2024 ExCEL Award Winners

Congratulations to our ExCEL Award winners at East Ridge, Park and Woodbury high schools. The ExCEL Award is a Minnesota State High School League Award that recognizes juniors making satisfactory progress toward graduation, participating in a league-sponsored fine art or athletic activity, holding leadership positions in the school, and volunteering within the community. 

East Ridge

Adrien George is a two-sport varsity athlete participating in hockey and tennis. He received All-Conference honors in tennis and is one of ERHS team captains. Adrien has been recognized in both Hockey and Tennis for his hard work, determination and great attitude. He has Achieved an Academic Letter and on the Honor Roll since 9th grade. Adrien is a student coach for our youth hockey program and helps lead and coach the ERAA youth tennis program. His experience coaching youth tennis benefitted him in ways beyond leadership its self. It also built his confidence, improved his communication skills, grew his love for the game and helped youth plays see how fun tennis is to play. His favorite leadership quote is by Rosalynn Carter “A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be.”

 

 

 

Angie Huang is an extremely gifted student academically scoring a perfect 36 on the ACT. She is our Math Team Captain and has many awards and honors in mathematics such as placing in the US Junior Math Olympiad, Girls MIT math competition and the Carnegie Mellon mathematics competition. Angie is a Captain on our ERHS Debate team where she has qualified for the National Tournament in Congressional Debate. Angie is an accomplished pianist as she was chosen to play in the Minnesota Music Teachers Piano Masterclass and was selected by the MMTA as a finalist in the young artist competition. She also enjoys giving back to our school community by being involved in many clubs such as National Honor Society, math tutor, school newspaper, student cabinet, and represents student voice on the District Data and Assessment Committee. Angie has always found teaching and watching students grow to be incredibly meaningful. This past summer, she founded the Minnesota Youth Math Outreach to make competition math accessible to middle school students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. Her favorite leadership quote is by Oprah Winfrey - "Leadership is about empathy. It is about having the ability to relate to and connect with people for the purpose of inspiring and empowering their lives.". She shares that by empathizing with people and understanding their unique perspectives, a leader can create change.

 

Park

Gabby Faletti earned All-Conference, All-Section, and All-State honors in soccer and is also a letter winner in track and field. In school she is involved in National Honor Society, Key Club, Leaders of the Pack, and Park Pack. Faletti is also very involved in the community, volunteering as a faith formation teacher at her church as well as a youth soccer coach. She has taken many IB and AP classes and has a GPA of 4.2.

 

 

 

 

Eli Firchau is a three-sport letter winner in cross country, Nordic skiing, and track and field. He earned All-Conference or Honorable Mention honors in all three sports and was a state meet qualifier in cross country. Firchau is also in the orchestra and National Honor Society. Outside of school, he volunteers with Special Olympics and with his church. Eli earned Academic All-State honors in both cross country and track and has a 4.1 GPA.

 

 

 

 

Woodbury

Angla Tupan excels in academics, participation in athletics and fine arts and volunteering in the Woodbury Community.  She is highly engaged in a number of Activities at Woodbury and is a leader in the junior class. You can find Angela in many different areas around campus involved in sports, Speech Team, Math League, National Honor Society, Link Crew and an Editor on the Yearbook. Angela started off her high school career playing on the ninth and tenth grade soccer team, before making a switch to play tennis.  Angela earned a spot on the varsity tennis team in her first year of competition as an 11th grader.  During the 2024 - 2025 Girls Tennis Season, Angela was voted as most Energetic Teammate.  Additionally, Angela earned the honor as a Team Captain for the 2025 school year. The most rewarding community service that Angela participates in is tutoring. She tutors at Middleton Elementary and Higher Heights.  Higher Heights is a non-profit organization that Angela tutors at and has taken on a larger organizational role.  As President, Angela manages all of the tutors and tutees, overseeing over 30 individuals to make sure their needs are met for tutoring and can learn free of cost. 

 

 

Junior Jayant Dewan excels in academics, participation in athletics and fine arts and volunteering in the Woodbury Community. He is a leader at Woodbury High School in Orchestra and on the Nordic Ski Team. Over the past 3 years, Jay has received academic Honor Roll recognition. He has challenged himself by taking several honors and advanced placement courses while attending WHS. Overall he has earned a 3.9 unweighted GPA.  Additionally, Jay is a member of the Spanish Immersion Program and is fluent in Spanish. Jay’s favorite subject is math because he likes to problem solve and find patterns in numbers. Within our community, Jay volunteers for the Woodbury Community Foundation helping with park clean up, Skoolie events and offering his time to help at a vaccine clinic. Jay can also be found volunteering with the Great Twin Cities Youth Symphonies and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.  At the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies he has the opportunity to mentor younger bassists on technique and interpreting passages.   At the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra he has introduced young children to learn how to play bass instruments.