Two St. Michael-Albertville High School seniors took home Minnesota State High School League’s highest honor this past weekend. The Triple A award recognizes students who have excelled in academics, arts and athletics throughout their high school career.
Nine hundred students were nominated throughout Minnesota based on the following criteria: maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0, participating in league sponsored sports and fine arts activities and comply with MSHL’s code of conduct. The nine hundred nominees were whittled down to just 32 recipients and both of the 5AA recipients are STMA seniors.
“Many people consider this the most prestigious award a high school student can be honored with in Minnesota,” Keith Cornell, STMA High School teacher said Monday.
Photo provided by McKee Family
Mitchell McKee has been in both band and choir, National Honor Society and wrestling throughout the course of his high school career. His wrestling career has been a huge success as he’s taken six team and individual trips to the state tournament and took 3rd place individually this freshman year of high school. He played football, baseball and golf prior to high school but decided to really focus on wrestling. That proved to be a good choice as he’s headed to the University of Minnesota next fall to wrestle and plans on majoring in engineering. “I know for sure I want to be an engineer,” McKee said.
Receiving the award is special to McKee who says that, “all the extra time studying, working hard in the practice room, giving things my all, it was worth it.”
Photo provided by the Rogers family.
McKenna Rogers participated in band, choir, basketball, track and field, cross country and also enjoys photography. She’s active in the Westbridge Church youth group and is honored to be a recipient of the Triple A award.
“It shows the hard work that not only I’ve put in but all the people by my side have put in really paid off, I’m honored and so happy to have been chosen,” Rogers said.
Rogers is headed to Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell, South Dakota next fall and is thinking of studying business. “There are just 1000 students and I’m excited,” she said.
Congratulations Mitchell and McKenna! The list of all 32 recipients is available here.