Pictured(Left to Right): Sarah Harrington, Xavier DuMaine, Nicolas Schmidt, and Jennifer Lunceford

ST. LOUIS, MO, April 12, 2011 –The St. Louis Public School District is pleased to recognize four seniors from Metro Academic and Classical High School who have been accepted to prestigious ivy league universities around the nation.

Jennifer Lunceford is expected to graduate Metro with the International Baccalaureate diploma before continuing on to Yale University to major in American Studies. Her volunteer and community services activities include camp counselor for children and young adults with cerebral palsy, volunteer for the early learning center at United Way, and Vice President of Interact, organizing service projects. Her extra-curricular activities at the school include varsity tennis, Captain of the cheerleading squad, and member of FBLA, Mock Trial, Debate, Choir, Dance Company, and Student Council.  Jennifer Lunceford has also been named a National Achievement Finalist and a recipient of the Wellesley Book Award.  She was also accepted to Princeton, Brown, and Swarthmore.

Nicholas Schmidt is expected to graduate Metro with the International Baccalaureate diploma before attending Princeton University to study engineering and visual arts.  He has earned hundreds of hours in community and volunteer service since his freshman year, and is active in many clubs at the school, including varsity track and music, specializing in the flute.  Other accolades for Nicholas Schmidt include being named a National Merit Finalist, a recipient of the Yale Book Award, a scholar for the Missouri Scholars Academy, and a participant in the Princeton Humanities Symposium.

Sarah Harrington has been accepted to Cornell University and Swarthmore College to study engineering.  A National Merit Finalist, Sarah serves as the principle clarinetist in Metro’s Concert and Jazz Bands as well as a member of the St. Louis Metropolitan Honors Band, the prestigious E. Desmond Lee Concert Band and the All-State Band. Other extra-curricular activities include President of the Gay-Straight Alliance, Captain of the Environthon team, Co-Captain of the Varsity Cross Country and Track team, and Co-Captain of the Metro Quiz Bowl.

Xavier duMaine has applied and been accepted to Harvard University, Penn, Columbia University, and Brown, just to name a few.  A National Merit and National Achievement Finalist, duMaine has had the prestigious honor to conduct Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) research at Washington University, fueling his interest to study pre-medical sciences in college.  Xavier duMaine has also earned notoriety for his musical abilities including Tenor Saxophonist for the Missouri All State Band, St. Louis Metro District Band, E. Desmond Lee Honors Concert Band, Metro A&C Jazz Band and Metro A&C Concert Band. Other extra-curricular activities include a member of the Wyman Teen Leadership program and the Gay-Straight Alliance, and Sunday School Teacher.

An education is not given, but earned, and the District is proud of its gains. In 2010, the District’s graduation rate was 60.1%, the highest since 2005. In addition, SLPS seniors who graduated in 2009 & 2010 earned over $75 million in scholarships, awards, and grants, highlighting efforts to pursue higher education opportunities upon graduation. This year, the graduating class of 2011 will be the first SLPS students to qualify for the Missouri A+ Program, which provides with free tuition for two full academic years at any Missouri community college, vocational school or technical school to eligible graduates.   For more information, please contact the Office of Public Information (314) 345-2367.

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