Neligh-Oakdale Sisters Named 'Gallery Of Stars' Students

Neligh-Oakdale sisters Gabriela and Leslie Linares were honored Monday as "Gallery of Stars" students by the Nebraska Department of Education.

Gabriela, a senior, and Leslie, a junior, are the daughters of Oscar Linares and Maria Parra. They were recognized at Monday's Nebraska Hispanic/Latino Summit in Lincoln. 

"We are very proud of these young ladies and their accomplishments at Neligh-Oakdale," said Superintendent Kimberly Lingenfelter. "They progressed very well in the English Language Learner program and have been dismissed from it based upon their test scores. They've continued to excel in the classroom and are honor roll students."

The Nebraska Department of Education congratulated the students at the summit and thanked the teachers and administrators for believing in the student leaders and taking the time to nominate them.

The Gallery of Stars students were nominated by educators for exemplary leadership demonstrated in the classroom, the community and with their peers. 

According to their biographies, the sisters rose to the challenge of singing a Spanish duet for the district music contest and at the spring concert. Their voices blend so well together, the pair was asked to sing at the Educational Service Unit #8 luncheon in Norfolk at the 2013 Technology Institution at Northeast Community College in front of 300 educators. 

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