Record Number of Students to be Honored as “Academic All-Stars”

Throughout the month of October, hundreds of Joplin students will be honored at the Joplin School District’s annual Academic All-Stars ceremonies to be held at Joplin High School. Now in its eighth year, Academic All-Stars recognizes Joplin elementary and middle school students who ranked in the top two performance categories (“Advanced” or “Proficient”) on Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) tests in the spring. This year, a record number of students – over 1,700 students in grades three through eight – qualified for All-Stars recognition.

“Our annual All-Stars celebrations recognize excellence in academics which is our most important goal for students,” says Assistant Superintendent Dr. Angie Besendorfer. “We are proud that the number of students being recognized is more than ever before, which demonstrates the quality of education provided in Joplin Schools.”

The Academic All-Stars program is a joint effort of the Joplin School District and community partners. This year’s celebrations will be held at 6:30 p.m. on the following dates:

Thursday, October 2nd – Cecil Floyd, Duenweg, Duquesne, Jefferson, Kelsey Norman
Monday, October 6th – Eastmorland, Emerson, Irving, South Middle School
Tuesday, October 7th – Columbia, McKinley, Royal Heights, North Middle School
Thursday, October 9th – Stapleton, West Central, Memorial Middle School

School district officials and local community leaders will speak at the celebration events, and each All-Star will receive an award certificate, an “Academic All-Stars” t-shirt, a window decal, and a variety of other gifts from local businesses and organizations.

This year’s Academic All-Stars sponsors include: Carl Richard Bowling Centers, Chick-fil-A, Con-Way Truckload, Crossland Construction Company, Empire District Electric Company, Freeman Health System, The Flip Shop, General Mills, Hometown Bank, Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, The Joplin Globe, Kangaroo Gyms, Leggett & Platt, R.E. Smith Construction Company, St. John’s Regional Medical Center, Sugar Creek Designs, and USA May’s Drug.

posted 10/02/08