South school briefs: Glacier Hills has new principal

The next principal of Glacier Hills Elementary School of Arts and Sciences in Eagan will be Scott Thomas, the district's current integration director. He will start July 1.

Thomas will replace Jeff Holten, who is retiring after 36 years with the district.

Thomas began working in the district in 2001 as a social studies teacher at Apple Valley High School.In 2005, he was hired to be the district's first integration and equity coordinator. In that role, Thomas brought the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program to secondary schools and the Young Scholars program to elementary schools. He also helped develop the district's three magnet schools.

In 2012, Thomas left to be executive director of Magnet Schools of America, a national nonprofit.

He earned his bachelor's degree at Minnesota State University, Mankato, his master's degree in education at St. Mary's University of Minnesota and received his administrative license from Hamline University.

Two students in the Prior Lake-Savage district placed in the 2014 National Kids Philosophy Slam, which this year challenged students from around the country to answer the question: "Truth or Beauty: Which has a greater impact on society?"

The winners were ­Justina Wojahn from SAGE Acad­emy, who came in second place for the Most Philosophical 5th Grader in America, and Sophia Nimsger from Twin Oaks Middle School, who came in third for the Most Philosophical 6th Grader.More than 4,000 entries were submitted nationally.

Six fifth-graders from Sky Oaks Elementary in Burnsville were named as winners in the Clean Air and Biodiesel Poster Contest, administered by the American Lung Association in Minnesota.

In Sheila Czech's class, first place went to Tina You and second place went to Hanna Muñoz-Halvorson.

In Michele Griffin's class, Lupita Pena Chavez took first place and Sage Magras took second place.

Finally, in Jennifer Wall's class, Joshua Acevedo Avila was the first-place winner and Melissa Datres took second place.

In addition, three Sky Oaks students were named as overall contest winners. Tina You took first, Joshua Acevedo Avila placed second, and Hanna Muñoz-Halvorson placed third. Sky Oaks students also won all of the top spots last year.

Shakopee Dollars for Scholars, a nonprofit, awarded 101 Shakopee students $68,050 at its annual awards breakfast banquet last month.

It's a record dollar amount for the organization.

All of the scholarship funds come from donations from various sources, including businesses, individuals, memorials, organizations, repayments by previous recipients and fundraisers.

The scholarships — ranging from $400 to $1,000 — are given to students based on factors such as their school and community activities, grades, goals, work experience and financial need.

Since 1979, Shakopee Dollars for Scholars has given scholarships to students pursuing postsecondary education of any type: four-year college or university, two-year technical or community college, or other training. In 36 years, 2,650 Shakopee students have received over $1,168,000.