Ten students from eight area high schools are more than successful in the classroom, involved in their communities, articulate and effective with the written word, and capable of leaving strong impressions among established academic leaders.

Actually, the Journal-World’s 2011 Academic All-Stars are all that and more.

“They fill a broad picture, one that’s more than just academics,” said Robert Harrington, a professor of psychology and research in education at Kansas University, who served as a judge for the competition.

The newspaper’s 2011 All-Stars are Carson Barnes, Baldwin High School; Shereen Fattaahi, Veritas Christian School; Angela Hawkins, Santa Fe Trail High School; Madison Hunter, Tonganoxie High School; Corrinne Hoffhines, McLouth High School; David Lawrence, Bishop Seabury Academy; Rosemarie Murray, Free State High School; Anna Stone, Ottawa High School; Marshall Thurman, Bishop Seabury Academy; and Ann Wallsmith, Baldwin High School.

Lawrence High School did not participate in this year’s competition.

Judges were Harrington; Austin Turney, a former president and member of the Lawrence school board; and Rand Ziegler, vice president and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Baker University.

Selection criteria included academic achievements; extracurricular activities, including community involvement; a written essay, judged on grammar, clarity, development and passion; and overall judges’ impressions.

All-Stars and their guests were honored during a luncheon Wednesday at Pachamama’s, 800 N.H. Guest speaker was Val Stella, University Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at KU.

Stella urged the All-Stars to chart their educational futures based upon the people they would be surrounding themselves with, not necessarily upon the name of a college or university. Stella, a native Australian, explained how he came to KU to study under Tak Higuchi, a professor he regards as an “immortal.”

The students each received a gift during Wednesday’s luncheon. The Journal-World has honored a class of outstanding students annually since 1997.