DESERVING BLOSSOMS
Gracelyn Anderson and Drew Reinke received the ExCel Award and the Triple “A” Award, respectively, from the Minnesota State High School League. The honors go to the most deserving juniors and seniors across the state. Staff photo by Kay Fate
Qualifiers for the two big awards from the Minnesota State High School League have plenty of requirements to meet: leadership, community service, good grades, extracurricular participation.
Humility isn’t on the list, but the Blooming Prairie winners of the ExCel Award and the Triple “A” Award have it, in spades.
Gracelyn Anderson, daughter of Monica and Troy Anderson, received the award for Excelling in Community, Education and Leadership, designed exclusively for Minnesota high school juniors.
Drew Reinke, son of Jeremy and Sara Reinke, received the Academics, Arts and Athletics Award, known as the Triple “A” Award. It honors high school seniors throughout the state who have a 3.0 or higher grade-point average, and who participate in League-sponsored athletic and fine arts activities.
The pair was recognized Jan. 29 at halftime of the girls basketball game at Blooming Prairie High School.
Mary Worke introduced them, then presented Reinke with the Triple “A” medal, and Anderson with the ExCel Award certificate.
The winners
Anderson plays on the BPHS basketball, volleyball and softball teams; is in jazz band and participates in the fall musical.
She is a top student, even while taking college chemistry and algebra classes.
Anderson attends Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Litomysl, and has volunteered multiples times with Feed My Starving Children.
While she has another full year before heading off to college, Anderson said she’s interested in criminal justice or law enforcement.
Reinke carries a 4.0+ GPA while participating in golf and cross country. He is active in the BPHS musicals, was in band as a freshman and speech as a sophomore.
Those accomplishments went on his application, along with information about his Eagle Scout project “and anything I’ve done” within the community.
After graduating this May, Reinke will head to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, with a major yet to be determined.
He applied for the Triple “A” Award knowing he had the arts, academics and athletics background, “and I knew it would help me with scholarships and anything else I apply for.”
Anderson, too, realized it would help her future resume, especially when applying to colleges.
Even with her qualifications, she said, “some of my friends applied, too, and I thought that any one of us could have gotten it.”
In addition to their personal successes, applicants must write essays and submit letters of recommendation to the judges.