University of Iowa gives statewide award to a Decorah High School student

(Left to right): University of Iowa Teacher--Librarian Program Coordinator Christine Kolarik, Decorah High School Principal Kim Sheppard, University of Iowa SLIS representative David Eichmann, Emma Fretheim, DHS English teacher Kathryn Thompson and DCSD Teacher--Librarian Shannon Horton

A student at Decorah HS, Emma Fretheim, has won a contest sponsored by the University of Iowa.

Emma created a five-minute video and entered it in a Shakespeare video competition.  The video, called "Learning to Love," is inspired by Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night."  The point-of-view video deals with some heavy subjects, such as mental health and sexuality.

She says in the video, "It's extremely fascinating to me that Shakespeare was able to put together a play which is still able to make an impact on every single person today."  Emma tells decorahnews.com, "Everything he's done, there's a deeper meaning--He has a lot to say."

Because Emma's video was selected, the Decorah HIgh Schoool Library will win a $1,000 prize.