Moorhead Area Public Schools superintendent Dr. Brandon Lunak dropped in on Cross Country practice at Moorhead High School to present the October 2025 Spud Spirit Award to Lisa Grafstrom, who is a behavior interventionist at S.G. Reinertsen Elementary in addition to working in support of the MHS Cross Country program. Lisa is in her 17th year of service with the district.
Dr. Lunak surprised Lisa with the award, announcing her honors in front of the entire Cross Country Team.
“Lisa ensures that students with unique needs can fully participate in the sport, consistently going above and beyond for them,” said Dr. Lunak, echoing her nominator’s words. “She runs or bikes alongside athletes to ensure their safety and accessibility, adjusts training plans, creates modified race courses, and handles anything else they might need. At a meet, you might see her sprinting around the course to support a runner at the start or finish line—or you might not see her at all, because she works tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly for our kids.”
The runners clapped and cheered in support of Mrs. Grafstrom as Dr. Lunak spoke.
He went on to share a story passed along by her nominator: “At one of our practices last year, we invited a guest speaker who asked our runners to share about the people who support them in their lives. One of our athletes, who is supported by Lisa, immediately spoke up and enthusiastically shared all the ways Lisa helps him every day—affectionately calling her his ‘cross country mom.’ Beyond her daily support for our runners, Lisa and her husband, Erick, also went out of their way to help organize a cross country fundraiser, simply out of kindness and their desire to support the team.”
A parent whose son Lisa supports added: “Lisa has been an energetic person working with our son in both Cross Country and Track and Field. Her communication skills and ability to relate to him have enabled him to have a wonderful experience. Thank you, Lisa!”
Lisa’s joy for all things Spuds and her efforts to make sports accessible for all athletes speak directly to the district’s mission to develop the maximum potential of every student to thrive in a changing world.
The Spud Spirit Award is a recognition program that honors MAPS staff who live by the district mission to develop the maximum potential of every learner to thrive in a changing world and showcase our Spud Spirit statements:
Students, staff, parents, families, and the Moorhead community
Passionate, engaged, innovative, and growing in safe environments
Unique, worthy, respectful, and relationship-based
Diversity enriches our school and community
Stewards of the public’s trust in effective and efficient operations
Spud Spirit Award nominations are made by staff, student families and community members. Nominations are open at the beginning of each semester during the school year.