Hall of Fame - Class of 2026
Jim Friend
James “Jim” Friend, a proud graduate of Forest Lake High School (Class of 1981), has unparalleled dedication to the community and has made great contributions to the betterment of the school district through exceptional leadership, volunteerism, and advocacy. Jim’s profound impact is rooted in his tireless efforts to support local students pursuing higher education, embodying the spirit of selfless service.
The most enduring aspect of Jim’s volunteer work is his nearly four decades of involvement with the Forest Lake Area Community Scholarship Foundation (FLACSF). Since 1985, Jim has been a longtime supporter of local education, dedicating himself to serving on the Foundation’s board for decades. The FLACSF’s mission is to provide crucial scholarships specifically for Forest Lake area students who wish to attend a college, university, or technical education program, covering everything from 2-to-4-year degrees. Jim is personally instrumental in securing substantial scholarship funds, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent Forest Lake graduates from reaching their academic potential.
His commitment has profoundly impacted the lives of numerous students by helping them afford college. Jim volunteers his time and assistance very unselfishly, pouring his energy into fostering opportunities for the next generation of Forest Lake students. This dedication is given freely, as he does not expect any recognition for his efforts, a true testament to his humble character.
Although he does not seek the recognition, Jim finds genuine fulfillment when recipients of the scholarships he helps fund stop by his place of employment or send a simple thank-you. In these moments, he spends time talking with the students, getting to know them, and hearing about their journey, reinforcing the personal connection he fosters within the community. This one-on-one connection exemplifies his hands-on approach to philanthropy and community building.
Beyond scholarships, Jim maintains a robust portfolio of community engagement that extends across multiple organizations. He is an active volunteer with the FFA and contributes his expertise as a valued member of the Forest Lake FFA Alumni Association Board of Directors. Furthermore, Jim has been closely involved with the Forest Lake Chamber of Commerce and various related community initiatives, stepping into a key leadership role as the Chamber Chair from 1999 to 2000.
Jim’s professional life complements his commitment to the community. After graduating from the University of Minnesota (U of M), he launched his banking career in March 1983. He currently holds the position of VP of Commercial Banking with First Resource Bank, which was previously known as First State Bank of Wyoming (FSBW). For nearly a decade, he has found satisfaction in the positive community impact that stems from his professional involvement with the bank. The Forest Lake Area School District honors James "Jim" Friend for his enduring legacy of service and for bringing immense pride to the district.
Bruce Leventhal
Back in the 1992-1993 school year, Bruce Leventhal accepted a half-year teaching position for high school biology that quickly blossomed into a distinguished 30-year career, a fortunate outcome for generations of students at Forest Lake Area High School.
From his very first days, Bruce was an exceptionally active member of the Forest Lake Area High School community. While his ultimate passion was teaching Biology, connecting with students outside the classroom was deeply important to him. He devoted his time to leading and advising numerous co-curricular activities, including Odyssey of the Mind, Student Council, the Prom, the Environmental Club, and Tennis, to name just a few.
In the classroom, whether it was a room full of eager or not-so-eager students, teaching biology was truly where he shined. Over three decades, Bruce taught every possible iteration of biology at Forest Lake, ranging from the most basic classes to college-level courses, and even in summer school and the Area Learning Center (ALC). Regardless of the course or the specific student, Mr. Leventhal’s consistent number one priority was to build strong relationships. As a gifted and natural storyteller, he brought the subject to life for his students with engaging narratives.
His dedication to strong student relationships was unique because of the academic results that consistently followed. Bruce was always a researcher at heart and he applied this rigorous eye to his curriculum. Working with his colleagues, whom he affectionately dubbed 'Team Bio,' they analyzed instructional data and results long before data analysis became a common trend in education. This collaborative, teaming approach yielded noticeable success, leading Forest Lake Area High School to achieve some of the state's highest science test scores, as measured by the MCAs. He later applied this same researcher’s focus to his Advanced Placement Biology courses. His excellence was recognized nationally when he was interviewed by the then US Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, on National Teacher Appreciation Day.
Beyond his research, Bruce shared aspects of his personal passions. He is an accomplished nature photographer and often enriched his stories with experiences from chasing the perfect light, image, and composition of natural subjects, frequently with his beloved wife, Tamy, by his side. Toward the end of his teaching career, he extended his students’ learning globally, participating in trips to Costa Rica, one of his favorite travel destinations. His legacy is clear: a multitude of successful professionals, including health care professionals, university professors, and ecologists/environmental scientists, all credit their start to a class taken with Bruce Leventhal.