AUGUSTA — Rachel Kuklinski and Caleb Nottingham, students at Bruce M. Whittier Middle School in Poland, were honored as Middle Level Scholar Leaders at a banquet on May 15 at the Augusta Civic Center.

The students were presented with an award whose criteria included demonstrating academic initiative and scholarship, providing service to classmates and school, exemplifying positive attitudes and demonstrating leadership in the classroom and school activities.

Over 300 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 all middle level schools in Maine.

Sixty-three students from 32 schools were honored at the 15th annual Middle Level Scholar Leader Awards banquet. The event was organized by the Maine Association for Middle Level Education and the New England League of Middle Schools.