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Congratulations to our Outstanding Students for their 2023-2024 Nominations!
2023-2024 ExCEL AWARD NOMINEES
Congratulations to juniors Daisy Kuss and Logan Schwinghamer! They have been named the Zimmerman High School Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership (ExCEL) Award nominees for the 2023-2024 school year. Their applications will now advance and be considered in the statewide Minnesota State High School League awards program.
- ExCEL Award Video: Daisy Kuss
- ExCEL Award Video: Logan Schwinghamer
The ExCEL Award – Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership – is a unique recognition program designed exclusively for Minnesota high school juniors who are active in school activities, leaders in their schools, and who demonstrate a strong commitment to community service. This award is sponsored by the League's corporate partner, Wells Fargo.
Nomination Criteria
- Every League member school is invited to nominate one girl and one boy for the ExCEL Award. Nominees must:
- Be a junior in high school
- Make satisfactory progress toward graduation
- Participate in an MSHSL fine arts and/or athletic activity
- Hold a leadership position(s) in their school
- Volunteer in their community
- Meet MSHSL General Eligibility Requirements (Bylaw 206)
- The ExCEL Award nomination form is posted on this website and will be accepted through December 11, 2023. We’re counting on you to help us to recognize student leaders in your school who are making a difference.
Selection Process
- The ExCEL Award recipients willbe selected by an independent panel of judges from schools throughout Minnesota. Award recipients will be announced via the League website on February 1, 2024.
ExCEL Recognition
- Each recipient will be recognized on 45TV during the broadcast of the 2024 winter tournaments. They also will participate in an on-court award ceremony during the Class AA championship game of the Girls Basketball State Tournament in March.
2023-2024 Triple 'A' AWARD NOMINEES
ZHS is proud to announce Arabelle Rohs and Tucson Roman as nominees for 2023-24 MSHSL Triple "A" Award.
- Triple 'A' Award Video: Arabelle Rohs
- Triple 'A' Award Video: Tucsen Roman
The Academics, Arts, and Athletics Award, commonly known as the Triple 'A' Award, 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. This award is sponsored by M Health Fairview and the Institute for Athletic Medicine.
Nomination Criteria
- To be eligible for the Academics, Arts, and Athletics Award, a student must:
- Be a high school senior at the time of nomination. Schools may nominate one senior boy and one senior girl for this award.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at the time of nomination.
- Participate in at least one League-sponsored athletic program and one arts/activity program.
- Comply with the MSHSL's Student Code of Conduct
- Complete the application form and submit it to the administrative region secretary by the deadline specified by the region committee.
Selection Process
- Triple ‘A’ Award recipients are selected through a multi-level process involving member schools of the League, the League’s administrative regions, and a special committee of educators, business leaders, and members from the fine arts and athletic communities.
Triple 'A' Recognition
- The top two award finishers from each region will be invited to a recognition banquet in March and League officials will announce the four statewide Triple ‘A’ Award winners at that time. All 32 finalists will also participate in an on-court ceremony during the Class AA championship game of the Boys Basketball State Tournament. The statewide award winners—a girl and a boy from Class A and Class AA schools—will also receive a four-year $1,000 scholarship.
2023-2024 ATHENA AWARD WINNER
Zimmerman School is proud to announce that Senior Emily Baker has been named as Zimmerman’s Athena Award Winner in the 2023-2024 school year. Congratulations, Emily!
Athena Award Video: Emily Baker
The Athena Award is awarded to the “outstanding senior female athlete” in each school. The award is based on excellence in individual sports or for participation and accomplishments in team sports.
New NCAA Eligibility Center Requirements
- Effective August 1, 2016, the academic standards for incoming student-athletes in NCAA DI and DII will increase. As you know, it is important to make every effort to communicate the new standards and the importance of academic achievement to future student-athletes who will be entering college in 2016 and after. These students are currently high school sophomores and are making academic decisions today that may impact their future eligibility.
- The points to emphasize to prospective student-athletes who plan to compete in their first year include:
- That academic standards were raised to ensure that student-athletes are better prepared to handle college-level academic work.
- That starting in August 2016, student-athletes must earn at least a 2.3 grade-point average in the required core courses and achieve a minimum standardized test score (ACT/SAT) according to the NCAA Initial Eligibility sliding scale. Additionally, at least 10 of the required 16 core courses must be earned prior to the start of the senior year, and seven of those must be completed in English, math or science courses.
- That all future student-athletes need to understand that academic success starts during their freshman year in high school, which will create opportunities for success on the field and in life.
- Please click on the link below for additional information www.eligibilitycenter.org