Six Woodbury Area Students Named 'Triple A' Award Winners

Six Woodbury area student-athletes were recently selected to represent their school in the Academics, Arts and Athletics Award program for Region 3AA. Established in 1988, the Academics, Arts and Athletics, "Triple A," Award is sponsored by the Minnesota State High School League. The award is given to high school seniors who have a “B” or better grade point average (GPA) and who participate in League-sponsored athletic and fine arts activities.

Triple A Award recipients are selected by a multi-level process involving the League's member schools and administrative regions. MSHSL officials will announce the four award recipients (a girl and a boy from both a Class "A" and Class "AA" school) at an on-court recognition ceremony held in March. Each award recipient will receive a four-year $1,000 scholarship.

The selected students are Julia Malecha and Logan McGraw from Park High School, Joe O’Connell and Ali Grinde from Woodbury High School, and Alicia Zhang and Michael Virgin from East Ridge High School, according to a news release from South Washington County Schools.

Julia is involved in the band program at Park High School, participating in many co-curricular groups including the marching band, pep band and pit orchestra. She is a six-year member of the swim team and was named captain her senior season. Julia is a Link Crew leader and serves as a “Big Sister” for students at a nearby elementary school. She is a full IB Diploma Candidate and has a GPA of 4.1. Julia plans to study veterinary medicine or biology at the University of Minnesota and hopes to participate in the Pride of Minnesota marching band.

Logan McGraw is Park High School’s male nominee. Logan is a member of Park High’s cross country and track and field teams. He is very involved in band, participating in numerous curricular and co-curricular groups, as well as region ensemble contests. Logan is also an Eagle Scout. He is a full IB Diploma Candidate, was named a National Merit Commended Scholar and has a 4.2 GPA. Logan plans to study engineering and hopes to continue with music in college.

Ali Grinde is a talented gymnast and runner at Woodbury High School. In addition to the many honors she has received as an athlete, Ali is a part of the Advanced Women’s Choir, Key Club and volunteers with a number of community organizations. She enjoys the rigor of science classes and was named Student of the Trimester in Physical Science during her freshman year. Ali has a 4.0 GPA and received the Presidential Scholarship from Minnesota State University Moorhead where she will study occupational therapy this fall.

Joe O’Connell, from Woodbury High School, plays the tuba in both the marching band and the pep band, swims on the varsity swim team and enjoys STEM and Project Lead the Way classes. He is also enrolled in the College in the Schools program. Additionally, he involves himself with several extracurricular activities such as Science Quiz Bowl, Key Club and is currently the president of Woodbury High’s National Honor Society. The last two years he has worked backstage to build sets for the fall musical and spring play. Joe has a 4.0 GPA and plans to study engineering at either the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities or University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Alicia Zhang is a National AP Scholar at East Ridge High School, who participates in orchestra, speech, debate and varsity tennis. As a sophomore, she founded the International Public Policy Forum debate team; winning second place out of hundreds of teams from 29 countries. She enjoys a variety of sciences classes, including computer science where she is a state winner of the National Center for Women and Information Technology’s Aspiration in Computing award. Alicia has a 4.4 GPA and will attend Harvard College where she will study Environmental Science and Public Policy this fall.

Michael Virgin is the selected male athlete at East Ridge High School. Michael plays the trumpet in the wind ensemble in addition to participating in football, varsity cross county and varsity basketball. He is heavily involved in the arts and Student Council. His teachers say he is very engaging, enthusiastic and a natural leader which his peers respond well to and respect. Michael has a 4.07 GPA and plans to attend the U of M - Twin Cities where he will study marketing.

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