Transcript Staff

One hundred of the state’s top public high school seniors will be honored when the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence hosts its 22nd annual Academic Awards Banquet 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel and Convention Center, 6806 S. 107th E. Ave. in Tulsa.

Austin Taylor, Joshua Wegemer, Hanzi Zhang and Gaurav Ghosh of Norman; Christopher Dorst and Michael Quinton of Moore, and Erin McLean of Newcastle are among the academic all-staters to be honored.

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and NBC News commentator Doris Kearns Goodwin will be keynote speaker and former Gov. George Nigh will serve as emcee for the statewide tribute to “the best of the best” in Oklahoma’s public schools.

The event also will feature music by the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute Orchestra.

To be nominated, students must have an American College Test (ACT) composite score of at least 30, a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) combined critical reading and math score of at least 1350 or be selected as a semi-finalist for a National Merit, National Achievement or National Hispanic Scholarship. Once nominated, students are selected on the basis of academic achievement, extracurricular activities and community involvement, as well as an essay submitted by each nominee. All 2008 Academic All-Staters are listed online at www.ofe.org.

Dorst of Moore High School was a National Merit semifinalist and Advanced Placement Scholar with Honor. Dorst has earned numerous academic prizes, including computer science awards from Seagate, Conoco-Phillips and Intel.

He is a percussionist in band and jazz band, a math tutor, a percussion instructor and a member of the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps.

He also manages his own business, Dorst Designs, offering Web site design and audio/visual services. Dorst plans to study economics and political science at the University of Oklahoma.

Quinton of Moore High School is class valedictorian and captain of the academic team. Quinton served as an Oklahoma Boys State delegate and helped establish his school’s Chemistry Club. He plans to attend OU.

McLean of Newcastle High School has been a four-year letterman and 2007 All-State fast-pitch softball player. She is valedictorian and vice president of her senior class. McLean plans to pursue her college degree in English.

Taylor of Del City High School is an Advanced Placement Scholar and recipient of the University of Oklahoma Regents Scholar Award. He volunteers with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and Jordan’s Crossing, a drug rehabilitation center. He plans to study French and psychology at OU.

Wegemer of Norman High School is an Advanced Placement Scholar and National Merit finalist. Wegemer is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars. He plans to attend OU.

Zhang of Norman High School is an Advanced Placement Scholar. She received the Joseph B. Thoburn Student Historian Award from the Oklahoma Historical Society for outstanding achievement in the study of Oklahoma history. She also was selected to participate in the Telluride Association Summer Program. Zhang plans to attend Harvard University.

Ghosh of Norman North High School is a National Merit finalist and Advanced Placement Scholar. He is president of National Honor Society and president and founder of the Chemistry Club. He served as a congressional page and participated in Medical Explorer Post 901. Ghosh plans to pursue a degree in pre-medicine.

The Academic Awards Banquet will premiere statewide on public television 8 p.m. May 24 on OETA, with subsequent airings on OETA’s OKLA digital channel. For digital broadcast listings, visit www.oeta.onenet.net.

For more information on the banquet, visit the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence Web site at www.ofe.org or call 236-0006.