Alumni added to Hall of Fame at induction ceremony

Recently, new plaques have been added to the wall of famous faces outside of the old gym.
At the induction ceremony, 10 new members were added to the St. Louis Park Athletic Hall of Fame at the Minneapolis Marriott Sept. 12.
Two Park athletic squads also received a Team of Distinction Recognition. The honorees were Park’s 1986 Class AA state girls’ basketball team and 1958 state boys’ track championship team.
According to athletic director Andy Ewald, a select group of Park alumni decides who will be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Ewald is  currently a member of the committee.
“The Athletic Hall of Fame Committee decides who becomes inducted,” Ewald said. “We look for a good representation of gender, age, sport and achievement.”
The committee adds new members to the Hall of Fame every two years. They began this tradition in 2005, making it the fifth group of inductees.
Ewald said the induction is an important recognition.
“It’s a pretty nice event, and a huge honor for the inductees,” he said.
Junior Duncan McIntyre said the inductees are very respectable, and that they are role models to him.
“They had a lasting impact on the St. Louis Park community, and that’s something I hope to achieve,” he said.

Students honored as National Merit semifinalists

Though colleges only factor in ACT and SAT scores in their applications, eight seniors can now supplement these scores with results from a different test.
These students have surpassed the National Merit Scholars Corporation’s score benchmark on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test, or PSAT, placing them in the 97th percentile of the entrants.
Still, the recognition comes with more than a certificate of achievement. These students could potentially win National Merit scholarships, worth up to $2,500, along with consideration for other corporate scholarships. Out of the 1.5 million entrants, only 16,000 earned the title of Semifinalist, which allows them to apply for scholarship consideration.
The honorees include seniors Noah Betz-Richman, Brenna Cook, Dana Councilman, Declan and Simon Fruchtman, Carter Green, Janet Holmes and Emma Weisner.
Senior Simon Fruchtman said he had confidence going into the exam, but still enjoyed the recognition that came with reaching the benchmark score.
“While I was born into this position, I still enjoy the honor bequeathed upon me,” Fruchtman said.
According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s website, the purpose the scholarships is to spotlight the smartest students as well as encourage other students to share in these students’ intelligence and passion for learning.