February 9, 2010
Contact: Lisa Lissimore or Ellen Giloy / MSHSL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ExCEL Awards
League recognizes 32 students for leadership, community service

Celebrating its 14th year of recognizing high school juniors, the Minnesota State High School League today announced the recipients of the 2010 ExCEL Award.

ExCEL — Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership — is a unique recognition program that is awarded annually to high school juniors who are leaders in their schools and who work voluntarily in their community helping others. AAA Minneapolis is the award sponsor.

“The 2010 ExCEL award winners are extraordinary individuals who shine throughout the school year with a strong sense of school pride and community loyalty,” said Lisa Lissimore, the League associate director who oversees the award program. “These student leaders participate in a variety of outreach programs that help impoverished and disadvantaged children with reading and math. Some are involved in food drives while others share their musical and theatrical talents at community events.”

KSTC TV Channel 45, the League’s broadcast partner, will recognize the 2010 ExCEL award recipients during its broadcasts of the winter tournaments, beginning with the semifinals of the State Girls’ Hockey Tournament Feb. 26-27. Each student will also participate in an on-court award ceremony during the halftime of the Class AA girls’ basketball championship game on March 20.

“AAA Minneapolis, a leading advocate of teen driving safety in Minnesota, enjoys a long and important partnership with the Minnesota State High School League in recognizing outstanding students who go beyond the classroom, the athletic field and performing arts stage to demonstrate leadership and a strong commitment to community volunteerism,” said Rod Shilkrot, vice president of marketing for AAA Minneapolis. “We applaud their achievements and look forward to their continued role as peer leaders ? at school and in the community.”

The ExCEL award program began in 1996. Award recipients are selected through a multi-level process that involves League member schools and an independent panel of judges from schools throughout Minnesota. More than 3,000 students have been recognized with this award. Two-hundred and fifty-six students were nominated by their schools this year.

Following are the 2010 ExCEL Award recipients:

Alexa Baker, Robbinsdale Cooper	Kellee Koenig, Crookston
Rachel Bjork, LeSueur-Henderson	Nikki Kramer, Buffalo Lake-Hector
Isaiah Butler, Sleepy Eye-St. Mary’s	Victoria Larkin, Waconia
Ryan Carlson, Cedar Mountain	Katie McLaughlin, Hibbing
Neuchee Chang, East Ridge, Woodbury	Matthew Mittelsteadt, Eastview, Apple Valley
Victoria Dubose-Briski, Bloomington Kennedy	Ryne Myhrberg, Marshall
Ashley Escher, Watertown-Mayer	Christine Ohenewah, Mankato Loyola
Ellen Ferry, Underwood	Folashade Pratt, Rosemount
Dan Frankenfeld, Eagan	Katelyn Ristau, Fillmore Central
Logan Gooch, Nevis	Thomas Schultz, Mora
Tyler Hamblin, Cretin-Derham Hall	David Sell, Monticello
Ashley Heikes, Mora	Patrick Sheedy, Marshall School, Duluth
Brandon Hill, Eden Prairie	Cedric Speltz, Lewiston-Altura
George Hirschboeck, Sleepy Eye	Andrew Theis, Sibley East
Rian Hutchison, Pillager	Tessa Winkelman, Foley
Hillary Kletscher, Wabasso	Cole Witter, Buffalo-Hector

Additional information about the 2010 ExCEL Award recipients may be obtained by visiting the League’s Web site at www.MSHSL.org. — 30 —