Three nominated for 'Star of the North' award

Three Quest students at Buffalo Community Middle School have been nominated for the 2025 Star of the North Award.

Katherine Gustafson, Connor Smude and Will Umhoefer are now in the running for this distinction from the Minnesota Educators of the Gifted and Talented, which annually recognizes a student in grades 5-8 who has shown outstanding accomplishment in academics, visual or performing arts, or leadership.

Gustafson, a seventh-grader, is the daughter of Meg and Jeremy Gustafson of Corcoran. A nomination submitted by a Quest teacher said she is “very bright and skilled in an academic setting, but is also well rounded in so many other areas.”

Smude is the son of Sheila and Andrew Smude of Buffalo. His nomination stated: “As an eighth-grade student, Connor not only has an awareness of the needs of the world around him - he already knows what he is going to do about it.”

Umhoefer, a seventh-grader, is the son of Holly and Kevin Umhoefer of Buffalo. His nomination said that Will is "a quiet, unassuming student leader, and a student who performs at a high level."

The Star of the North winner will be announced in February. Congratulations to our nominees!