Minnesota’s Distinguished High School Students Honored for Exemplary Levels of Performance

Forty-four Minnesota students were honored in the areas of Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, STEM, Leadership and Theater Arts

ROSEVILLE – Forty-four distinguished Minnesota high school students were honored with Scholars of Distinction awards in the areas of Science, STEM, Social Studies, Leadership and Theater Arts. The students represent 19 high schools, including two non-public schools, plus one homeschool student.

The Scholars of Distinction selection process is overseen by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). To earn recognition, a student must complete required work in Minnesota’s academic standards, demonstrate mastery of complex subject matter, and apply their knowledge and skills on a challenging project. Experts in each category read and score the applications, and students are awarded a medal and certificate. 

All students who wish to apply for a Scholar of Distinction Award can find more information on MDE’s website.

The students honored were:       

Leadership Award

Thor Oase, Apple Valley High School - Meritorious Honor

Mathematics Awards

Affaan Ahmer*, Wayzata High School - Scholar of Distinction

Prina Doshi*, Wayzata High School - Scholar of Distinction

Social Studies Awards

Affaan Ahmer*, Wayzata High School - Scholar of Distinction: Economics

Prina Doshi*, Wayzata High School - Scholar of Distinction: Economics

Brian Lin, Wayzata High School - Scholar of Distinction: Economics

Spencer Mateega, Wayzata High School - Scholar of Distinction: Economics

Grace Philippon, Central High School St. Paul - Scholar of Distinction: Applied History

 Madigan Wilcox, Breck School - Meritorious Honor: Applied History

Science Awards

Arnav Barve, Wayzata High School - Meritorious Honor                                        

Jasmeet Bhatia, Wayzata High School - Meritorious Honor                                  

Arnav Desai, Wayzata High School - Meritorious Honor                                        

Akshat Dwivedi, Wayzata High School - Meritorious Honor                                 

Aayush Gupta, Wayzata High School - Meritorious Honor                                    

Vikrant Mahajan, Wayzata High School - Meritorious Honor                               

Sahana Mangipudi, Breck School - Meritorious Honor                                           

Gautham Nair*, Shakopee High School - Meritorious Honor                               

Belinda Neset, Orono Senior High School - Scholar of Distinction                      

Ava Raffel‡, Breck School - Meritorious Honor                                                         

Simren Samba‡, Breck School - Meritorious Honor                                                

Bryanna Shao, Wayzata High School - Meritorious Honor                                    

Sanjali Subash, Wayzata High School - Scholar of Distinction                              

Sneha Sureshkumar, Mahtomedi High School - Scholar of Distinction             

Kevin Zhang, Wayzata High School - Meritorious Honor

STEM Awards

John Cardwell‡, Breck School - Meritorious Honor

Akshat Dwivedi*, Wayzata High School - Meritorious Honor

Milan Jostes, Stillwater High School - Scholar of Distinction

Gautham Nair*, Shakopee High School - Meritorious Honor

Benjamin Rex‡, Breck School - Meritorious Honor

George Richards‡, Breck School - Meritorious Honor

Abigail Smith, Cloquet Senior High School - Meritorious Honor

William Sweeney‡, Breck School - Meritorious Honor

Theater Arts Awards

Emma Ahlin, Little Falls Community School - Meritorious Performance: Acting/Musical Theater

Carter Bannwarth, East Ridge High School - Scholar of Distinction: Acting/Musical Theater

Landon Butler, Hutchinson High School - Scholar of Distinction: Acting

Jared Doran, East Ridge High School - Scholar of Distinction: Technical Theater/Lighting, Sound

Brenna Duffy, Eastview High School - Scholar of Distinction: Technical Theater/Stage Management

Adam Garrity, East Ridge High School - Scholar of Distinction: Acting/Musical Theater

Erik Haering, East Ridge High School - Scholar of Distinction: Acting/Musical Theater

Sophia Hopkins, Hinckley-Finlayson High School - Meritorious Performance: Acting/Musical Theater

Carter Johnson, Andover High School - Meritorious Performance: Acting/Musical Theater

Amara Jones-Myers, Waconia High School - Meritorious Performance: Playwriting

April O’Meara, East Ridge High School - Scholar of Distinction: Technical Theater/Stage Management

Sri Peck, Academy of Holy Angels - Scholar of Distinction: Acting/Musical Theater

Caden Riley, PIM Arts High School - Scholar of Distinction: Technical Theater/Lighting

Ruby Schroeder, Home School - Meritorious Performance: Comprehensive Theater Arts/Playwriting

Camden Stevens, East Ridge High School - Scholar of Distinction: Acting

Hanna Tharaldson, Belle Plaine High School - Meritorious Performance, Acting

Elijah Wolff, Eagan High School - Scholar of Distinction, Technical Theater/Sound

‡ Collaboration
* Dual Awardee

Contact Wendy Hatch, 651-582-8717 with any questions. 

###