Missoula Schools Excellence

"One of the things we noticed when we were here a few weeks ago, is when you all get behind something, it looks like there’s nothing stopping you people," said Darrell Ayers of the Washington, D.C.-based Kennedy Center.

"It’s been fantastic. We actually started off with 30 positions, and hoped to fill 30 positions for high schools students, and ended up with 150 applicants. We were blown away by that," MCPS Gifted Education Coordinator Shirley Lindburg said.

Only one Missoula County high school met the standards this year, set in the No Child Left Behind Act.

"What I liked the most is that these students said, ‘Let’s take our mistakes, learn from them and try again,’ " Johnson said. "In my mind, that’s hands-on learning – that’s education – and for the students, they have learned it’s fun."

The monthlong program, which was centered at the University of Montana, resulted in six tangible projects.

To help the youngsters fulfill their dream of space travels or creating the know-how to send others, Ebelt leaves in August for a yearlong Einstein Fellowship at the National Science Foundation in Virginia.

I3 Missoula is a nontraditional program scheduled July 8 through Aug. 2 that will separate the students into innovation teams guided by MCPS educators.

The web portal, titled the Applied Learning Portal, will allow local professionals to register to provide work-based learning experiences to students, such as job shadows, internships or to serve as senior project mentors.

Diverse as the students themselves, the projects ranged from building a video game to chainsaw art to volunteering in an Indian orphanage to gluten-free cooking.

The students that will be recognized with Most Inspiring Student Awards were nominated by teachers and staff for their classroom achievements, outstanding character, and their commitment to overcome a variety of challenges in their lives.