Recent Minnetonka High School graduate Lauren Bartelt was honored this month by Minnesota Education Commissioner Alice Seagren for her achievement in theater arts. Bartelt was among 27 high school students to receive Minnesota Scholars of Distinction awards. The award honors students who perform at a highly rigorous level in their specialty area – theater arts, mathematics, science, applied geography or leadership.

To be considered for this award, Bartelt completed a vast amount of research, writing and performing, which she began in fall 2007 and completed this spring. She was required to write extensive reviews of a theatrical performance and a written play or musical, research and write character analyses, perform a song and two monologues and develop a portfolio of her acting experience.

“This is a multi-faceted, demanding awards program,” said Minnetonka Theater director R. Kent Knutson. “Like theater, which crosses over many disciplines, this awards program requires a lot of research, reflection and personal inquiry.”

An active member in Minnetonka theater since she open-enrolled her sophomore year, Bartelt has been in every production the school has produced in the last three years, contributing significantly to the awards the school’s theater department has received in recent years.

“I came here for the theater program, which I knew was phenomenal,” said Bartelt. “The 30 minute commute each day was definitely worth it. It’s been the best experience.”
Bartelt has been taking acting classes and participating in community theater since she was very young. She says theater will always play a major role in her life.

“It’s taught me many useful skills and given me a lot of great experience,” says Bartelt. “I’ve had a lot of practice presenting in front of people and I think I’ve learned something about myself from just about every character I’ve ever played.”

“These students don’t just pretend to be someone,” says Knutson. “It takes dedication, research and a lot of inner strength to portray different characters. Lauren is not only an extremely talented actress; she’s an excellent student as well.”

In addition to her commitment to the Minnetonka theater program, Bartelt was this year’s National Honor Society Vice President, completed a class load that included five Advanced Placement courses and sang in both the Concert Choir and the Chamber Singers Group.

The Scholars of Distinction Award provides recipients a $500 college scholarship. Bartelt plans to attend St. Olaf College in Northfield in the fall, though she hasn’t yet determined a major course of study.
“I don’t know what my major is going to be yet – I have a lot of interests. But I will definitely be involved in the theater there,” she says.

On June 14, Bartelt and the other 26 Scholars of Distinction were honored at an awards ceremony presented by the Minnesota Department of Education and Commissioner of Education Alice Seagren at Hamline University. Bartelt was invited to present a solo at the event.

The Scholars of Distinction program was developed by the Minnesota Department f Education through a partnership with professionals and educators with expertise in each specialty area. The Perpich Center for Arts Education, a collaborative partner with the Department of Education, administered the Scholars of Distinction in Theater Arts program.