Spotlight: What goes into naming a school? It was plenty for Minneapolis Roosevelt High School

Minneapolis Roosevelt, located in the heart of South Minneapolis in the Standish neighborhood along historic 28th Avenue, went through a myriad of name considerations before eventually being named after Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States.

The school, which was built in 1922 and opened in 1923, was to be the easternmost high school in the city. But following the pattern of other schools with directional names wasn’t an option. Minneapolis East High School was already taken. So was Minneapolis West, Minneapolis South, Minneapolis North and Minneapolis North.

According to Minneapolis Public School Board archives, as planning progressed on what is now a 324,718-square foot, three-story stately brick building located on a 21-acre lot, it was referred to as Nokomis High School. It was destined to be an experimental combination of a junior high and high school with students from grades seven through 12. 

Lake Nokomis, its projected namesake, is located less than two miles away. Curiously, Lake Hiawatha is between Lake Nokomis and the school site but was never considered. Both Nokomis and Hiawatha are mythical figures in the poem Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. 

Believing it would be inappropriate to name a school after mythical figures, the school board turned to honoring a president. While the residents lobbied for the school to be named after Thomas Jefferson, the school board approved Theodore Roosevelt with a nickname of the Teddies and the mascot a bear. 

The first students, and those that followed for many decades, were primarily of Scandinavian descent. 

Now with an MSHSL Enrollment of 913 students, Minneapolis Roosevelt has evolved into a school that serves a diverse, urban student population. According to the school’s mission, the faculty is committed to delivering a “global education” with a distinct focus on social justice and community. 

In 2010, Minneapolis Roosevelt was recognized as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. The school offers a robust curriculum of IB Diploma Programme (DP) and IB Career-related Certificate (CP) courses for students preparing for college yet also places a great value on Career and Technical Education (CTE). Minneapolis Roosevelt’s faculty embraces the philosophy of “preparing all students for college, career and life.”

Did you know?
 

• The school’s colors are maroon and gold.
• For 55 years, Minneapolis Roosevelt students and staff have volunteered more than 10,000 hours and have fed more than 16,000 families through its annual Operation Holiday Basket program. 
• The school’s motto is Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve.
• Principal Christian Ledesma was selected the 2025 Minnesota High School Principal of the Year by the Minnesota Association of Secondary Schools Principals.
• The Minneapolis Theodore Roosevelt Foundation serves as a community partner, annually awarding nearly $59,000 in teacher grants and $138,000 in scholarships to graduates. These resources support everything from special projects and  lab kits to choir robes. 
• The Gov. Jesse Ventura Scholarship, named for Roosevelt graduate James Janos who became a professional wrestler and Minnesota Governor, is one of many individual scholarships funded through the Roosevelt Foundation. Ventura, an outstanding high school swimmer, gifted an annual $5,000 scholarship to the foundation for 20 years.
• A multitude of Roosevelt graduates moved on to have distinguished careers in the media. Among them: Byron Barnett (television); Ray Christensen (radio); John Hines (radio); Stuart Lindman (television); Larry Munson (television); Nancy Nelson (television) and Don Riley (newspaper).
• Alphonsa Cannon, a science teacher for more than 30 years, was the first African-American teacher at the school. He was a beloved educator who made a major impact on students. 
• Medaria Arradondo, a 1985 graduate, was the first African-American appointed as Chief of Police in Minneapolis. 
• Longtime math teacher and coach Tom Ohno, who as a youth was placed in a Japanese-American encampment with his family during World War II, served in the U.S. Army during the same conflict. He received the Asian Pacific Leadership Award in 1996 and was the president of the Japanese-American Citizens League. A humorous but disciplined educator, he once taught a class dressed as a Japanese Samurai, using a yard stick as a sword. He taught every class that day speaking only in Japanese. 
• In the early 1980s, seven Roosevelt students established what was then a national record for most Eagle Scouts awarded at the same time. Gov. Al Quie presided over their Court of Honor.
• Graduate Charles Stenvig served three terms as Mayor of Minneapolis. 
• Minneapolis Roosevelt has captured more than 20 MSHSL state championships. 
• Among the stellar Roosevelt athletic alums: Fortune Gordien (track and field); Wally Kersten (football); Joe Krakar (football); Reed Larson (hockey) Marcus LeVesseur (football, wrestling); Rob Mestas (basketball); Tom Nordland (basketball); Sheila O’Dougherty (table tennis); Mike Ramsey (hockey); John Thomas (basketball); Greg Wicklund (tennis).