Five SoWashCo Schools Students Nominated for MSHSL Triple 'A' Award

East Ridge, Park and Woodbury high schools announced the nominees for the Minnesota State High School League’s (MSHSL) Triple ‘A’ Award. The award recognizes high school seniors for academics, arts and athletics. Recipients must have a B or higher grade point average and participate in MSHSL-sponsored athletics and fine arts activities.

Through a multi-level selection process, four award recipients will be announced at a recognition ceremony in March. All four award recipients will receive a college scholarship.

Congratulations to the following SoWashCo Schools nominees:

East Ridge High School (ERHS)

Marit Lyle is an outstanding student who has a 4.2 GPA and has enrolled in four Advanced Placement (AP) courses. She is a member of the ERHS Student Cabinet, which works with school administration on proposing solutions to problems concerning academics and overall school issues.

Marit is active in Choir, receiving All-Conference honors. She is a member of the ERHS Chamber Choir.

Marit is a captain of the golf team and is a member of the ERHS Captain Council, which supports student-athlete leaders, providing guidance on building a positive team culture. 

Marit will be attending St. Olaf College, where she plans on majoring in Mathematics and Science. She will play on their golf team and participate in choir.

Justin Luan works extremely hard academically, earning a 4.43 GPA, completing nine Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and is a National Merit Award semifinalist. In 5th grade, he tested into the University of Minnesota's Talented Youth Mathematics Program, an accelerated math program for highly-talented students.

Justin is the captain of the ERHS Math team and helped lead the team to the MSHSL state tournament. He is ERHS second cellist in the Symphony Orchestra and a seasoned pianist.

Justin has competed in Public Forum Debate for ERHS since his freshman year and is one of the school's Debate captains.

Justin is also a decorated golfer, earning All-Conference honors and qualifying for the MSHSL state tournament multiple times. In November 2022, Justin was one of 19 high school senior boys nationwide named American Junior Golf Association Rolex Scholastic All-American Honoree. The award recognizes top junior golfers who demonstrated excellence in academics and on the course.

Justin will attend Carnegie Mellon University, where he plans on majoring in Computational Finance and playing on their golf team. Justin is the Region 4AA Triple “A” Award Winner and has advanced to the state level as a finalist. 

Park High School (PHS)

Haley Gravelle has been selected to represent the school in the Academics, Arts, and Athletics Award program for Region 3AA.

Haley participates in soccer and track and field for the Wolfpack. She serves as a section leader in her band and competes in large group contests. She is also a member of the Jazz, Marching, and Pep Bands. She has taken many Advance Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Post Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) courses and has a 4.2 GPA. 

Haley plans to study biochemistry and anthropology in college. 

Woodbury High School (WHS)

Paige Lienhard has excelled in academics, arts and athletics during her time at WHS. She maintains a 4.34 GPA and has taken several Advance Placement (AP) courses. Throughout elementary, middle and high school Paige has participated in the Spanish Immersion Program and is bilingual. As an honor roll student, she lettered in academics all four years in high school and received the MSHSL Coaches Association Academic Excellence Award twice.

Paige has played the cello in the orchestra since 4th grade. Throughout high school, she has played with the chamber orchestra, accompanied the choir in their concerts, was named a section leader twice, received superior ratings for an ensemble award and is a member of the Tri-M, a National Honor Society for musicians.

Additionally, her senior Spanish Immersion Capstone project researches Latin American music for a piece she is composing that incorporates multiple styles of Hispanic music to express cultural differences through instruments.  

As a member of the varsity soccer team since 10th grade, Paige has been named All-Conference in the Suburban East Conference (SEC) each year. She has also been named First Team All-State, and All-Metro Second Team in 2022. As a captain, she was recognized as a leader working with her peers and continues to hone her leadership skills as part of the WHS Leadership Council. 

Benjamin Zupfer has excelled in academics, arts, and athletics during his years at WHS. He maintains a 4.2 GPA and has challenged himself during high school, taking Advance Placement (AP) courses and College in School (CIS) academic work. 

Benjamin has earned three lead roles in WHS Royal Theatre musicals during his high school career, participating in The Addams Family (Pugsley Addams) as a freshman, Chicago (Billy Flynn), and Anything Goes (Billy Crocker). His honors in musical theatre include being recognized as “Honorable Mention in a Leading Role” from the Hennepin Theatre Trust’s Spotlight Education program for Chicago and “Outstanding Achievement in Musical Theatre” honors for the overall productions of Chicago and Anything Goes.

Benjamin is a dedicated and successful musician playing the violin at the orchestra concert level in grades 10-12. In orchestra, Benjamin has served as concertmaster and a solo ensemble contestant. Benjamin earned a Superior Rating (the highest rating possible) at the MSHSL Solo and Ensemble contest. In addition, Benjamin has been recognized as a tenor soloist and section leader in the choir.

Athletically, Benjamin started playing tennis in high school and earned varsity honors in his second year of playing. 

Congratulations to all of the nominees!