Local Students honored with ExCEL Award.

Two local students, Hayden Shulstad of Red Lake Falls and Kelby Augustine of Marshall County Central have been recognized by the Minnesota State High School League with the ExCEL Award.

The ExCEL Award – Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership – is a unique recognition program designed exclusively for Minnesota high school juniors who are active in school activities, leaders in their schools, and who demonstrate a strong commitment to community service. This award is sponsored by the League’s corporate partner TruStone Financial Credit Union.

The ExCEL Award recipients are selected by an independent panel of judges from schools throughout Minnesota.

Shulstad and Agustine will be recognized during this year’s State High School Girl’s Basketball State Tournament.

Congratulations to the following 2026 ExCEL Award recipients:

Adrienne Cook – Park Rapids Area

Alex Aden – St. James

Anna Neyens – Mountain Iron-Buhl

Arabella Grotberg – Cherry

Ava Cox – Owatonna

Avery Braegelmann – Melrose Area

Bjorn Pederson – Elk River

Calvin Urdahl – St. Anthony Village

Camila Galvan-Ortiz – Shakopee

Charlotte Dehn – St. Paul Central

Colton Gillespie – Chokio-Alberta

Erik Gischia – Two Harbors

Evan Jewison – Watertown-Mayer

Gavin Yang – Eagan

Greta Bailey – New Ulm Cathedral

Griffin Decoux – Irondale

Hayden Shulstad – Red Lake Falls

Ivan Daood – St. Charles

Jace Schauman – Sleepy Eye

Jacob Staats – Rosemount

Jada Reese – Springfield

Jeanette Larson – Wabasha-Kellogg

Katie Courneya – Frazee

Kelby Augustine – Marshall County Central

Kyllander Nelson – Robbinsdale Cooper

Leo Hovland – Springfield

Levi Hays – Westonka

Lindsey Lam – North High School-North St. Paul

Linnea Carlson – Chisago Lakes

Lowell Schultz – Owatonna

Maya Roth – Eagan

Winifred Omberg – Parnassus Preparatory

Wyatt Dean – Robbinsdale Cooper

Zoey Day – St. Michael-Albertville