Eighth-Grader Achieves Anoka-Hennepin School District First
For anyone who doesn’t use advanced math on a daily basis, it can almost look like a foreign language.
But then there are students like Sydney Hagel of Brooklyn Park who excel. She’s an eighth-grader at Jackson Middle School studying 11th-grade-level math.
It’s a passion she developed after her parents raised her to problem-solve without their help.
“I feel like it’s really, so validating,” said Hagel. “Because I can be like, ‘I found this problem and I fixed it.’ I really like feeling like I did something.”
That problem-solving mindset has led her to academic success. Hagel’s teachers don’t hold back the praise when describing her achievements in the classroom.
“She’s a star in the classroom,” said Christine Best, a teacher at Jackson Middle School. “She has the ability to work through tough problems and she kind of thrives in that environment.”
Hagel also thrives outside of the classroom. She’s a drum major for the school band and participates in choir, theater and volleyball.
“I try to be the best at everything I do, because I enjoy trying hard when I’m doing things,” Hagel said. “I really don’t like putting in minimum effort.”
Sydney Hagel’s Star of the North Award came with a $500 scholarship. Photo courtesy: Minnesota Educators of the Gifted and Talented
A notable achievement
On Feb. 2, all that hard work paid off. Hagel received the Star of the North Award, which is presented annually by Minnesota Educators of the Gifted and Talented to one student who’s excelled in academics, arts or leadership.
“I’ve looked up the winners from previous years, and it was really astonishing to me that I’m the first one from Anoka-Hennepin, so that just felt pretty cool,” said Hagel.
Soft spoken, but make no mistake, Hagel is a student who stands out.
“When I reflect on how many students that I’ve taught at Jackson in the past 16 years, that’s 3,634 students, she will always stand out as a star in my reflection of my teaching career,” said Best.
