everything is just where you expect it and yet everything is a surprise.”
Favorite childhood book: Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
Your future in three words: Persistence, discovery and transformation
More about Edward:
- Active Member of the Club 420 Sailing Class Association and the Melges 15 Sailing Class Association (2022–2025)
- Attended The School for Ethics and Global Leadership 15-week immersive semester in Washington, D.C. (Fall 2024)
- Blake Chess Club Co-Captain (2023–2025)
- Blake High School Sailing Team Captain (2022–2025)
- Blake Robotics Team (2022–2025)
- Co-authored and presented a policy document on Child Labor in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire at the U.S. State Department (2024)
- Competitor at National and International Sailing Regattas (2022–2025)
- Recipient of the Blake Dean’s Award (2024)
- Third place in the X boat Inland Sailing Championship Senior Fleet (2023)
- Top 10 individual placement in the Minnesota State Scholastic Chess Championship (2024)
- Volunteer Fall/Spring Optimist Sailing Coach at Lake Minnetonka Sailing School (2023–2025)
- Winner of the Club 420 Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association High Point Award (2024)
- Winner of the Great Oaks National Invitational High School Sailing Championship (2024)
- Winner of the Minnetonka Yacht Club Mike Plant Memorial Trophy for achievement in sailing (2023)
- Winner of the Oscar Mayer-Mendota and Mariner Trophies for Inland X boat race wins (2023)
- Winner of Rating Division in the National K–12th Grade Chess Championship (2024)
Zoya Aghamirzai
Minnetonka High School (MHS)
“Zoya challenges herself academically at the highest levels at MHS. An IB Diploma Candidate, Zoya has undertaken one of the most, if not the most, difficult pathways that Minnetonka offers. While academically successful, Zoya also wants others to succeed too. She works with the Writing Center as a peer writing coach. She helps other students with their writing skills, not by correcting grammar or spelling, but actively engaging with the message of the student’s writing, making sure that what they want to say comes across succinctly and understandably. In the past, she has been active in the K-pop Club at school.” —Brad Burnham, MHS counselor
A high school experience you’re most proud of: I’m really proud of my experience so far as an IB Diploma Candidate. I’m glad to be a part of a community of such unique and diverse thinkers, and I’ve been so happy to take classes that are just as much challenging as they are fun.
What your peers might not know about you: … I really enjoy hiking, camping and the outdoors. I go up to the Boundary Waters every chance I get in the summers. I’m really looking forward to my trips coming up this year. Last year, I did some really memorable hiking on Mount St. Helens.
Dream graduation speaker: Mozart
The soundtrack to your high school career: dreamin dreamin by Capsule
Author Rick Riordan’s fantasy series has engaged the minds and imaginations of readers from all over the world. Closer to home, Zoya Aghamirzai calls it one of her favorite childhood reads.
Favorite childhood book: The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
Your future in three words: Completely not sure.
More about Zoya:
- A Honor roll both semesters (2022–2023)
- IB Diploma Candidate
- Anchored in Fashion club
- Explorers
- Minnetonka Treble Choir
Aiden Albin Zapzalka
Minnetonka High School (MHS)
“Aiden is a quiet leader who works hard inside and outside of the classroom. He is a student who teachers describe as a gem because of his thoughtful classroom commentary, relentless pursuit of excellence academically and his consistent care for his classmates and teachers. His academic record shows how hard he works in the most challenging coursework we offer at MHS. You would be hard-pressed to find a student who has achieved more academically the last three years.” —Dave Bierly, MHS counselor
“Aiden is a natural leader who inspires those around him through his positivity and dedication. He leads by example, striving to improve and pushing himself to be better. His genuine care for younger teammates fosters a supportive, encouraging team culture, helping them grow on and off the field. Aiden consistently excels in everything he takes on, proving that hard work, resilience and passion are keys to success.” —Taylor Moon, MHS strength and conditioning coach
A high school experience you’re most proud of: Making it to the Prep Bowl provided the opportunity to step into U.S. Bank Stadium as a [football] team with unwavering support from the stands. Also, having my teammates vote me captain means they trust me to lead them into the next season. This means more to me than any one of my own individual accomplishments.
What your peers might not know about you: I am a fisherman! Fishing teaches me patience and determination … Being on the water allows me to escape the reality of my routine where I feel connected with nature, God and myself.
Dream graduation speaker: Charles Darwin
The soundtrack to your high school career: Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw
Books can inform and reflect a person’s life and interests, so we asked this year’s featured seniors about their favorite childhood books. Aiden Albin Zapzalka’s choice isn’t surprising if you know about one of his interests, found on this page.
