WEST DES MOINES, IOWA – April 20, 2015 – 436 high school seniors from across Iowa will be honored Sunday, April 26, 2015, at the 13th Annual Governor’s Scholar Recognition Ceremony, held at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines starting at 1:00 p.m.

The Governor’s Office, the Iowa High School Athletic Association, and its title sponsor, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, are presenting this recognition program.

The Honorable Governor Terry Branstad will host the event and address the audience of 2,500-plus. Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Hill; Dr. Craig Scott, Chairperson of the Board of Control of the Iowa High School Athletic Association; and Clemencia Spizzirri, 2015 Iowa Teacher of the Year, will also deliver messages to the students and their guests. Spizzirri’s message will be a video as her Iowa Teacher of the Year duties require her to travel to Washington D.C. at the time of the ceremony.

The seniors being honored were selected by their high schools as their highest academic achievers. Each student will receive a photo plaque of themselves with Governor Branstad and a certificate to commemorate their achievement. Each student’s most influential teacher will also receive a certificate of appreciation. A reception for the students, their parents, their most influential teachers, and other guests will follow the ceremony.

In addition to being recognized as the state’s brightest students, over 98 percent of the group participates in school activities, with approximately 76 percent participating in at least one interscholastic sport. Nearly 60 percent plan to pursue their post-secondary education in Iowa.

Following the April 26 ceremony, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation will be sending the honoree’s hometown newspaper a short news release and a photo of Governor Branstad congratulating the student.

A list of this year’s honorees (ordered alphabetically by high school) is available HERE.