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Before her recognition as the Sub-Region 10 Triple ‘A’ winner, Luverne High School senior Gabi Ferrell opened the Pipestone versus Luverne boys’ basketball game Feb. 21 by singing the national anthem.
Then she graciously smiled for the crowd, posed for pictures and silently disappeared into the crowd.
Ferrell was the LHS female student representative for the program that honors students for their involvement in Academics, Arts and Athletics. Senior Shane Berning was Luverne’s male nominee.
Each year Minnesota State High School League member schools nominate two high school seniors who excel in the classroom, on the athletic field, and in the fine arts.
“It’s really a comparison of the students and who stands out the most,” said LHS principal Ryan Johnson. “Some years the pool is filled with very worthy candidates and it’s hard to choose.”
School officials examine potential nominees’ overall grade point average, the MSHSL sports they are involved in and their success in those sports, along with involvement and accolades received in the fine arts activities.
Johnson said each school’s nominees submitted an application to a Region 3A panel to choose a boys’ and girls’ Triple ‘A’ sub-region winner. The four sub-region winners then vie for the section girls’ or boys’ Triple ‘A’ state title.
Region 3A Triple ‘A’ girls’ recipient was Cassidy Smith, Tracy Area High School, and the boys’ recipient was Elijah Kirschstein, Springfield High School. The region winners vie for state recognition later this month.
Johnson served on the Region 3A committee and said Ferrell was in the top tier of students for the region title.
As a sub-section winner, Ferrell received a plaque, medal and certificate.
She was surprised at the subsection girls’ title.
“It was really unexpected,” she said. “I just never think of myself as that outstanding. It’s a huge honor and it feels good to be recognized.”
Ferrell maintains a 4.0 GPA, is a member of the National Honor Society and student council, and has participated in band and choir as well as cross country, basketball, and track and field teams each year since she was a seventh-grader.
In the arts, Ferrell received superior ratings over several years of solo and ensemble contests in both band and choir. As a sophomore she was a member of the All-State Choir.
In athletics she’s been a state participant in cross country and track, received conference and all-state honors in cross country and track, and was the cross country captain her junior and senior years.
Ironically, the three years she played on the varsity basketball team is her favorite activity.
“Because it came the least natural to me,” she said. “I took a lot of time to fall in love with the sport. I had to put in a lot of work and it taught me a lot about working hard.”
Her future plans are to attend the University of Minnesota, receive degrees in French studies/linguistics and work with children.
Ferrell is the daughter of Jacqueline Johnson of Luverne.