Connor family

For her hard work in and out of the classroom, Harley Connor is one of two CHS nominees for the Minnesota State High School League’s Academics, Arts, and Athletics Award (Triple ‘A’) award.

An outside hitter, Connor was captain of last fall’s Valley Conference champion and subsection champion varsity volleyball team. This spring, she will return for her second year as captain of the varsity softball team. She has been the starting catcher for the last two seasons. 

She is a third-year National Honor Society member and was its past secretary and is its current vice president. She has been an active member of the Student Council for five years and has held the position of secretary for the last two years. She is also a two-year member of SADD and helps with school blood drives. She plays saxophone in the Senior Concert Band, Pep Band and Jazz 1.

Her favorite subject is English.

“It teaches you to think beyond the words given and search for a deeper meaning. However, if I were asked what my favorite class was it would be study hall with Mr. (Kyle) Atherton because we learn about life itself and how to ‘be better.’”

Her most important mentors are her parents, Tom and Holly Connor.

“They have taught me everything I know and constantly push me to be my own self. Without them I would be lost in life.”

After graduation, she plans to attend Minnesota State University, Mankato and major in Communication Sciences and Disorders

CHS Triple ‘A’ Award nominees Connor and Nathan Schmoll and ExCEL award nominees Carter Barto and Madysen Seely will be recognized at halftime during the boys basketball game at Cleveland tomorrow (Thursday).

To be eligible for the Academics, Arts, and Athletics Award a student must be a senior at the time of nomination. Nominations are limited to two qualifying students per school, one male and one female. They need a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at the date of nomination, must participate in League-sponsored athletics and fine arts activities and comply with the MSHSL Student Code of Conduct. The award was established in 1988.

Triple ‘A’ Award recipients are selected through a multi-level process involving member schools of the League, the League’s administrative regions, and a special committee of educators, business leaders, and members from the fine arts and athletic communities.

Two award finishers from each region (one boy and one girl) will be invited to a recognition banquet in March and League officials will announce the four statewide Triple ‘A’ Award winners at that time. All 32 finalists will also participate in an on-court ceremony during the Class AA championship game of the Boys Basketball State Tournament. The statewide award winners—a girl and a boy from Class A and Class AA schools—will also receive a four-year $1,000 scholarship.

Above: Tom, Harley and Holly Connor.