Seven high-achieving juniors receive awards from prestigious colleges  

A group of high-achieving students will receive Junior Book Awards from prestigious colleges at a ceremony on May 19 in the Mraz Center at Burnsville High School.

Colleges present the awards each year across the country to 11th-grade students in recognition of their outstanding academic accomplishments, dedication to learning, leadership, school involvement and community service. Each award recipient receives a book that is connected to the college in some way, often written by a professor or alumnus.

Burnsville High School students who received Junior Book Awards this year are:

• Katelin Hoang — Columbia University
• James Johnson — Dartmouth College
• Yohanes Eshete — Harvard University
• Madison Murray — Smith College
• Cade Bunnell — U of M Norman Borlaug Science Achievement Award
• Corrina Benson — Wellesley College
• Vincent Birch — Yale University

"The award is a testament to everything you have done inside and outside of the classroom during your entire academic career," said Principal Dave Helke. "You have worked hard, strived to do your best and have found success in many ways. Congratulations on this recognition."

Junior Book Awards are a nationally-known distinction, according to school counselor Becky Akerson, who advises students to include it on their college applications.