Seniors Olivia Neumann and Jeffery Lu are being recognized for academic excellence in the Missouri 100 Scholars program.

The program is sponsored by the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP).

According to MASSP’s website, “The mission of MASSP is to improve secondary education through positive leadership and the enhancement of student performance.”

Those who were nominated first had to assess their academic strength by meeting the criteria of an Academic Decathlon, consisting of 10 academically-based events.

The selection for this program was based on students’ grade point averages (GPA) and their ACT or SAT scores.

Applicants were required to have a GPA of at least 3.750 and a minimum score of 29 on the ACT or a minimum score of 1,900 on the SAT.

Students also had to be in the upper 10 percent of the class and had to have taken upper level math, science, English and foreign language courses.

This was not merely an application process. Students had to give evidence of extracurricular activities that proved them to be a true leader as well as a scholar.

Other criteria included exemplary school citizenship, great attendance and involvement in school activities.

Jenny Swank, MASSP Conference Secretary, informs there will be a luncheon for the honorees on April 27.

“The honored student, his or her parents, and the school principal will be invited to attend as guests of MASSP.” Swank said, “And all 100 students will receive an award, a certificate, and other items.”

Swank also said the forms for next year’s applicants will be sent out sometime in January, but there are requirements students must complete.

“[Students] cannot even apply until they have completed seven semesters and grades have been calculated,” Swank said.

Students cannot nominate themselves; they have to be screened by the principal and guidance counselors and are then nominated based on the Academic Decathlon guidelines.

Each school is allowed to nominate two students, and Lu and Neumann both qualified as a Missouri 100 Scholar.

“It’s definitely an honor to be considered one of the top students in Missouri. All the hard work has paid off,” Neumann said.

Though Lu and Neumann are unsure of where they will be attending college, both have a clear idea of what careers they would like to pursue.

“I’m planning on going into pediatrics and being a doctor,” Neumann said.

Lu also plans on entering the medical field.

“I want to pursue medicine, and I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do yet, but probably surgery,” Lu said.

This program is designed to honor students’ achievements, and Lu and Neumann’s academic achievements were clearly up to par, earning them the recognition of being one of Missouri’s top scholars.

“We put in a lot of work, and it’s nice to know we got something out of it,” Lu said.