2026 Athena Award winners recognized for outstanding achievements

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 student-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:

• Ava Shaw, Andover High School.
• Jordyn Jones, Anoka High School.
• Addison Stadden, Blaine High School.
• Sydney Burnevik, Champlin Park High School.
• Kali Barker, Coon Rapids High School.

The student-athletes were recognized at the 54th Annual Minneapolis Athena Awards luncheon on Friday, May 1, at the Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center. 

Ava Shaw is a multi-sport captain and four-year letterwinner in track and field and basketball, while earning three letters in volleyball at Andover High School. She was a two-time captain of the basketball team where she earned all-conference honorable mention honors and was a member of the Section 7AAAA runner-up team in 2026. In volleyball, Shaw was also an all-conference honorable mention selection. In track and field, she has earned all-conference honors four times in long jump, high jump and the 4x400 relay. She qualified for the state track and field meet three times in high jump, long jump while earning medalist honors three times in high jump and long jump. 

Shaw has earned academic letters and the MSHSL Spotlight on Scholarship all four years and has been named academic all-state in volleyball, basketball and track and field. She has been involved in National Honor Society, FCA and Breakfast Club at Andover High School. Shaw will attend Winona State University where she plans to continue her track and field career while majoring in biology.

Jordyn Jones earned five varsity letters and is a two-time captain of the Anoka High School softball team. She has earned two all-conference awards, three all-section awards and one all-state award during her career. She regularly volunteers with the youth softball program and is a STAR Member, promoting positive decision making for youth. Jones will attend the University of Minnesota where she will major in child development and continue her softball career.

Addison Stadden excelled in soccer, track and field and swimming and diving at Blaine High School. She has earned all-state in all three sports and was a team captain for soccer and track and field. In soccer, she earned four varsity letters, and was a two-time all-conference and all-section honoree while being named all-state once. In track and field, she earned three letters, five all-conference awards, four all-section awards and two all-state awards. She was a two-time all-conference performer in swimming and diving, to go along with four all-section and two all-state awards. Stadden was a member of the National Honor Society and was a Bleacher Captain at BHS. She will continue her academic and soccer career at the University of North Dakota.

Sydney Burnevik is a three-time letterwinner in softball and four-time letterwinner in hockey at Champlin Park High School. She was a member of the 2025 MSHSL State Softball Championship team at CPHS. In hockey, she earned all-conference honors four times and was an all-state honorable mention selection as a senior. Burnevik was also a Top 10 Ms. Hockey semifinalist in 2025-26, earning team MVP honors. She finished her career as the program leader in points, assists and goals. Burnevik will continue her academic and hockey career at Assumption University in Worcester, Mass.

Kali Barker competed in gymnastics, cheer and track and field at Coon Rapids High School. In track and field, she earned one letter, participating in hurdles and pole vault. She earned three letters in cheer and was a member of the 2024 state championship team (Traditional) and 2026 state championship team (Game Day and Traditional). Barker was a four-time letterwinner in gymnastics, and was a three-time captain earning all-conference honors four times. At CRHS, she was involved in DECA, bible study and was a manager for the Cardinals football team. In DECA, she placed second in the state for school-based enterprise and qualified for the international competition. She also served as a district officer for eight schools in DECA. Barker will continue to cheer in college and major in business administration with a focus on marketing and international business.