Apple Valley's Maren Loe Advances to State Triple A Award Round

Apple Valley High School senior Maren Loe has been selected as the region 3AA female Triple A award winner for 2012, and will advance to the state round with Arthur Harris of Bloomington Jefferson High School for a chance at a college scholarship, according to a news release.

The state award is sponsored by the Minnesota State High School League to recognize students who excel in academics, fine arts and athletics.

Loe, who maintains a 4.0 grade-point average and is a National Merit finalist, also is a member of the school's wind ensemble, jazz and marching bands, and was named to the all-state jazz band.

She is a member of the Apple Valley High School volleyball program, in which she earned four varsity letters and was a team captain. She was named an all-conference play for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

Other clubs she's involved in are National Honor Society, math team, French club and the South Suburban Conference leadership group.

Loe's community work has included leading vacation Bible school sessions, playing music for church services and serving as a youth ministry assistant; she also has worked with Feed My Starving Children and the Ronald McDonald House charities.

Four students who attend high school at Apple Valley or Eastview initially were nominated for the AAA award.

Apple Valley High School's other nominee was Zachary Martens. Eastview High School's nominees were Shannon Field and Zane Larwood.

Each high school in Minnesota nominates one male senior and one female senior for the award each year. A student must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.75, and have participated in athletics and fine arts activities. They're also nominated by a staff member.

Four recipients—one boy and one girl from a Class A and Class AA school—will be announced in March. The winners each receive a $1,000 scholarship renewable for four years.