Owatonna Juniors Lucas Arndt and Emma Smith Honored As EXCEL Award Recipients

Owatonna High School juniors Emma Smith and Lucas Arndt are among 32 students being recognized for their leadership and community service. They will be honored on court at Williams Arena on Saturday, March 21.

Media release from the Minnesota State High School League:

Celebrating its 19th year of recognizing high school juniors, the Minnesota State High School League will honor the 2015 ExCEL Award recipients during ceremonies at the State Girls’ State Basketball Tournament on Saturday, March 21. Thirty-two students from across the state were selected.

ExCEL—Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership—is a unique recognition award that is given annually to high school juniors who are leaders in their schools and who demonstrate a strong commitment to community service.

The 2015 ExCEL award recipients are engaged in life-changing projects that build stronger, healthier and safer communities. They work voluntarily to end hunger, house the homeless, help the environment and raise money for medical research. Many of these student leaders are involved in 4-H and FFA outreach activities while others coach youth sports, teach Sunday school, assist seniors, visit shelters and tutor at-risk kids.

“There are so many reasons to be proud of these young men and women,” said Lisa Lissimore, the associate director who oversees the ExCEL program. “They live their life serving and lifting up others without expecting recognition or reward. They’re service–centered and deserving of this award,” Lissimore explained.

The ExCEL award program began in 1996. Award recipients are selected through a multilevel process that involves league member schools and an independent panel of judges from schools throughout Minnesota. More than 4,000 students have been recognized with this award program. Two-hundred and forty-nine students were nominated by their schools this year.

KSTC- TV, Channel 45, the League’s broadcast partner, will recognize the 2015 ExCEL award recipients during its broadcast of the semifinals of the State Girls’ Basketball Tournament. Each student will also participate in an on-court award ceremony during the halftime of the Class AA girls’ basketball championship game on Saturday, March 21.

See the full list at the mshsl.org website.