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Schools

Minnesota Honors High School 'Scholars of Distinction'

Some of the state's most distinguished teens were recognized in a ceremony at Golden Valley's Perpich Center over the weekend.

Students from across the state gathered at the Saturday, where they were honored by the Minnesota Department of Education.

 The high schoolers were part of the Scholars of Distinction program, an annual awards competition recognizing exemplary work in leadership, mathematics, science, social studies and theater.

"It was grueling," said Perpich student  and awardee Sophie Bossart of the competition. The senior theater aficionado wrote a 15 minute script, performed an original monologue and prepared a live performance review - all in order to satisfy the program's application and portfolio requirements.

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But, as Bossart readily admitted, the work "was well worth it."

Virginia McFerran, Perpich Theater Education Coordinator agreed. "So often, people regard theater as pure entertainment. They forget the effort involved in staging a production," she said.

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"Thus it's wonderful when programs recognize the inspiration and perspiration characterizing scholarship in the theater arts."

Of course, as Kevyn Burger, Communications Director for the Perpich Center notes, Scholars of Distinction acknowledges student potential across all disciplines. "Receipt of the award requires extraordinary commitment and motivation," she said. "The projects involved were not simply something students began on Friday and completed Monday."

One look at the DOE's list of award winners confirms Burger's assessment. Elleanor Haeg of masterminded a portfolio project targeting genes associated with food-borne illnesses. Meanwhile, fellow student Max Berman investigated the past, present and future of Highway 55.

 In total, 43 honors and awards were conferred at last weekend's ceremony. Scholars received medals and certificates for their efforts. 

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