"Hunger Games" Honor Top Students - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

"Hunger Games" Honor Top Students

'May the GRADES be ever in your favor."

Pep rallies are often associated with sporting events, but the Renaissance Team at Minot High School is refocusing "pep" with the broader spectrum of 'success.'

The first academic pep rally at Minot High borrowed the pop culture theme from the book series and film, "The Hunger Games."

'Districts 11 and 12' were dressed as miners and farmers --- and faculty were dressed as Capitol citizens including the Game Maker and President Snow.

Rather than a 'battle to the death,' the Tributes battled for honor.

Students maintaining a 4.0, or those who have significantly improved their GPA from the previous semester and all those involved in clubs and community outreach were invited.

Coordinator Tiffany Dostert says academics and athletics should be celebrated equally.

(Tiffany Dostert, Co-Coordinator Jostens Renaissance Team) "I'm a student who doesn't really get recognized because I don't like sports, and a lot of us are. I realized that there are so many students at our school that just don't get that same recognition they don't stand up there with a trophy and their team. Students that volunteer and they're involved with other students, they don't necessarily get recognized."

The event was optional but the "Tributes" were rewarded with drawings for parking spaces, gym passes and a $100 gas card.