Contact Us
Tim Hoogland
Tim (aka Mr. History) is the coordinator of History Day in Minnesota and manager of education outreach services at MHS. Over his 20 years with History Day, participation in the program has grown from 125 students to approximately 30,000 students each year in Minnesota. When he isn’t pondering cool new designs for Minnesota History Day’s buttons and t-shirts, Mr. History enjoys golfing with his friend Mooster History and playing Guitar Hero with his daughters.
- You can call Mr. History at 651-259-3425 or tim.hoogland@mnhs.org.
ALISSA KAPPES
Ali (aka Ali Cat) is Minnesota History Day’s logistical guru as well as the regional coordinator for some metro regional events. If you’ve got questions about workshops, curriculum materials, registration processes, finance or regional events, Ali is your staffer. When she’s not bringing order to the chaos of History Day, this small town gal is catching up on good books and deciding which northern MN historical marker she will visit next.
- Ali can be reached at 651-259-3426 or alissa.kappes@mnhs.org.
KAtie Craven
Katie (aka Sconnie) covers the Northwest and North Central part of Minnesota, visiting History Day schools from Crookston to Bemidji to Grand Rapids. If you live north of Lake Mille Lacs, Katie is your bowling-shirted friend. This Wisconsin native joined the History Day staff in 2008, and in those rare hours when she is not glued to her iPod on two-lane northern highways, she splits her time between running 5Ks and playing with her 25-pound furball, Luna.
- Katie can be reached at 651-259-3429 or katherine.craven@mnhs.org
Rachel Hernandez
Rachel (aka Herny ) works with History Day students in the Minneapolis and St. Paul Public Schools, as well as schools in northeast Minnesota (familiar territory for this UMD grad). Rachel was a History Day mentor and has firsthand experience in the wonderment that is regional event-planning. When she's not helping History Day kids, you can find Rachel at Metallica concerts or DVRing her favorite UFC fights.
- You can reach Rachel at 651-259-3438 or rachel.hernandez@mnhs.org.
laura Zeccardi
Laura (aka LZ) returns to the Land of Lakes after several years in the Big Apple, emerging from the world of archives into the bright lights of History Day. A former History Day kid from Chatfield, Laura serves schools in the Southeast, Central and West Central regions of the state. When she's not driving the I-94 corridor, Laura enjoys tending to her houseplants and knitting all manner of warm clothing.
- Laura can be reached at 651-259-3439 or laura.zeccardi@mnhs.org.
Chris Taylor
Chris (aka Mr. 7) claims the Minneapolis Public Schools and reservation schools as his turf for History Day. This Iowa native and Osseo High School graduate came to the Minnesota Historical Society from the New York History Day program. Chris also manages diversity outreach programs for the Minnesota Historical Society. During the fall Mr. 7 can be seen on the gridiron whipping his son’s football team into shape or playing with his newborn son.
- You can reach Chris at 651-259-3430 or chris.taylor@mnhs.org.
Heidi Kloempken
Heidi (aka Don't Call Me Pumpkin) is a native Minnesotan and former History Day who went to Texas after college to find some cowboys and longhorns. After four years of bringing History Day to the rural children of Fort Worth, Heidi returned to Minnesota to re-experience under-90-degree weather and pop. She is going to relearn how to drive in snowy weather by visiting schools in Southwest and South Central Minnesota. When not on the road, Heidi likes to read cookbooks and make anything with celery as an ingredient.
- You can reach Heidi at 651-259-3437 or heidi.kloempken@mnhs.org.
Kyle parsons
Kyle (aka KP) works with History Day students in his home district of Minneapolis and also lends a hand to the Diversity Outreach programs at the Minnesota Historical Society. Kyle, a former History Day kid from Southwest High School, joined the History Day staff in 2010 when the siren songs of Minnesota sports lured him back from Milwaukee. When he is not instructing History Day youth, he likes to astonish random passers-by with his knowledge of all Timberwolves players from the last 10 years.
- You can reach Kyle at 651-259-3436 or kyle.parsons@mnhs.org
Jessica Ellison
Jessica (aka Fun Jessica) is a former History Day staffer who has now moved into the world of Education Outreach Communication. If you have questions regarding History Day or other Education communication, give Jessica a call.
- You can reach Jessica at 651-259-3427 or jessica.ellison@mnhs.org.
