The Dakota County Board of Commissioners presented the 2026 Public Health Achievement Awards to three recipients Tuesday, April 7 in celebration of National Public Health Week. The winners are the TriDistrict CAPS Healthcare class, Stacie O'Leary and Mission Outpost.
The youth award winner is the TriDistrict Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) Health care class. The unique program brings together high school juniors and seniors from South St. Paul, Simley and Two Rivers high schools to explore careers in health care. The program helps students develop empathy, communication skills and community awareness. Through a partnership with Vivie – River Heights nursing home in South St. Paul, these students demonstrated how meaningful relationships across generations can strengthen community well-being and create lasting positive impacts.
Stacie O'Leary, the individual award winner, is the health services coordinator and lead school nurse for West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Area Schools. She has been instrumental in strengthening districtwide immunization compliance, an essential public health priority that protects not only individual students but the entire community. Her visionary leadership was spotlighted when she brought the “Warrior Care" school-based health center to Two Rivers High School through a partnership with Riverland Community Health, Dakota County Public Health and the Minnesota School-Based Health Alliance. This center has significantly expanded access to health care, particularly for students who face barriers such as transportation, financial limitations or a lack of a primary care provider.
Mission Outpost at Prince of Peace Church, the group award winner, is an integrated hub of health care, food assistance and social supports. It was founded as a food pantry in 2002. In 2025, 49 local dental professionals donated their services to the dental clinic. The eye clinic has recruited three optometrists and 12 opticians who volunteer their time. This past year, 9,000 volunteers distributed nearly 611,500 pounds of food — fresh produce, meats, dairy, bread and other items — to more than 7,000 individuals. Across all programs, Mission Outpost touches thousands of Dakota County lives each year, many of whom would otherwise fall through the gaps of the traditional health care and social services systems.
The county board established Public Health Achievement Awards in 2000 to recognize residents who devote their time, energy and talents to create a healthy future for Dakota County residents.