Earlier this year, Minnetonka High School alumni Julia Ruelle '20 and Skyler Seets '20, were named Stamps Scholars by their current schools, the University of Notre Dame and the College of William & Mary, respectively. The Stamps Scholars program is a national organization with more than 40 partner schools across the country. Every year, through the Stamps Scholars program, partner schools award multi-year scholarships to students who "demonstrate academic merit, strong leadership potential, and exceptional character." The organization awarded only 267 this academic year. In addition to a multi-year scholarship, Stamps Scholars receive an enrichment fund, which is an additional award that helps Scholars in their academic and professional development.

Julia Ruelle '20, University of Notre Dame
Julia Ruelle's strong leadership skills, commitment to her academic work and positive character made her a stand out for the Stamps Scholars award. Over the past four years, Julia made her mark at Minnetonka as an exceptional student who lived out the school's core values. In the academic arena, Julia was a National Merit Semifinalist, AP Scholar with Distinction and IB Diploma Candidate, and she earned the Bilingual Platinum Seal.

Julia was a joy for any teacher to have in class because of her spirit of inquiry and true desire to learn. "Julia is one of the most curious and unpretentious students I have been lucky enough to teach," said Jordan Cushing, Julia's English teacher at MHS. "As a freshman and a senior, she questioned information and people with genuine interest. She never seemed to tire of learning or of contributing her unique voice to our learning community. She leads by example, through inclusion, engagement, and never-ending warmth."

The Stamps Scholars program supports "exceptional young people with promise and vision who are eager to make their contribution to the world and have the work ethic to make their dreams a reality." During high school, Julia did just this by making her voice heard and advocating for her beliefs. Julia served on the board of directors for Kids for the Boundary Waters, a group that educates on the environmental threats to the Boundary Waters and seeks to defend the pristine waters in Northern Minnesota. "Serving with Kids for the Boundary Waters has taught me to advocate for the causes I feel strongly about," said Julia. With Kids for the Boundary Waters, Julia has travelled to Washington DC to meet with other members of the organization. This, she said, has "increased [her] confidence and pushed [her] to be steadfast in [her] declarations."

Another aspect of Julia's high school career that had a significant impact on her happened in her sophomore year at MHS. Julia was diagnosed with a brain cancer called Germinoma and due to this, she had to miss class often. But despite the setback, Julia said she learned the power of positivity. "I stubbornly refused to become pessimistic, as such thoughts would have only made the situation worse," said Julia. "Furthermore, I became fully aware of the incredible support built into the community of friends, classmates, teammates, teachers, coaches, and parents that surrounded me. I certainly learned that I am never alone."

Skyler Seets '20, College of William and Mary
A strong leader and excellent student, Skyler Seets was another stand out recipient of the Stamps Scholars Award. Throughout her four years at Minnetonka, Skyler excelled in extracurriculars, service, leadership, and academics. She was a National AP Scholar, a National Merit Finalist, and an IB Bilingual Diploma Candidate in Spanish Immersion. She also received the Platinum Bilingual Seal and the Harvard Book Prize.

"Because of the advanced classes I teach, I usually have many great students, but Skyler was different," said Juan Pablo Salcedo, Skyler's social studies teacher at MHS. "I was genuinely impressed by how remarkable her performance was. It's important to mention how humble, polite, and kind-hearted Skyler is. She is always willing to help others and she was always thankful for her teachers and peers. She is definitely a student to remember, and I can't wait to see what she is going to achieve in the future."

Throughout her time in high school, Skyler participated in and led several service-oriented clubs at Minnetonka, including the Tonka Serves Steering Committee, Hope House Club, Earth Club, and Minnetonka Climate Initiative. "So many of the lessons I've taken away from my high school experience have come from my participation in service organizations within and out of the school," she said. Because of the tremendous volunteer work that Skyler did throughout high school, she was awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award and the Varsity Letter in Community Service. In her senior year, Skyler was named as Enrichment Scholar of the Year, an award given to two MHS students who have done a tremendous amount of work in several enrichment activities and are also top students taking on a rigorous academic load.

Additionally, Skyler gained a fuller understanding of community through service. "I've always loved when people can come together for a shared goal, each contributing their own little part to the whole, and seeing people work together to help the broader community is something that I think is incredibly powerful." Throughout high school, Skyler was driven to build a strong community among her peers. She says the way in which she was able to do that was being aware of her surroundings and finding small ways to make someone's day. "If I notice that someone was telling a story or sharing an idea but everyone in the group has diverted their attention away—not out of malice, but typically being pulled into some side conversation—I will make a pointed effort to maintain eye contact and encourage them to keep going. These are really small things that just come from being aware of the people around you but they make a big difference."

Reflecting on the Award
When asked how she felt receiving the award, Julia said, "I am so grateful for the Stamps Scholarship, because it has made my dreams of going to Notre Dame possible. Furthermore, the support and encouragement of the Stamps Scholar community and the community of Scholars at Notre Dame will provide me with the resources to explore and dive deeply into my interests, while fomenting a rich liberal arts experience."

"Because of the generosity of the foundation and the financial aspect, I am able to study at an incredible school and engage with top class professors and research," said Skyler. "Academically, the scholarship provides opportunities to learn about fascinating topics and skills and bring my education out of the classroom. I am incredibly grateful to receive this honor and for the opportunities it is providing me."

Congratulations, Julia and Skyler!

For more information about the Stamps Scholars program, visit: https://www.stampsscholars.org/