Armstrong, Cooper Athena Award winners announced

Two female student-athletes — one each from Armstrong and Cooper high schools — have been recognized for their hard work both in the classroom and on the playing field.

Sophia Pung from Armstrong High School (AHS) and Morgan Stromberg from Cooper High School (CHS) have been selected as their school’s 2022 Athena Award winners. The award is given annually to one senior female athlete from each participating school who has distinguished herself in athletics and academics.

Sophia Pung

During her career at AHS, Pung has participated in four sports, most notably Nordic skiing and golf. During her AHS athletic career, she has won a number of section and state awards, earned 12 varsity letters, captained five different Nordic skiing and golf teams. She earned most valuable player awards seven times. 

In addition to her athletic success, Pung has earned academic honors, and this year was elected by her peers as Student Body President. 

Pung is still undecided about her post-secondary plans, but intends to ski at an NCAA school or attend an institution with a strong research concentration in nanotechnology.

Morgan Stromberg

Stromberg has participated in the CHS girls swimming and diving, Nordic skiing, and softball teams since she was in seventh grade. She has earned eight varsity letters, been named a team captain five times, and earned most valuable player honors five times.

In the classroom, she’s an AP Scholar and an International Baccalaureate Diploma candidate, in addition to other academic honors.

Next year Stromberg will be attending Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where she will major in biology with a minor in psychology on a pre-med route toward becoming a psychiatrist. 

The 50th annual Minneapolis Area Athena Awards will take place on Friday, May 6, at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center.