Area Triple 'A' award winners selected

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WORTHINGTON — Among the study hours logged, the rehearsals, the practices and games that keep involved high schoolers busy from morning until night, throw just one more thing on the list.

Students wishing to be considered for the Minnesota State High School League’s Triple “A” Academics, Arts and Athletics Award must fill out a several-page application detailing their academic record and involvement in extracurricular activities and the community and submit a letter of recommendation.

“I think students that are … willing to go through that work, write the essays and get the recommendations. … I think they’re prepared (to say) ‘I’ll do what I need to do to prepare myself for adult life,” said Counselor Jan Larson, who said scholarship competitions often draw fewer applications than the number of eligible students.

Of the seven applications submitted, Seniors Adam Vosburgh and Andrea Russell were chosen to represent Worthington High School at the regional level of competition. The boy and girl chosen at the regional level will attend the Triple “A” Banquet March 28, where the winners from each class will be announced.

To be eligible for the award, students must be seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and participate in League-sponsored athletics and fine arts activities. Selection is based on a points system, where students get extra points for factors such as number of years involved or difficulty of classes.

“We don’t just pick it up and say ‘Oh, this looks good,’ This way there’s kind of objectivity to it,” said Activities Director Don Kuiper.

Vosburgh is involved in the National Honor Society, the yearly musical, band, choir, Youth Engagement Council, soccer, tennis and — although not considered a sport by the MSHSL, bowling.

He said his activities have given him a boost of confidence and pride in the school.

“I believe that sports do not build character, they reveal it,” he wrote in his application essay. “In my four years on the varsity tennis team, our coach has taught us that dedication and cooperation are the foundations to achieving any goals. Tennis puts my skills and confidence to a test.”

He plans to attend Augustana College where he will study biology.

Russell plays volleyball and is a member of the choir, orchestra and the National Honor Society. She participates in the musical and is Vice President of the student council. She has a 4.0 GPA.

For her, balancing activities and managing her time is the key to success.

“I enjoy having multiple things to focus my time and energy on,” she wrote in her essay. “By joining (demanding) activities I have committed myself to giving 100 percent all the time. If I were to only go into each activity half-heartedly, I would be selling myself short.”

Russell hopes to earn a bachelor’s degree in science or math.

“There’s a lot of supporting information to say these young people really are deserving of this,” said Larson. “It’s a lot of work to maintain good grades, be a good citizen, be involved in a lot of things, be a leader, be supportive of your school, be a good friend. All of that together makes a really wellrounded person.”

The following were also nominated to represent their high schools in the Triple “A” Awards. Some schools did not return phone calls or declined to release student names.

Edgerton: Pat Kleinjan and Ingrid Jasper;

Fulda: Erica Drealan and Jared Mitchell;

Hills-Beaver Creek: Ethan Rozeboom;

Jackson County Central: Hilary Geesman;

Luverne: Sam Dooyema and Kelby Robinson;

Mountain Lake: Hannah Hildebrandt;

Murray County Central: Mark Bau and Laura Christensen;

Pipestone Area: Lauren Carstensen and Bryce DeWilde;

Red Rock Central: Brian Benedict and Caitlyn DeCock;

Round Lake-Brewster: Jeremy Nelson and April Wallace;

Southwest Star Concept: Jenna Leopold and Ben Scheevel;

Westbrook-Walnut Grove: Kassandra Jarmer and Josh Merrick.

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