Volleyball Athletes Earn Athena Award

<p>If you haven’t heard of the Athena Award, let us catch you up to speed.  </p> <p>"The <strong>St. Paul Area Athena Awards</strong> program honors female high school seniors for their athletic achievements."  This included 40+ female athletes for the class of 2020 in the metro area.  Recipitents are treated to a special meal with guest speakers.  They are also rewarded with posters to be hung in school and a plaque.  Here are a few of the volleyball athletes who were recognized.  </p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt"> </span><strong style="font-size: 1rem"><span style="font-size: 14pt">Annika Tuma</span> - St. Paul </strong><strong style="font-size: 1rem">Central</strong></p> <p><strong></strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Volleyball</strong><br /> 3 Letters, 2019 All-Conference, 2018 Honorable Mention, 2018 &amp; 2019 Team Captain, WBL Spirit of the Game Award</li> <li><strong>Scholastic Achievements</strong><br /> AP Scholar with Distinction, "A" Honor Roll all quarters of High School, 2018 National Spanish Exam, 2017 NSE Primero de Brana, Excellence in AP Environmental Science, Excellence in AP OS History, Sax Arts and Crafts Award, Excellence in Spanish</li> <li><strong>Post High School Plans</strong><br /> I plan to continue my academic and athletic career at <em>Carleton College</em> as part of the volleyball team. Major undecided.</li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt"><strong>Abby Drury</strong></span><strong style="font-size: 1rem"> - Forest Lake</strong></p> <p></p> <ul> <li><strong>Volleyball </strong><br /> 3 letters, 1X All-Conference, 1X Honorable Mention, 2 State Team Appearances, Team MVP</li> <li><strong>Softball </strong><br /> 4 letters, 2X All-Conference, 1X Honorable Mention, 2 State Team Appearances</li> <li><strong>Post High School Plans</strong><br /> Attending <em>Bethel University</em> where she will play volleyball while pursuing a degree in Nursing</li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="57550" first="Mallory" last="Brake"]</strong></span><strong style="font-size: 1rem"> - Hastins</strong></p> <p></p> <ul> <li><strong>Volleyball</strong><br /> 5 Letters, 1 All Conference, 3 Honorable Mention. 2 time Captain; 2 time MVP; Hastings High School record for career kills.</li> <li><strong>Scholastic Achievements</strong><br /> 3.71 GPA, A Honor Roll - 4 Years</li> <li><strong>Post High School Plans</strong><br /> Attend <em>Creighton University</em> to further my academic career with a business major and play women’s basketball.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt"><strong>Shakira Marie WIllis</strong></span><strong style="font-size: 1rem"> - Humboldt</strong></p> <p></p> <ul> <li><strong>Volleyball</strong><br /> 4 Varsity Letters | 1 Honorable Mention | 2 Time Team MVP | 3 Year Captain | 1 Year All Conference</li> <li><strong>Volunteer Community Participation</strong><br /> Feed My Starving Children, West Side Boosters Volunteer, Boys and Girls Club Volunteer (Junior Staff), Cinco de Mayo (West Side) Parade Volunteer.</li> <li><strong>Post High School Plans</strong><br /> Shakira has plans to attend Augsburg University in Minneapolis to study Education.</li> </ul> <p><strong style="font-size: 1rem">[player_tooltip player_id="57536" first="Catherine" last="Moore"]</strong><strong style="font-size: 1rem">- Mounds Park Acadey</strong></p> <p></p> <ul> <li><strong>Volleyball </strong><br /> 5 letters, 3 All-Conference, 1 Honorable Mention, State Tournament participant 2019, MVP, Best Hitter, Panther Sportsmanship, Most Improved, Rookie of the Year</li> <li><strong>Scholastic Achievements</strong><br /> Academic letter recipient, Minnesota Track and Field Coaches Association Academic All-State, Honor Roll, Quill and Scroll Society</li> <li><strong>Post High School Plans</strong><br /> <em>St. Olaf College </em>Playing volleyball.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt">Ellianna Wiertsema</span></strong><strong style="font-size: 1rem">- New Life Academy</strong></h3> <p></p> <ul> <li><strong>Volleyball </strong><br /> 5 varsity letters, 3 all-conference awards, 1 All-State selection, 1 selection to All-tournament team at MSHSL State Tournament, Captain</li> <li><strong style="font-size: 1rem">School Activities Other Than Sports</strong></li> <li>Choir, International Club, Community Group Mentor for Lower School students, Public Address Announcer for home basketball games, Library assistant, Student Host for school aution event.</li> <li><strong>Post High School Plans</strong><br /> Accepted volleyball scholarship to play at Concordia University, St. Paul. Undecided on major, possibly sports management.ction event</li> </ul> <h3><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt">[player_tooltip player_id="30257" first="Cianna" last="Selbitschka"]</span></strong><strong style="font-size: 1rem">- North Branch</strong></h3> <p></p> <ul> <li><strong>Volleyball </strong><br /> 5 letters, All-Conference (2016,2017,2018,2019), All State Honorable Mention (2017), All State (2018,2019) Miss Baden Minnesota Finalist (2019), Top 5 Metro Player, State All Tournament Team (2017,2018,2019), State Champions (2018), State Runner Up (2017,2019)</li> <li><strong>Post High School Plans</strong><br /> I will be attending the <em>University of Minnesota Duluth</em> to play volleyball and to also major in Exercise Science.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>A complete list of all the athletes and and bios can be find below.  There are great things ahead for these students and volleyball was well respresented.</p> <p><a href="https://www.stpaulathena.com/page/show/4728530-recipients">Athena Award 2020</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>