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NDHSAA/Farmers Union Insurance Distinguished Students


2023/24 NDHSAA/Farmers Union Distinguished Students

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – The North Dakota High School Activities Association and Farmers Union Insurance are proud to announce the finalists for the 2023-2024 Distinguished Student Award.

The six interviewing for the NDHSAA/Farmers Union Insurance Distinguished Student Award are:

Logan Falk, Hankinson High School
Teagan Erbele, Napoleon High School
Xzavier Buckmiller, Fargo North High School
Mya Woodbeck, Bowbells High School
Taryn Romfo, Langdon Area High School
Amara Howson, Northwood High School

These students have been selected from an outstanding group of juniors from across the state. These six finalists will be interviewed in Jamestown on Wednesday, April 26. The final results will be announced in a news release on www.ndhsaanow.com after all of the interviews have concluded on April 26.

The NDHSAA Distinguished Student program was developed to recognize deserving young people who are the “backbone” of interscholastic activities, not necessarily the leader, but the individual whose participation in high school activities strengthens the program for participants, the school and the community. Applicants are students entering their senior year. The student must be a participant as a player, manager, statistician or other role in at least one NDHSAA sponsored activity. The student must be a good citizen and role model to his/her peers as well as a contributor to his/her school and community.

The NDHSAA Distinguished Student recipient receives a Farmers Union Insurance sponsored $2,000 scholarship to the college of his/her choice. He/she is invited to be the Grand Marshal of the NDHSAA “Parade of Champions” as well as participating in other activities such as serving as the NDHSAA spokesperson for High School Activities Month, promoting the values of activity programs and participating in awarding of trophies at major NDHSAA state contests. The runner-up will receive a $1,000 scholarship. The other four finalists receive a $500 scholarship to the college of his/her choice, publication in the NDHSAA Bulletin and other recognition in connection with NDHSAA events.

The following students were honored as their school’s 2022-2023 Distinguished Student and submitted applications to the NDHSAA for consideration as the NDHSAA/Farmers Union Distinguished Student:

Brenan Bartholomay, Enderlin
Logan Falk, Hankinson
Esther Steinke, Hope-Page
Grant Spelhaug, Kindred
Michael Nelson, Lisbon
Danica Hanson, May-Port CG
Luke Martinson, Milnor
Grace Wolf, Wyndmere
Brylee Fast, Ashley
Mataeya Mathern, Edgeley
Grace Nicholson, Kidder County
Seth Entzi, Kulm
Heidi Steffes, LaMoure
Teagan Erbele, Napoleon
Paige Bakke, Oakes
Edyth Hatlestad, Shiloh
Abigail Eberle, Bismarck St. Mary's
Xzavier Buckmiller, Fargo North
Andrew Weber, Fargo South
Selena Wu, Grand Forks Red River
McKade Picken, Wahpeton
Maggie Dick, West Fargo Horace
Daviney McKay, Beulah
Mya Woodbeck, Bowbells
Jordan Peterson, Center-Stanton
William O'Shields, Dickinson Trinity
Tyler Meckle, Drake
Elizabeth Bachler, Glen Ullin
Madison Zimmerman, Grant County
Weston Winkler, Hazen
Bethany Enander, Stanley
Morgan Schweitzer, Bottineau
Shaylie Holen, Des-Lacs Burlington
Ross Thompson, Lakota
Taryn Romfo, Langdon Area
Kyle Johnson, Midkota
Nickolas Kingzett, Munich
Jenna Fraser, North Border Walhalla
Connor Klein, Rugby
Kaitlyn Erickstad, Starkweather
Hailey Berg, Drayton
Brooks Braun, Finley-Sharon
Jack Kern, Grafton
Thea Letcher, Hatton Eielson HS
Addyson Hefta, Midway
Heide Lane, Minto
Amara Howson, Northwood
Conner Hodek, Park River Area
Calvin Otto, Valley-Edinburg

Nominations: NDHSAA/Farmers' Union Insurance Distinguished Student Information packets are mailed to NDHSAA Member School Principals in January.  Each principal is encouraged to nominate a Distinguished Student in their school and submit their application to NDHSAA by April 1st for consideration in becoming a NDHSAA/Farmers Union Insurance Distinguished Student the following year.

Objectives & Goals: To recognize deserving young people who are the ”backbone” of interscholastic activities, not necessarily the leader, but the individual whose participation in high school activities strengthens the program for participants, the school and the community.

Criteria: Applicant must be a junior the year the application is submitted. Student must be a participant as a player, manager, statistician or other role in at least one NDHSAA sponsored activity in the current year. Note: Participation does not necessarily mean excellence, honors or even active play. Student must be a good citizen and role model to his/her peers as well as a contributor to the community. The committee will evaluate applicants’ essays on their demonstration of sportsmanship and citizenship and how the applicant feels these values derived from activities will provide them lifelong benefits.

Selection Process: One applicant per school is allowed. A pre-screening committee will narrow the applicants to six semi-finalists. The final selection will be based upon an interview conducted by a Selection Committee. Immediately following the interviews, the results will be announced at an NDHSAA sponsored luncheon for semi-finalists and their families.

Deadlines: Completed application forms must be postmarked no later than April 1. Applications postmarked after April 1 will not be considered. Semi-finalists will be notified by mid-April. Interviews and the luncheon announcing the results will be held the first part of May.

Awards: All applicants of the NDHSAA Distinguished Student Program will receive a certificate suitable for framing. A press release naming all applicants will be sent statewide. Semi-finalists will receive a Distinguished Student polo shirt and will be featured in the September issue of the NDHSAA publication, the Bulletin. They will also be invited to participate in other functions connected with NDHSAA events. US Bank has graciously funded scholarships for the finalists. The NDHSAA Distinguished Student recipient will receive a $2,000 scholarship to the college of his/her choice. The runner-up will receive a $1,000 scholarship. The other four semi-finalists will receive a $500 scholarship to the college of his/her choice. The Distinguished Student will be invited to be the Grand Marshall of the NDHSAA Parade of Champions and, along with the other semi-finalists, participate in other activities such as serving as the NDHSAA spokesperson for High School Activities Week, promoting the values of activity programs and participating in awarding of trophies at NDHSAA state contests. (Expenses for the finalists will be paid by the NDHSAA for such assignments.)

2022-23 NDHSAA/Farmers Union Insurance Distinguished Students

2021-22 NDHSAA/Farmers Union Insurance Distinguished Students

2020-21 NDHSAA/Farmers Union Insurance Distinguished Students

2019-20 NDHSAA/Farmers Union Insurance Distinguished Students

2018-19 NDHSAA/Farmers Union Insurance DIstinguished Students

2017-18 NDHSAA/Farmers Union Insurance DIstinguished Students

2016-17 NDHSAA/Farmers Union Insurance Distinguished Students

2015-16 NDHSAA/Farmers Union Insurance Distinguished Students

2013-14 NDHSAA/Farmers Union Insurance Distinguished Students

2012-13 NDHSAA/Farmers Union Insurance Distinguished Students

2011-12 NDHSAA/US Bank Distinguished Students

2010-11 NDHSAA/US Bank Distinguished Students

2009-10 NDHSAA/US Bank Distinguished Students

2008-09 NDHSAA/US Bank Distinguished Students

CLICK HERE for Past Distinguished Student Recipients

You may find the Distinguished Student Application in on our Forms page.

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