SJP Seniors Receive 2023 MSHSL AAA Award

Saint John’s Prep School Students Earn AAA Award

Collegeville, MN:  Seniors Sam Dehne and Kate McGee are the 2022-23 Saint John’s Prep recipients of the “Triple A (Academics, Arts and Athletics) Award” by the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL).  According to the MSHSL, the purpose of this program is to recognize and honor high school seniors who have excelled in the classroom, on the athletic field, and in the fine arts. The two will be honored at the Section 5A Triple A Award Banquet later this month.

Sam is the son of Melissa and Nathan Dehne of Saint Cloud. While attending Saint John’s Prep, Sam has been a member of the baseball, cross-country and basketball teams. He now serves as a captain of the basketball team. Sam has been involved in band, focusing on percussion. He also enjoys ceramics and creates pieces of pottery in the Saint John’s Prep art studios.

“Athletics has always held a special place in my heart. Athletics taught me to always have a winning and positive mindset in whatever I do,” Sam says. “Athletics has also given me stronger relationships with my friends off and on the field. Athletics taught me that hard work pays off and showed me how to set goals and meet or exceed them. Without the athletics in my life, I don’t believe that I would be the person I am today. “

Sam hopes to attend Saint John’s University in Collegeville or Carroll University in Waukesha, WI and study either finance or accounting. He plans to play intramural basketball in college.

Kate is the daughter of Ann and Jon McGee of Cold Spring. Kate has been a member of the soccer, basketball and track teams. She now serves as a captain to the basketball team. Kate is also the president of the National Honor Society and the She’s the First Club. Kate is an artist and enjoys creating pottery and other forms of artwork in the Saint John’s Prep art studios.

“Balancing activities, athletics, and academics is a lot! I definitely would not be able to do it without the support system that I have,” Kate says. “I do it all by being intentional wherever I am, if I’m studying or on the court I do my best to focus on only that!”

Next year Kate plans to attend a four year college or university and study biology with the long term goal of becoming a physician.  She hopes to take part in art classes and intramurals while in college.

Criteria for the Triple A Award include:  Exhibit citizenship and be a respected individual in their home communities and school, have participated in a MSHSL-sponsored athletic program and fine arts activity, maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and comply with the MSHSL’s Student Code of Conduct.