Congratulations to juniors Waverly van Buren and Will Rehfuss on being named St. Anthony Village High School’s ExCEL Award winners!

Every year SAVHS has the chance to recognize two junior students through the Minnesota State High School League’s ExCEL Award program. The ExCEL Award - Excellence in Community, Education, and Leadership - is designed to recognize students who participate in school activities, are leaders in the school, and demonstrate a strong commitment to community service.

Both van Buren and Rehfuss are leaders on their athletic teams and in the wider school community. This past season, Waverly served a swim captain and is an officer for Green Team, a student group that supports environmentally sustainable ideas for the school and community. In addition, van Buren is involved in National Honor Society, Speech, and Visual Arts, and spends time tutoring her peers.  

Outside of school, van Buren is on the Community Service Advisory Council and volunteers substantial time at Every Meal, an organization that fights child hunger. With all of those commitments, Waverly is still dedicated to her studies, posting a GPA over 4.0.

Will is a member of the football and baseball teams at St. Anthony, earning All-District honors in football this past season and being named a captain for the 2025 season. He was also a varsity starter last season for the Huskies on the baseball diamond.

Rehfuss volunteers his time at booster youth clinics, passing along his skills and experience to the younger generations. In addition to youth clinics, Will has volunteered at Every Meal, Feed My Starving Children, and doing highway cleanup. In the classroom, he has a strong 3.75 GPA.

Waverly and Will’s nomination materials will be reviewed by a panel of judges and the MSHSL winners will be announced on February 4.