Saint Peter High School

Saint Peter High School recently announced that juniors Ella Dirks, daughter of Rachel and Zach Dirks, and Ryan Moelter, son of Candi and Kurt Moelter, are Saint Peter High School’s ExCEL Award recipients for the 2025-26 school year.

Established in 1988, the Minnesota State High School League’s ExCEL – Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership – Award is a unique recognition program designed exclusively for Minnesota high school juniors who are active in school activities, leaders in their schools, and who demonstrate a strong commitment to community service.

The following is a profile of this year’s SPHS ExCEL Award winners:

ELLA DIRKS

Ella has a stellar academic record at SPHS with a weighted GPA of 4.06 (regular 4.0) and has been on the “A” honor roll regularly. She is an active member of the SPHS National Honor Society chapter and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), and a two-time Academic All-State award winner for track and field.

The junior standout maintains an active schedule in fine arts at Saint Peter High School through her participation since her freshman year being a part of the SPHS choir program including the Concert Choir, Saints Choir, and Varsity Choir. She also is a three-year member of The Bellas (gr. 9-12 treble ensemble).

“I am very honored to have won the ExCEL Award for Saint Peter High School,” Dirks said. “So many great SPHS students (in the past) have won this award, many that I have looked up to over the years. I hope to carry the same honor and respect that they did, and always represent SPHS to the best of my ability. 

“I am thankful for all the support from my family, teachers, and coaches who have pushed me to new goals and supported me to always strive to do my best in all things. I look forward to continuing to make an impact at St. Peter High School and being a role model for younger student athletes, just as I had.

Athletically, Dirks is a three-sport athlete who has earned varsity letters in track and field, basketball, and tennis. She is a Minnesota State Girls Track & Field state champion capturing the gold medal in the 800-meter run last spring at the state meet and has also won state medals in the 4x400 meter relay, 800-meter run, and a state qualifier in the 4x800 relay. She was also a member of the Saints’ girls tennis state-tourney team in the fall of 2025, a reserve player for the 2024 Saints girls basketball team that placed fifth at state, and she has earned multiple All-Big South awards in track and field and tennis.

Away from school, Dirks has been very active in the community having donated her time as youth basketball camp volunteer, youth basketball referee, volunteer assistant coach, concession stand volunteer, kids’ ministry helper, and church communion server.

Her future plans include attending college and majoring in the medical field as well as competing in track.  

RYAN MOELTER

Ryan is the epitome of what it means to be a well rounded student-athlete at Saint Peter High schools as he has earned a weighted GPA of 4.06 in his course work so far at SPHS. He is an active member of the SPHS chapter of the National Honor Society and a regular member of the A-Honor Roll. He also is a member and leader of the local chapters of Project for Teens (P4T) and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).

“Winning the ExCel Award means a lot to me because it shows how much dedication, hard work, and time I have put into not only sports, but also in the classroom,” Moelter said. “It also motivates me to become a better person, better role model, and leave a valuable impact on the younger kids.”

In fine arts, Moelter has been a three-year member of the Saint Peter High School choir program (Concert Choir, Saints Choir, and Varsity Choir).

Athletically, Moelter is a three-sport standout for the Saints as part of the varsity football, wrestling, and baseball teams. He is a two-sport captain as well for football and wrestling and earned a trip to the Minnesota State Wrestling Tournament last season. He is a four-time All-Big South Conference performer on the mat for the Saints, and a two-time All-Red District football player as well as being named All-Big South for baseball. 

Outside of school, Ryan volunteers his time by assisting at youth football and wrestling camps, installing and taking down horse stalls at the Nicollet County Fairgrounds, working the concession stand at sporting events, serving soup at church events, Oktoberfest clean up crew, and helping out at North Elementary’s Celebration Day activities.

Ryan’s future plans include attending college and playing a sport at that level.