Ashley St. Clair, sophomore, was invited to represent the choral music department of the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute by singing the National Anthem at this year's Academic Awards Banquet for the Oklahoma foundation for Excellence. 

    This years ceremony, attended by over a thousand people was held in the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel's Grand Ballroom.  Three outstanding Oklahoma teachers, a superintendent and an alternative education program were recognized along with 100 of the state's top public high school seniors.

    Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and NBC News commentator Doris Kearns Goodwin was keynote speaker, and former Gov. George Nigh served as emcee for the tribute.  The Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute Orchestra provided musical entertainment.

    The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence is a nonprofit, charitable organization founded by then-U.S. Senator David L. Boren to recognize and encourage academic excellence in Oklahoma's Public schools.  Since 1987, the foundation has annually selected 100 outstanding public high school senior as Academic All-Staters.  This prestigious academic prize provides each recipient with a $2000 scholarship and a bronze medallion.