MECHANIC FALLS – Dustin Dionne and Natasha Piirainen, students at Elm Street School, were recently honored as middle level scholar leaders at a banquet on May 25 at the Augusta Civic Center.

The criteria for the award includes 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, educators and parents attended the banquet to celebrate the achievements of the middle level students who are representative of the many young adolescents in middle level schools in the state. Eighty eighth-grade students from 40 schools were honored at the seventh annual banquet.

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