AUGUSTA – Kirstin Blood and Kyle Hutchinson, students at T.W. Kelly Dirigo Middle School in Dixfield, were honored as Middle Level Scholar-Leaders at a banquet on May 25 at the Augusta Civic Center.

Criteria for the award include demonstrating academic initiative and scholarship, providing service to classmates and school, exemplifying positive attitudes and demonstrating leadership in the classroom and school activities.

More than 400 students, parents and educators attended the banquet to celebrate the achievements of the middle level student leaders who are representative of the adolescents in all middle level schools in the state.

Eighty eighth-grade students from 40 schools around the state were honored at the seventh annual Middle Level Scholar-Leader Awards Banquet.

The event was organized by the Maine Association for Middle Level Education and the New England League of Middle Schools with a supporting sponsorship from Lifetouch National School Studios.