(Editor’s Note: The following article was submitted by Becker Schools.)

Becker High School Activities Director Dave Niemi proudly announced this week that Evelyn Kreft and Alex Weiss have been selected as the 2021-22 Becker High School ExCEL Award winners.

The ExCEL Award represents Excellence in Community, Education, and Leadership. It is a unique recognition program designed by the MSHSL exclusively for Minnesota high school juniors who are active in school activities, who show leadership qualities, and who work voluntarily in their community. 

Evelyn has been a leader on the volleyball team as an MVP and All Conference selection, the girls basketball team as a member of the 2021 State Championship team, the track and field team, girls tennis, and the softball team, including the 2021 State Championship team. In each activity, she has been an All Conference Academic Award winner as well. Evelyn is also involved with choir and band, has demonstrated academic leadership as an Honor Roll student and a member of the National Honor Society, and student leadership as a member of Building Better Bulldogs. She has also been involved with numerous other school and community activities. 

Alex has played a leadership role on the football team, selected as a team captain for his senior season, and as a team captain as a junior on the basketball team. In each activity, Alex has received the Spotlight on Scholarship award as well as the Scholar Athlete Award. He is a member of the choir and band, has demonstrated academic leadership as an Honor Roll student and has been selected as student of the month. Alex’s student leadership activities include being a member of Building Better Bulldogs and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Alex has also been involved with numerous other school and community activities. 

Evelyn and Alex’s applications have been submitted as nominations to the Minnesota State High School League, and the State ExCEL Award recipients will be selected by an independent panel of judges from schools throughout Minnesota. State ExCEL Award recipients will be announced via the League website on February 1, 2022, with each recipient being recognized on 45TV during the broadcast of the 2022 winter tournaments and at an on-court awards ceremony during the Class AA Championship game of the Girls Basketball State Tournament in March.