Senior Spotlight: Harding's Dexter Paasch
![Three people stand in front of a wall covered with college-related posters, with the central person holding up a St. Thomas sweatshirt.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1779478099/sppsorg/xg7sapejecpkzpi8sd03/DexterHardingStThomascropped.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1779478099/sppsorg/xg7sapejecpkzpi8sd03/DexterHardingStThomascropped.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1779478099/sppsorg/xg7sapejecpkzpi8sd03/DexterHardingStThomascropped.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1779478099/sppsorg/xg7sapejecpkzpi8sd03/DexterHardingStThomascropped.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1779478099/sppsorg/xg7sapejecpkzpi8sd03/DexterHardingStThomascropped.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1779478099/sppsorg/xg7sapejecpkzpi8sd03/DexterHardingStThomascropped.jpg","width":2200}])
Dexter Paasch is a 2025 Optimist Scholar and has been profiled by the Star Tribune, Pioneer Press and Hocak Worak for his advocacy at the Minnesota State Capitol, where he helped advance legislation requiring opioid and fentanyl awareness education in Minnesota high schools when he was still a junior. This spring, he was awarded a full scholarship to the University of St. Thomas, where he will be one of 10 Dease Scholars in his freshman year. He will graduate in June having earned a Distinction in American Indian Studies Award.
"I feel fortunate to have the privilege to work with Dexter Paasch over the past two years. He has been an incredible student and person," said his counselor at Harding, Dan Kennedy. "Dexter achieved this for himself and completed a scored interview to attain this incredible feat! Congrats to Dexter!"
