INDIANAPOLIS – Eighty-two Indiana high school state finalists showcased their talents on Saturday, April 12, 2008, in the state finals of the Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance eXceL Awards competition at the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center on the University of Indianapolis campus.

Secrets was the topic for the 2007-2008 competition. Students entered their creative interpretation of Secrets in one of six categories: writing, music, two-dimensional art, three-dimensional art, video, or performance.

“The eXceL awards give us the opportunity to spotlight all that is good about our next generation. We’re very proud of these high school students, their parents, and the educators who are giving their careers to enrich young lives,” said Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance Senior Vice President of Marketing, Patty Poehler.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance has sponsored and administered the competition since its inception 19 years ago and has awarded more than one-half million dollars to Hoosier students. This year, the company presented six first-place winners with $3,000 each. Second-place contestants received $2,500, and third-place entrants received $2,000. Seth Boyden & Max Roesler, Bishop Dwenger High School, and Marshall Nill, Canterbury High School, Pork Rinds, received $1,000 for earning “Best of Show” honors. International High School received $3,000 for having the largest number of entries advance to the state finals.

“All Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance employees live and work in communities throughout Indiana. Our company’s philosophy is focused on giving back to the cities and towns in which we live. We have chosen to do that by supporting young people; they are the future of our great state,” added Poehler.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, organized in 1934 by Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc., has grown to include insurance products for auto, life, home, business and farm. Banking and other financial services and products also are available through its local offices. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance serves Hoosiers through an extensive network of more than 450 agents and 1,200 employees living and working throughout the state. With a home office in downtown Indianapolis and local offices in all 92 counties, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance is the largest writer of farm insurance and the second largest writer of personal lines insurance in the state.

2007-2008 eXceL Awards State Winners
Sponsored by Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance

Writing
• 1st Place – J.C. Pankratz, Carmel High School - Spring and Summer
• 2nd Place – Madeline Eckrich, Roncalli High School - Seventeen’s the Limit
• 3rd Place – Brittany Lynn Beavin, Signature School - The Awful Rowing

2D Art
• 1st Place – Jennifer Smith, William Henry Harrison High School - Don’t Tell Mommy
• 2nd Place – Alexandra Jarvis, Penn High School - Remain Plugged
• 3rd Place – Aria Blair Reid, Richmond High School - The Rabbit Died

Performance Art
• 1st Place – Katie Thurston, Colin Schreier & Anastasia Windle, Floyd Central High School - Fairy Tale Confessions
• 2nd Place – Gregory Manning, Broad Ripple High School - Within
• 3rd Place – Shelby Wainwright & Ryan Meyer, East Noble High School - SOS

3D Art
• 1st Place – Tabitha Cravens, Evansville North High School - I Will Keep My Lips…
• 2nd Place – Garrett Henry, Lawrence North High School - Stages of Secrets
• 3rd Place – Amber Clayton, New Albany High School - Corrosion

Video
• 1st Place – Seth Boyden & Max Roesler, Bishop Dwenger High School, and Marshall Nill, Canterbury High School - Pork Rinds
• 2nd Place – Drew Varvel, Bethesda Christian School - Me, Myself, and iChat
• 3rd Place – Alex Bohs & Jenna Kazmierczak, William Henry Harrison High School - 145 Tomahawk Lane

Music
• 1st Place – Dan Hornsby, Derrick Wu & Monica Engle, Yorktown High School - Confide
• 2nd Place – Lindsay Smith & Barton Robison, Center Grove High School - Just as Scared
• 3rd Place – Gavin Hisner, Bellmont High School - The Secret Travels

Best of Show
• Seth Boyden & Max Roesler, Bishop Dwenger High School, and Marshall Nill, Canterbury High School - Pork Rinds

School Winner
Most entries in the state finals
International High School