Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf

The Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf (MSAD) is a public residential school serving deaf children in Minnesota. It is one of two Minnesota State Academies located in Faribault and operated by the state for particular student populations.

History
When the school for the Deaf was established in 1863, it was named Minnesota School for the Deaf (MSD). In 1986, the name changed to Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf.

Philosophy and academics
MSAD is a bilingual school where the students are taught through American Sign Language and use English in writing and reading. It offers several programs ranging from infants to high school specialized for the deaf children. Preschool and elementary students are located in Quinn Hall. The middle school students are located in Noyes Hall. The high School students are located in Smith Hall.

The school is fully accredited by the North Central Association and Conference of Educators and Administrators Serving the Deaf (CEASD).

Residency
MSAD is a residential school. It has two dormitories where students reside throughout the week. Students typically arrive on Sunday evenings and depart on Friday afternoons. Transportation is provided by the students' respective school districts. Parents can choose to pick up and drop off their child at the campus. Dormitories are for students who live more than 20 miles from the campus. Students who live within 20 miles from the campus are called 'day students'. Frechette Hall is where the boys reside and Tate Hall is where the girls reside. MSAD residential programs offers extracurricular activities, peer interaction, student growth and development, achievement, and more.

Athletics
MSAD offers several athletics starting from 4th grade to 12th grade.
 * Male Sports
 * Football
 * National 11 man deaf football Champ in 1950 and 1977.
 * Centennial Conference Champ in 1977.
 * National 8 man deaf football Champ in 1992, 1997, 1998 and 2003.
 * GPSD Champ in 1989, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2003 and 2006.
 * Cheerleading
 * Basketball
 * GPSD Champ in 1999, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
 * Clerc Classic Tourney - 3 wins and 3 losses
 * Track and Field
 * Female Sports
 * Volleyball
 * Centennial Conference Champ in 1984.
 * Midwest/GPSD Champ in 1984, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
 * Basketball
 * National deaf basketball Champ in 1981, 1982, 1995, 1996 and 2005.
 * District 13 Champ in 1981-1982.
 * Centennial Conference Champ in 1981-1982 and 1982-1983.
 * Central States School for the Deaf (CSSD) Tourney - 26 wins and 5 losses - 7 time champs in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 2004 and 2005.
 * Great Plains School for the Deaf (GPSD) Tourney - 43 wins and 10 losses - 9 time champs in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
 * Clerc Classic Tourney - 5 wins and 1 losses - 1 time champ.
 * Cheerleading
 * GPSD Champ in 1999.
 * Track and Field
 * GPSD Champ in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007.

MSAD original mascot was the Gophers. MSAD changed its mascot to Hilltoppers and in 1972, the students voted to change from Hilltoppers to Trojans because the students felt that Hilltoppers doesn't have a definite logo for its name.

MSAD belongs in the Great Plains School for the Deaf (GPSD) conference for football, volleyball, basketball, track and field, and the brain bowl competition. Great Plains School for the Deaf was started in the fall of 1989 and contains Iowa School for the Deaf, Kansas School for the Deaf and Missouri School for the Deaf.