The Minnesota State High School League and Wells Fargo honored some of the state’s top student leaders with the ExCEL Award during ceremonies at the Girls’ State Basketball Tournament on Saturday, March 17. Dakota John of Adrian High School was one for 36 High School Juniors recognized with the ExCEL award.
ExCEL—Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership—is a unique recognition award that is given annually to high school juniors who are active in League sponsored activities, leaders in their schools, and who demonstrate a strong commitment to community service.
“The young people that we are honoring today are community service-centered and very deserving of this award, said Lisa Lissimore, the associate director who oversees the ExCEL program. “These student leaders go beyond the classroom and the field of competition to improve the quality of life for others—giving wherever help is needed,” Lissimore explained.
Like previous ExCEL award recipients, the 2018 honorees are engaged in projects that build stronger, healthier, and safer communities. They tutor students, teach Sunday school, assist seniors, visit shelters, clean highways, and fundraise for worthy causes. They also share their musical and theatrical talents at community events.
Wells Fargo, the League’s premier corporate sponsor, began its sponsorship of the ExCEL program in 2016. “These are extraordinary students who will be our leaders of tomorrow,” said Minnesota Region President Joe Ravens of Wells Fargo. “We are proud to recognize these students, who set the bar high for others through all that they are accomplishing during their high school years.”
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 5,000 students have been recognized with this award program. Two-hundred and ninety-eight students were nominated by their schools this year.
45TV, the League’s broadcast partner, profiled each ExCEL award recipients during its broadcast of the basketball tournaments. Each student also participated in an on-court award ceremony during halftime of the Class AA girls’ basketball championship game on March 17.
