(04/26/2024) Five female student-athletes — one from each of Anoka-Hennepin’s five traditional high schools — have been recognized for their hard work in the classroom and on the playing field or court. 

The Athena Award is given to one senior female athlete from each participating school who has distinguished herself in a special individual athletic achievement or superior achievements in one or more sports. 

This year’s Anoka-Hennepin Athena Award winners are:

• Andover High School: Morgan Miller.
• Anoka High School: Kaelyn Nelson.
• Blaine High School: Hannah Claussen.
• Champlin Park High School: Annabelle Johnson.
• Coon Rapids High School: Casey Beck.

The student-athletes will be recognized at the 52nd Annual Minneapolis Athena Awards luncheon on Friday, May 3 at the Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center.

Andover High School: Morgan Miller
Miller is a two-sport athlete at Andover where she excelled in basketball and volleyball. She is a three-year letterwinner in volleyball and a three-time all-conference selection. As a member of the Huskies girls basketball team for four seasons, Miller was twice named a team captain and has earned all-conference honors three times. She was nominated for the 2024 McDonald’s All-America team and helped her team to a state tournament appearance during her senior year. Miller owns 10 school records in the girls' basketball program at Andover and also spends time coaching youth basketball in her community. She will continue her academic and basketball career at Clemson University in South Carolina where she plans to major in exercise science.

Anoka High School: Kaelyn Nelson
Nelson is a three-sport athlete at Anoka, excelling in cross country, track and field and nordic skiing. She has earned a combined 15 varsity letters, six each in cross country and nordic skiing and three in track and field. She has been a captain of the cross country team for the last three seasons, earning all-conference and all-section honors six times while also being named her team’s MVP five times. She has also served as a team captain in nordic skiing for two seasons and has earned three all-conference honors and one all-section distinction. Nelson currently holds the school record time in the 5k race in cross country, was the conference champion in 2021 and posted an 11th place finish in the state track and field meet in the 3200-meter run. Nelson is a member of the National Honors Society and has been involved in choir at AHS. She plans to continue her academic and athletic career at Augustana University where she will participate in cross country and track and field while pursuing a major in biology and/or exercise science.

Blaine High School: Hannah Claussen
Claussen is a two-sport athlete at Blaine, performing at a high level in soccer and track and field. She earned all-conference honors in soccer and twice was named to the all-section team, helping the Bengals to an undefeated conference record and championship in 2022. Claussen is a six-time all-conference and all-section honoree in track and field and has earned all-state recognition three times. She is a two-time state champion, winning first in the 4x200 meter relay and the 4x400 meter relay. Claussen has also been involved in the student council at BHS and regularly volunteers in the community. She plans to attend South Dakota State University and will be a member of the track and field team while majoring in fashion apparel and merchandise retail with a minor in communications. 

Champlin Park High School: Annabelle Johnson
Johnson is a two-sport athlete at CPHS where she was a standout in lacrosse and tennis. She finished her tennis career as a three-time letterwinner and two-time all-conference selection. As a senior, Johnson was a team captain and placed third in the section in singles play. She has twice been named a captain of the lacrosse team and entered her senior year as the school’s all-time leader in assists, groundballs and forced turnovers. She is a three-time letterwinner and has earned all-conference and all-section honors three times. Johnson is a member of the National Honors Society and has been involved in LEO club and FCA at CPHS. She will continue her academic and lacrosse career at Northern Michigan University where she plans to major in business management.

Coon Rapids High School: Casey Beck
Beck is a three-sport athlete at CRHS where she excelled in basketball, lacrosse and tennis. She was a two-year letterwinner in tennis and once in lacrosse while earning four varsity letters in basketball. She was twice named the captain of the basketball team and ended her career as the school record holder in rebounds. Beck is a member of the National Honors Society and has earned four academic letters during her career. She has also been involved in Link Crew and ASL at CRHS. Beck will continue her academic and basketball career at Saint Mary’s University.