Cooperative Link: Fall 2007

Le Sueur Students Serve as VIPs to Honor Minnesota’s Academic All-Stars!

Minnesota Student Inventors Congress Regional winners Maddie Kaleschult and Maddie Hartmann from Park Elementary in Le Sueur recognized academic excellence in Minnesota’s students by serving as dignitaries at the Gathering of Champions August 3 at the Mall of America. Kaleschult and Hartmann, inventors of “Pod Palz,” introduced their invention to ceremony attendees and offered an inspirational message to all students and aspiring inventors. They showed their support for their fellow students and congratulated the All-Stars as they crossed the stage to receive their certificates of achievement.

During the 16th Annual Gathering of Champions sponsored by the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), each recognition ceremony honored students nominated by their educators and MN League Council challenge winners as Academic All-Stars.

Over 3,000 students, friends and family attended one of ten 45-minute shows where All-Stars and their guests enjoyed entertainment by magician Frederick W. Baisch, followed by Minnesota trivia questions where students had the chance to win exciting prizes donated by universities, companies and organizations throughout the state. Each ceremony included a panel of representatives from education, business and industry, including Commissioner of Education Alice Seagren, Assistant Commissioner of Education Karen Klinzing, executive directors from various education organizations, MRSA, M & I Bank, and state award-winning students. Over 30 representatives were in attendance throughout the day, with about 10 present at each ceremony.

The ceremonies closed with the All-Stars walking across the stage, shaking hands with the dignitaries and receiving their certificates of achievement. As they exited the Great Lakes Ballroom, All-Stars signed their names on the giant roster of All-Stars and returning All-Stars enjoyed searching for their names on the banners from previous years.

Before and after attending their recognition ceremony, All-Stars and their guests enjoyed discounts at stores throughout the Mall and had fun on rides and games in The Park at MOA.

Founded in 1990, the annual Gathering of Champions event is designed to recognize and celebrate the academic excellence of K–12 students statewide. Students were selected as Minnesota’s Academic All-Stars by their schools, with the recommended selection criteria including: top academic achievers, as measured by school policy or practice; students who have made a dramatic, positive turnaround in their academic work and achievement; or students who have finished first in a regional, state, national or international academic competition endorsed by the state’s Academic League Council.





SCSC News Calendar of Events *Programs and Services* Accounting Briefs / AYP-Student Improvement / News from the Center for Academic Excellence / Cooperative Purchasing / Health and Safety / Professional Development-Educational Opportunties / Special Education / Wellness Program *Student Enrichment Programs* Chess Tournament / Fine Arts Conference / Knowledge Bowl / Science and Nature Conference / "Water is Life" Art Contest / Young Writer's Conference Fall 2007 Issue Home Page Previous Issues of Cooperative Link Return to SCSC Home Page	SCSC NEWS FROM THE CENTER FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Le Sueur Students Serve as VIPs to Honor Minnesota’s Academic All-Stars! Minnesota Student Inventors Congress Regional winners Maddie Kaleschult and Maddie Hartmann from Park Elementary in Le Sueur recognized academic excellence in Minnesota’s students by serving as dignitaries at the Gathering of Champions August 3 at the Mall of America. Kaleschult and Hartmann, inventors of “Pod Palz,” introduced their invention to ceremony attendees and offered an inspirational message to all students and aspiring inventors. They showed their support for their fellow students and congratulated the All-Stars as they crossed the stage to receive their certificates of achievement. During the 16th Annual Gathering of Champions sponsored by the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), each recognition ceremony honored students nominated by their educators and MN League Council challenge winners as Academic All-Stars. Over 3,000 students, friends and family attended one of ten 45-minute shows where All-Stars and their guests enjoyed entertainment by magician Frederick W. Baisch, followed by Minnesota trivia questions where students had the chance to win exciting prizes donated by universities, companies and organizations throughout the state. Each ceremony included a panel of representatives from education, business and industry, including Commissioner of Education Alice Seagren, Assistant Commissioner of Education Karen Klinzing, executive directors from various education organizations, MRSA, M & I Bank, and state award-winning students. Over 30 representatives were in attendance throughout the day, with about 10 present at each ceremony. The ceremonies closed with the All-Stars walking across the stage, shaking hands with the dignitaries and receiving their certificates of achievement. As they exited the Great Lakes Ballroom, All-Stars signed their names on the giant roster of All-Stars and returning All-Stars enjoyed searching for their names on the banners from previous years. Before and after attending their recognition ceremony, All-Stars and their guests enjoyed discounts at stores throughout the Mall and had fun on rides and games in The Park at MOA. Founded in 1990, the annual Gathering of Champions event is designed to recognize and celebrate the academic excellence of K–12 students statewide. Students were selected as Minnesota’s Academic All-Stars by their schools, with the recommended selection criteria including: top academic achievers, as measured by school policy or practice; students who have made a dramatic, positive turnaround in their academic work and achievement; or students who have finished first in a regional, state, national or international academic competition endorsed by the state’s Academic League Council. > Next CAE Article: Help Support Academic Excellence!	This newsletter is also available as an Acrobat PDF (2.0 MB) Free Acrobat Reader required for viewing.