Accessibility menu
State Representative Joe Atkins
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4192
For more information contact: Christina Gosack 651-296-5524
Press/News Releases
Atkins Receives Inver Hills Outstanding Alumni Award
Joe Atkins, a local state representative and attorney, received the 2006 Outstanding Alumni Award from Inver Hills Community College at the college’s graduation ceremony on May 11, 2006. Atkins attended Inver Hills in 1983-84 while he was a senior at Simley High School.
Atkins speaks highly of his experience at Inver Hills. “I think the toughest college courses and best instructors I ever had were at Inver Hills," said Atkins, who took calculus, composition and political science courses at the college. That’s high praise coming from Atkins, who took honors courses throughout his college years and who graduated magna cum laude from law school. “The faculty and staff at Inver Hills are simply exceptional,” he said.
Representative Atkins was honored for his community involvement, achievements and commitment to Inver Hills Community College. In 1987, at age 21, Atkins was elected to the Inver Grove Heights School Board. Five years later, he became Minnesota’s youngest mayor, when he was elected Inver Grove’s mayor at the age of 27. He served 10 years in that position, becoming the longest-serving mayor in the city’s history. In 2002, Atkins was elected state representative, the first Inver Grove Heights resident to ever serve in the Minnesota legislature. Atkins has also practiced law since 1991 and has been identified as a Minnesota “SuperLawyer” and in Who’s Who in American Law.
Atkins maintains a strong connection to Inver Hills Community College. In addition to being a former student, he occasionally teaches paralegal and business courses at Inver Hills, serves on the President’s Advisory Council, and supports the college’s scholarship foundation. Atkins has also been a leader in the legislature to try to hold down tuition costs and to build additional classrooms and expansions at Inver Hills to keep up with long-term student population growth.
A recipient of a number of state and national awards over the years, Atkins said the award from Inver Hills holds special value for him. “There is no award I will value more than this one,” he said.
News Items
- Rep. Atkins, Sen. Lourey Introduce Health Insurance Exchange Legislation - (Posted: Jan 9 2013 3:44PM)
- Rep. Atkins – Statement on Deal to End NHL Lockout - (Posted: Jan 7 2013 2:05PM)
- Rep. Atkins to Hold Minnesota House Hearing on Economic Impact of Hockey Lockout - (Posted: Jan 2 2013 3:20PM)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.