Favorite childhood book: The Young Man and the Sea by Rodman Philbrick
Your future in three words: Eventful, wondrous and promising
More about Aiden:
- A Honor Roll: 2 semesters Freshman, 2 semesters Sophomore, 2 semesters Junior (anticipated)
- All-District Football Player Award 2024–2025 school year
- AP Scholar with Honor
- Loaves & Fishes, regular volunteer
- MHS Band Freshman, Sophomore and Junior
- MHS Football, captain (2025–2026)
- MHS Football Lineman of the Year 2024–2025 school year
- MHS Football Varsity Letter: Freshman, Sophomore and Junior
- MHS Student Recognition Award
- MHS Track Varsity Letter: Freshman, Sophomore and Junior
- Minnetonka Junior Gold Hockey team Captain 2024–2025 Season
- National Honor Society
- President’s Volunteer Service Award: 2022, 2023 and 2024
- Varsity Academic Letter: Freshman, Sophomore and Junior
- Young Life of Minnetonka
Layla Chakhvashvili
Blake School
“Every time Layla Chakhvashvili picks up the violin, it’s clearly about more than just music. It’s a passion, a means of connection and community, and a way for her to express more than can be said with words. Layla has distinguished herself at Blake as an active member of the music department through her involvement in orchestra, chamber ensembles, choir and the musical, as well as an integral member of the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony. She leads multiple ensembles in and outside of Blake and is often invited to perform before Minnesota Orchestra and Minnesota Public Radio concerts and events. What truly sets Layla apart from her peers in these groups is her ability to bring people together. In every interaction, she fosters a positive and collaborative environment and has helped shape a community at Blake where every musician feels heard, supported, challenged and inspired. Layla’s excellence doesn’t end when she leaves the music department. She excels in high level academic courses and is a member of the Blake robotics team and multiple state championship fencing teams. Layla personifies Blake’s core values as a student, leader, mentor and musician.” —Brian Lukkasson, instrumental music teacher and advisor at Blake School
A high school experience you’re most proud of: The thing I am most proud of from my high school career is my ability to transform my passion for music into countless opportunities. By the end of my high school career, I will have traveled with orchestras to France, Spain, Greece, New Zealand and Australia, performing at halls, such as the Palau de La Musica and the Sydney Opera House … I’m able to learn so much about the music and culture from all around the world. These learning experiences have been incredibly rewarding, for I am able to find success in what I love doing most.
What your peers might not know about you: … some people are surprised to discover that my interests extend beyond classical music. (Right now, my top genre is actually jazz!) In my spare time, I love exploring math and science, learning about how the world works, drawing and making jewelry. I also enjoy solving Rubik’s Cubes, with my fastest time on a 3×3 being around 8 seconds.
Dream graduation speaker: Leonard Bernstein
The soundtrack to your high school career: Infernal Dance from the Firebird Suite by Igor Stravinsky
With relatable humor and universal themes of growing up, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and its series have engaged millions of young readers, including Layla Chakhvashvili.
Favorite childhood book: Diary of Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Your future in three words: Sky’s the limit.
More about Layla:
- Accepted into Boston University Tanglewood Institute’s Young Artists’ Orchestra (summer 2025)
- Artaria Chamber Music School (grades 10–12)
- Blake Robotics Team (grades 11–12)
- Blake Orchestra Member (grades 10–12)
- Blake Choir Member (grade 11)
- Blake Varsity Softball Team (grade 9)
- Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute’s Young Artists Orchestra
- Frequently invited to perform at Minnesota Orchestra pre-concert shows and events for Classical MPR (grades 10–12)
- Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies Symphony Orchestra (grades 9–12)
- Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies Student Leadership Team (grades 11–12)
- Leader of Blake student-run school chamber music program, Ursa Major (grades 10–12)
- Blake Varsity Fencing Team (grades 9–12)
- Minnesota Youth Symphonies (grades 5–10)
- Performed at the Minnesota Orchestra’s Annual Symphony Ball as a member of Quartet Selene (May 2024)
- Received coaching and participated in masterclasses as both a soloist and chamber musician with Axel Strauss, Frank Almond, Natasha Brofsky and members of the Modigliani and Pacifica Quartets (since grade 9)
- Saint Paul String Quartet Competition (with Quartet Selene)
- Selected to be loaned a high-quality violin from esteemed Kansas City luthier Ken Beckmann (received in fall 2024)
- Traveled with the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies to France and Spain and performed at the Palau de La Musica (summer 2024)
