Parker, SF O'Gorman Field Presidential Scholars

Congrats are in order to HS seniors Derek S. Christensen of Parker and Kiah M. Schaefbauer of Sioux Falls O'Gorman. The two have been names South Dakota's Presidential Scholars for 2010. I am pleased to note that, among their other numerous activities, Christensen and Schaefbauer are both accomplished public speakers. Christensen has medaled at the state interp contest. Schaefbauer has been an active interper for O'Gorman; I also got to see Schaefbauer on stage at the state one-act play festival this year.

But their lives aren't all speech activities: both scholars are taking their math teachers with them to Washington, DC, in June. Perhaps that just goes to show that if you want to succeed, you should know how to speak to a crowd... and do your calculus!

Christensen and Schaefbauer came out on top of a field of 46 South Dakota candidates. Alas, no candidates from Madison this year. Next year, Bulldogs -- start working on those apps now!

Props to SD Presidential Scholars Kantack and Skorey

Don't break out your anti-intellectualism on these kids: Maria Skorey of Yankton and Benjamin Kantack of Brookings have been named South Dakota's 2008 Presidential Scholars.

These kids are flat smart, and smart is something to praise. Skorey plays flute and piccolo, belongs to both the Yankton HS Environmentalist Club and the Teenage Republicans (discuss that one, anti-eco-hysteria rightwingers), and wants to combine theology and premed studies at Loyola. Putting Ben Stein in his place, Skorey tells the Yankton Press & Dakotan that it's "really important to learn just for the sake of learning, because there's so much out there. ... To learn as much as we can, I think that's really beautiful."

I know Ben Kantack personally -- I've had the pleasure of judging him in several debate rounds, including the final round at Northern NFLs this February, where he won the district championship and qualified for the National Debate Tournament. Kantack's performance in that final round exemplified the best in South Dakota debate; cool, controlled, sincere, and smart, the finest intelligent speaking our education system can produce. Kantack will have a busy June, representing South Dakota at the National Debate Tournament in Las Vegas June 15-20, then flying straight to Washington, DC, to join Skorey for the big Presidential Scholars recognition event June 21-24.

Each Presidential Scholar nominates a teacher to accompany them to the big D.C. events. Which teachers did Skorey and Kantack choose to honor as so important and influential in their achievements to deserve a trip to the nation's capital? Skorey chose Kristi L. O'Connell Ekroth, her English teacher. Kantack chose Judy Kroll, his debate coach.

Good job, kids! You will represent South Dakota well. Have fun in D.C.!