Larson earns (academic) gold

The 2019 North Dakota Academic All-State Teams have been selected, and NR-S Senior Sandra Larson is among the recipients. High School seniors are nominated by their school principal and compete for the honor on a statewide basis in both Class A and Class B divisions. Student selection is based on overall grade-point averages, ACT or SAT test scores, extracurricular activities, community involvement and leadership qualities.

WDAY and Forum Communications presented a medallion to each gold, silver and bronze team member during a televised "Parade of Academic Champions" at the Class B Boys Basketball Tournament in Minot on Friday, March 15. Sandra Larson of Sheyenne was nominated by Principal Avolt Baumbach and then named to the "Gold" team, the highest honor.

Larson's academic stats are impressive. She earned a 34 on the ACT the second time around. With the highest possible score of 36, she was in the top 1 percent of all test takers! Not an easy feat, but Larson was willing to share some advice, "I found that the ACT is structured to test the ability to learn and willingness to study, which I believe are better measurements of college readiness than simply retaining random facts and information. I encourage high school juniors to buy an ACT prep book, which teaches testing strategy, and work all the way through it in the months leading up to the test. This tactic was successful for me, and I want students to know that it is not impossible for them to earn a high score. With a little bit of dedication, you could earn scholarships that will change the course of your life."

Larson also has a perfect 4.0 GPA. In fact, she has a 4.11 GPA based on the scale NR-S uses to weigh advanced classes more heavily. She began taking dual credit classes, those that simultaneously earn high school and college credits, when she was a sophomore. That summer she took an art class, Drawing Nature, which was worth four college credits. During her junior year, she took both college algebra and trigonometry. This fall she finished a speech class and is now enrolled in calculus and AP environmental science.

The biggest decision before her right now is that of the college she will attend. She has already been accepted into North Dakota State University (NDSU) and offered a generous scholarship package. She is waiting, however, for a response from University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Her major of study will be slightly different depending upon which college she chooses. She would pursue biochemistry with a focus in genetics at NDSU and also take engineering classes. U of M, on the other hand, has a biomedical engineering program.

When asked about her career path, Larson was content not to settle into any particular role. Among areas of interest to her are conducting stem cell research for curing genetic diseases and developing medical devices. Biology, anatomy, renewable energy and environmental sciences are also among the fields she desires to learn more. With undergraduate research opportunities available at NDSU, Larson said that she aims to see where her college experience takes her.

She also has aspirations of traveling and studying abroad. Europe is at the top of her bucket list, especially Italy. Germany is on the list because she speaks German fluently after two years of study, and the Nordic countries of Norway and Sweden are of interest due to her ancestry.

Larson was one of just 11 seniors across the state to be named to the Gold 2019 Class B Academic All-State Team. Others were Alexa Zinke of Maple Valley, Adam Neustel of North Sargent, Jase Lehfeldt of Grafton, Austin Widmer of Fargo Oak Grove, Thomas Rausch of Central Cass, Breanna Olson of Ellendale, Bryce Mutschelknaus of Grant County, Michael Hall of Kindred, Lana Krack of Thompson and Braxton Rolle of Hebron.

Adam Gorseth of Carrington was named to the Silver Team. Two of Gorseth's classmates, Savanna Friedt and Sylvie Pate of Carrington, were Bronze Team members. Honorable Mention Team selections from our area include Erika McPherson of Dakota Prairie and McKayla Jones of Fessenden-Bowdon.

The program is co-sponsored by the North Dakota Association of Secondary School Principals and WDAY-TV in Fargo, WDAZ-TV in Grand Forks, KBMY-TV in Bismarck, KMCY-TV in Minot and Forum Communications Companies.