Greetings! My name is Cecelia Lee and I am the Director for Counseling and Student Services. I am also one of the licensed school counselors at HCPA. I have been with Hmong College Prep Academy since 2006. Prior to joining the staff at HCPA, I was in higher education. I received my Bachelors of Arts from Gustavus Adolphus College and my Masters in Education, Counseling from University of Wisconsin, River Falls. Through the years, it has been a joy watching students grow and graduate from HCPA. It is an honor to be part of such a wonderful community. When I am not working with students at HCPA, I enjoy spending time with my husband and three beautiful daughters.

Hi Everyone! My name is Hannah Fossum and I am one of three school social workers at HCPA. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of MN- Duluth, and my Master of Social Work degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Before coming to HCPA, I worked as a mental health therapist for children and adolescents. My favorite part of being a school social worker is building meaningful relationships with students and their families. In my free time, I enjoy playing volleyball in my weekly league, exploring new areas while taking walks and spending time with my dog, family, and friends.

My name is Mary Kelso and I'm one of the school social workers at HCPA. I received my Bachelor's degree from Hope College and my Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan. Before coming to HCPA, I worked in refugee resettlement, both in Minnesota and Michigan, helping newly-arrived families transition to life in the U.S. and connect to community resources. When not at work, I love to travel, cook, garden, read, and spend time outdoors.

I graduated from the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, MN with a BA in Business. Working at two private schools in the twin cities area for over fifteen years in the college counseling office as well as being the Registrar at both schools has given me extensive amount of experience with the admission process. In 2015 I started working at the Hmong College Prep Academy as the College and Scholarship Manager which changed my life.

Completing my Certificate in College Counseling from University of California-Los Angeles in 2010. I attended Harvard Summer Institute on College Admissions and the IECA Summer Institute on College Counseling. As a member of IECA, MACAC and NACAC I have wonderful contacts with other college counselors throughout the United States and Canada. This also gives me opportunities to present on different topics to the counseling community. Working closely with other college counselors and IEC’s throughout the country has given me extensive information on each different college and university. I have visited over 250 colleges in the United State and Canada. Working with students and parents is the best part of my job. In 2020 I was awarded one of the 2020 Counselors that Changes Lives by CTCL. HCPA has given me the opportunity to work with students who sometimes don’t realize the opportunities that are available to them and allows me the privilege to watch them grow to their true potential. I am truly blessed to work with such amazing young men and women.

Hello HCPA students and families! My name is Olivia Nelson and I am one of the school counselors at HCPA. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Bethel University and my Master of Arts degree in School Counseling from Adler Graduate School. I love walking alongside students as they learn and grow personally and academically. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, traveling, baking, and spending time with my husband and puppy. I look forward to getting to know you – come stop by!

Hello everyone! My name is Joon Shoo and I’m one of the school social workers here at HCPA. I received my social work degree from Metropolitan State University. Before coming to HCPA, I was a nutrition educator for Ramsey County WIC program, and I also volunteered my time helping Karen families resettle in Minnesota. As a school social worker, I love supporting students building positive relationships with their teachers, friends, and families. In my free time, I like going for a walk, reading, traveling, and spending time with my family.

Hello, my name is Benjin Thao, and I am a school counselor at Hmong College Prep Academy. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and a Master's degree in School Counseling from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Outside of my professional life, I have a passion for trading card games and enjoy both multiplayer and single-player video and board games. I am also an avid anime fan and love attending conventions. Traveling, spending quality time and experiencing nature with my friends and family are important to me, as I value making meaningful connections and building relationships with others.

Nyob Zoo! My name is Ka Vang and I am a school counselor at Hmong College Prep Academy (HCPA). I am excited to welcome the many HCPA students that will become or are already a part of our successful learning community. I earned my graduate degree in school counseling from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and did my undergraduate work at Concordia University – St. Paul. Beyond the school counseling role, I enjoy my free time with my wife and my two children. I love life - anything can be fun if you make it fun!