5 Minnesota Students Making The North Star State Proud

Minnesota is full of bright, driven young people making a difference in and out of the classroom. That’s why Patch and T-Mobile have teamed up to spotlight students excelling in academics, athletics and community service.

Check out five exceptional Minnesota students making a big impact. And if you know a student who deserves a shoutout, we want to hear about them! Click here to nominate them for a chance to be featured as a Star Student on Patch!

Sasha Allen (Eden Prairie) — A two-time grand prize winner of the prestigious Discovery Award, Eden Prairie High School alumnus Sasha Allen has distinguished herself as a gifted storyteller and historian. Her documentary, “3-6-9 Kid: How Child Spy Agnes Láckovič Saved Hundreds from the Nazis,” earned her the top prize in 2023 for its powerful portrayal of a teenage WWII spy who used her small stature and musical talent to aid the Allied forces and rescue lives. This marks Sasha’s second win—her 2021 project on Welsh journalist Gareth Jones also captured the top honor for its in-depth look at his efforts to expose the Holodomor famine. Read more here.

Karla Fernanda Arreola-Lucio (Minnetonka) — A 2023 graduate of Minnetonka High School, Karla “Fern” Arreola-Lucio left a lasting mark through her academic excellence, leadership and community service. With a 4.3 GPA and a rigorous schedule of AP and IB courses, Fern captained both the speech and debate teams and launched middle school programs that reached over 50 students. She also co-founded the school’s Hispanic Student Union, led public health presentations through myHealth and COPAL MN and advocated for teen wellness at the State Capitol. Beyond the classroom, Fern earned accolades in Model UN, synchronized swimming and volunteer work—all while training to become a licensed EMT. She is now continuing her academic journey as part of the Cardea Fellows Program at Duke University. Read more here.

Tehya Sepulvado (Shakopee) — Shakopee native Tehya Sepulvado is a standout student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she is double majoring in American Indian and Indigenous studies and human development and family science. A citizen of the Choctaw-Apache tribe of Ebarb, Tehya was honored with the 2023–24 Faith Danielle Hedgepeth Award for her academic excellence and community leadership. At UNC, she has served as secretary of the Carolina Indian Circle and chieftess of the Alpha chapter of Alpha Pi Omega Inc., all while pursuing her passion for working with children as a lead teacher and infant class instructor. Read more here.

Sarah Cao (Plymouth) — Plymouth’s own Sarah Cao was named a 2025 Rhodes Scholar, one of just 32 students nationwide selected to pursue graduate studies at Oxford University. A former high school and club diver, she laid the foundation for her physical discipline early on—skills that would later help her thrive at the United States Military Academy at West Point. There, she prepared daily briefings for the Pentagon, earned top honors as the highest-ranked female cadet in physical fitness and became a two-time national collegiate skydiving champion on the academy’s parachute team. Her achievements reflect a rare combination of academic excellence, physical prowess and fearless leadership. Read more here.

Cash Raymond (Inver Grove Heights) — Simley High School senior Cash Raymond was named the 2024 Apollo Award winner, an honor recognizing excellence in athletics, academics and leadership. A standout in football, baseball and wrestling, Cash’s dedication as a three-sport athlete left a lasting impact. He captained the baseball team, earned All-District Honorable Mention in football and dominated on the mat with five State Team Championships, multiple All-State honors and Academic All-State recognition. Cash is continuing his academic and athletic journey at Augustana University, where he joins the wrestling team. Read more here.

These exceptional students are just a glimpse of the incredible talent in Minnesota. The future is certainly looking bright! If you know a Star Student making an impact in your community, nominate them today to be featured on Patch!