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Seniors Britta Solheim and Nathan Przybyla were nominated for the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Academics, Arts and Athletics Triple “A” award.

“The MSHSL Triple “A” Award highlights students that have taken full advantage of the entire high school experience and both Britta and Nathan have excelled in all three areas this award recognizes,” says Spring Lake Park High School activities and athletics director Will Wackman. “They are extremely well-rounded individuals and this award is a tribute to all the effort and hard work they put into every facet of their lives.”

High schools across Minnesota can nominate two students for the MSHSL Triple “A” award. To qualify, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, participate in MSHSL athletics and fine arts activities and comply with the MSHSL Student Code of Conduct.

Through a multi-level selection process, the top four Triple “A” finishers will receive a four-year $1,000 scholarship from the MSHSL. From there, one female and one male will be announced at the Triple “A” banquet in conjunction with the Minnesota State Boys Basketball Tournament in March.

Rising to the Challenge 

Britta is a student-athlete who has participated in a variety of Panther athletics and activities throughout her high school career.

In the classroom, Britta challenges herself by taking rigorous Advanced Placement and College in School Current Enrollment courses and tutoring her peers in various subjects. She finds the challenge rewarding as she has gained great study skills that she plans to carry with her into future educational experiences.

Within activities and athletics, Britta is involved in the Science Olympiad Club, Pep band, Panther Mentors, National Honor Society, Jazz Band, soccer and lacrosse. She played all four years on the JV soccer team with some varsity playing time and was captain for three of those years. She was voted varsity captain for the lacrosse team in her junior and senior seasons.

Being an athlete, musician and student at Spring Lake Park Schools have helped develop me into a better person. Through athletics, I have learned perseverance, leadership and to be grateful for all of the opportunities I have been given. Through the arts, I have learned how to try new things, be organized and how to lead by example in order to motivate those around me. By being a student, I have learned to not give up and how to rise to the challenge. Britta Solheim

After graduating this spring, Britta plans to attend Wartburg College in Iowa to study engineering, play lacrosse and participate in a music ensemble.

Hard Work Almost Always Pays Off

Nathan has excelled in the classroom, choir room and tennis court throughout his four years at Spring Lake Park High School. He has a strong GPA, received 3 or higher on all seven AP tests he has taken and scored a 35 on the ACT.

Since his sophomore year, he has also participated in the Knowledge Bowl Club where he is a team captain and in the Science Olympiad Club where he is a member of the varsity team that has made it to state every year since he joined.

Music is the area Nathan says he has grown the most in throughout his high school career. He tries out for every solo he can, participates in two before-school groups, plays the bass guitar and is a part of the lower level jazz band. He also sang in the high school talent show his junior year.

Outside of clubs and the band and choir room, you can find Nathan on the tennis court. Playing since eighth grade and after two years on the JV team, Nathan decided to commit to the sport more fully by taking group lessons twice a week. He immediately saw improvements, moving up to second doubles on Varsity his sophomore year, then on to second singles on Variety his junior year and finally to first singles on Varsity his senior year.

My involvement in arts, academics and athletics make me who I am. My growth in academics has shown me what it takes to mentally succeed in something. My growth as a musician has taught me how to improve a specific skill and how to work with others to achieve a common goal. My growth in tennis taught me how to improve myself and that hard work almost always pays off. I will bring these areas of my life into college and beyond. Nathan Przybyla

Nathan plans to study chemistry as well as participate in a tennis club and school choir after graduating this spring.