(02/28/2025) Sydney Hagel, eighth-grade student at Jackson Middle School, was recently selected as a recipient of the prestigious Star of the North Gifted Award, presented by the Minnesota Educators of the Gifted and Talented.

The Star of the North award is presented annually to one student in the state demonstrating outstanding accomplishment in academics, visual or performing arts and leadership. Hagel was presented with the award at the Minnesota Educators of the Gifted and Talented (MEGT) Mid-winter Conference in St. Cloud, Minn. on Feb. 2.

From 1999 to 2011, MEGT along with the National Association of Gifted Children (NAGC) had annually presented a Distinguished Student Award to children who have made a difference in their community and who have excelled academically or in the arts. Due to limited national funding, NAGC discontinued the award nationwide, however, the MEGT State Board established the Star of the North Award in 2012. 

Hagel is the first student from Anoka-Hennepin to receive the award since its origination.

CCX-Media recently featured Hagel as a Standout Student. Watch the video story.