Strom and Kenis up for Triple “A” Award; Olson and Waters for ExCEL Award

Press Release from Albert Lea High School

Re: Minnesota State High School League Award Nominees 

We would like to recognize our Minnesota State High School League award nominees for the 2022-23 school year. The MSHSL has  two yearly awards programs. Each school nominates two students for each award, one female candidate and one male candidate. The first is the ExCEL Award which is for juniors that exhibit Excellence in Community, Education, and Leadership. The second is the  Triple ‘A’ Award that goes to seniors who are stand-outs in the Academics, Arts, and Athletics.  

ExCEL Award 

This year’s ALHS nominees for the ExCEL award are Jaylee Waters and Michael Olson.  

Jaylee is daughter of Jessica and Jeremy Waters. She has been a participant in tennis for three seasons, and a past participant in  softball and basketball. She played in the orchestra for two years and is now very involved in the ALHS student council (she is the  acting president). Jaylee is a member of the National Honor Society and has many experiences volunteering in our community. She  has volunteered at her church, meals on wheels, Relay for Life, at the local Humane Society, and is a student representative on the  Freeborn County Historical Society board. Parts of her nomination letter read: “Jaylee has a friendly demeanor and outgoing  personality that make her a person that others want to be around… and… she is one of the top students that I have ever had the  pleasure of working with… she is intelligent, hard-working, thoughtful, organized, and always puts others before herself.” 

Michael is son of Reid and Sarah Olson. Michael is a two-year letter-winner on the soccer team, two-year letter winner and team  captain of the wrestling team, holds the school record for most wins in a season, and was a state champion last season. He is also a  two-year letter-winner on the baseball team and was a member of the 2021 state tournament team. Michael is a three-year choir  student. He is a member of the National Honor Society and takes part in the ALHS Link Crew. Michael has volunteered countless  hours for Albert Lea’s youth wrestling program, he volunteers at church, helps with youth soccer camp and concessions, as well as  concessions in the summer for baseball tournaments. Part of Mike’s recommendation letter read: “His leadership is valuable to our  programs… he always seems to think about others and about the team before he thinks about himself… and… he has a broader focus  and it shows great maturity for a young individual… He approaches and engages with our youth athletes in the community, at events,  and finds ways to make them feel special.” 

ExCEL nominee applications are reviewed by an independent panel of judges from schools throughout Minnesota. If selected they  will be recognized on-court at a halftime of a MSHSL state basketball tournament game. 

Triple ‘A’ Award 

This year’s nominees for the MSHSL Triple ‘A’ Award are Kendall Kenis and Logan Strom.  

Kendall is daughter of Paul and Kristi Kenis. She has taken 9 advanced classes (Advanced Placement and College in the Schools) and  carries a cumulative GPA of 4.138. She was in choir for three years and has a strong interest in her art classes. She takes part in the  ALHS student council, was in show choir last year, and in the school musical last fall. She has been a three sport letter-winner and  three sport captain in soccer, basketball, and track and field. A portion of Kendall’s nomination reads “Kendall is a strong leader and  all around model student-athlete. She is engaged and shows a strong work ethic in everything she does…. She is motivated, interested,  and wants to be her best…. Kendall is the heartbeat of our leadership team.” 

Logan is son of Tony and Tina Strom. He has taken 13 advanced classes and carries a cumulative GPA of 4.284. He has been very  involved in choir, including being a section leader and taking part in large group. He has been in choir all through high school and has 

been part of chorale, caroliers, and show choir. He is a member of the ALHS Link Crew. Logan also has taken part in two fall  musicals (Mamma Mia and the Beauty and the Beast). He was also in the spring production of A Year With Frog and Toad. Logan is a  three sport varsity letter-winner in football, basketball, and track and field. Part of Logan’s nomination letter read: “Logan is very  intelligent, takes difficult courses, readily accepts challenges, and… Logan has proven himself to be an excellent role model due to his  character and integrity.” 

The Triple ‘A’ Nominees will be up for recognition at the Region 1AA level, where two students from all member schools will be  selected to be recognized at a MSHSL banquet in March. If selected they will have a chance to receive a four-year $1000 scholarship.