Park Center Student Earns Osseo School District’s First-Ever Community Service Letter
Midway through the 2025-26 school year, Osseo Area Schools introduced a new way for high school students to earn a varsity letter: through community service. Since then, one Park Center student has earned the honor.
Logan Corwin, who will soon be a high school senior, cobbled together 120 hours of volunteer work at Maple Grove Fire Explorers, Tree Trust and Feed My Starving Children. Students have to complete all those hours with at least three different organizations and at least 40 hours dedicated to one organization.
Then, students are required to put together a reflection project. Corwin chose a portfolio, which Park Center Activities Coordinator Keelie Sorensen said went above and beyond.
“I think it just gives another space for students to be safe and find their joy and find their passion, and also learn things and build connections,” Sorensen said. “I definitely saw that in Logan. He was really excited, really passionate about what he did, and also really humble about the hours he put in.”
Sorensen said the program was designed by a group of students from each high school in the district. She said she hopes this sparks a love of service for more students.
“That’s how we come together– is how we can give back and uplift one another, create positive change. And this is one way where we’re teaching that agency for youth to be able to get out there and do that and have that positive change,” Sorensen said.
Logan Corwin’s portfolio has a variety of details showcasing his different volunteer opportunities. This one shows a photo of a controlled burn he got to be a part of with Maple Grove Fire Explorers.
Feed My Starving Children
The bulk of Corwin’s volunteer work was done at Maple Grove Fire Explorers, but his next busiest volunteer effort was at Feed My Starving Children. The food packing nonprofit has a location in Coon Rapids that he visits frequently with his mom, Miranda.
He’s one of many hands assembling boxes full of nutrient-rich meals for people overseas. FMSC has an assembly-line system, where Logan gets to ring the bell once a full pallet of boxes is completed. Eva Karp, site manager with FMSC, said they’ve gotten to know Corwin well over the last few months.
“He’s just like everyone’s brother — and he comes in with a smile. He and his mom just work in conjunction. Always in the warehouse, always giving it their all and making everyone feel welcome,” Karp said.
Volunteers are essential for the operation, especially volunteers like Corwin who have the system down to a science, Karp said. Corwin typically weighs, seals and stacks boxes to be shipped off, though he said he does participate in packing food sometimes.
“They come from different backgrounds, different demographics, different age groups. And now they come together into one purpose for that evening,” Karp said.
FMSC recognized Corwin for his service on July 13 after learning about his community service letter.
Logan Corwin rings the bell after completing a pallet of meals at Feed My Starving Children in Coon Rapids.
Finished Product
Corwin himself said he sees the benefits of service. At Tree Trust, he helps plant trees in areas that need them. He said it’s fun to drive by and see them planted. At FMSC, he said he’s learned a lot about the people he helps overseas.
“It’s just cool seeing that, although I’ll never get to meet these people, it’s cool seeing that these kids will live longer and longer thanks to that,” Corwin said.
At Maple Grove Fire Explorers, Corwin said he learned a variety of skills that he could take into a possible career as a firefighter someday. Though he decided not to pursue firefighting at this time — he has his eyes on HVAC– he said he enjoys his time with the Explorers.
To earn the required hours and complete a portfolio in time, Corwin said volunteering became a priority in the second half of the school year.
“I did something almost every single day,” Corwin said.
The portfolio he crafted was a labor of love. It’s complete with a log of his hours, a write-up on his experiences and photos of each of his volunteer opportunities. He even made a slot for his varsity letter.
When Corwin brought the portfolio to the Activities office, Sorensen insisted he keep it as a memento of his hard work. Though this shouldn’t be his only community service letter — he plans to work hard his senior year to earn one again.
He said he hopes other students take on the challenge and see the good in the world, too.
Corwin flips through his community service portfolio.
Park Center Senior High School
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