HI all - my child received a Scholar Athlete award for having the highest GPA on their team for the season. It was given to one individual Another friend whose child goes to another high school in our area said that their child received a Scholar Athlete award but it was for having above a 3.5 GPA while participating on the team and anyone on that team received that award for 3.5 and above. She said it was a national award. Is this a national award? And is the name scholar athlete or does each school have its own definition? thank you
My son’s received this award. It is usually a local HS award for the either the school district or the HS athletic league. Not a National award. It is still a noteworthy award to put on a college application.
@Gumbymom but each of the schools I am talking about calls it the same thing, but it is for different things? So is it best to put whatever my child school calls it and describe it. As you can see from above, my child’s award is “better” than the other schools award that is just 3.5 and above, but they are BOTH called the same thing??? that is the issue
It’s a local award – the competition was her team. Whatever it’s called, however loose other schools award this – they’re both equally unimportant to be blunt. Your kid’s real achievement is her superior GPA and transcript. The fact that she was on the honor roll probably every semester is rather “meh” to you and her, right? It’s “meh” to colleges, too.
Her being the highest GPA on her team is equally “meh”. It’s not a big deal at all The real big deal is her transcript.
Our league has the 3.5 scholar athlete award then the team has a scholar athlete award for the highest GPA on the team. Both have same name.
@VickiSoCal thank you. I believe it is just what the school calls it - she can explain what each is. One being 3.5 and above and one being athlete with the highest GPA on the team. And @T26E4 I don’t think anything that highlights her academic sucess is “meh”. Not everyone gets Athlete scholar or the one for the highest GPA on the team. There are plenty of students who can’t maintain a 3.5. I get that her transcript and superior GPA is ultimately what will show her academic achievement. This award is not subjective, as are many of the awards kids get.
I agree – but what I’m saying is you’re overestimating how much colleges care about that one item on the ‘Awards’ section o fthe application. See my example of your kid being on honor roll. If your kid is truly at or near the top, the importance of being on honor roll is near nothing.
If your kid is applying to very selective colleges, they won’t care that your kid was the top GPA of the team or whatever – that was *expected.
Our scholar athlete is a league award (six high schools) given only to seniors who meet these criteria: 4 years in the same sport, letter winner, 3.5+ for all 8 terms.
It has very little value to colleges, except for those in our area who know what this award actually is.
@dentmom4 thank you. Everyone has answered my question re: the name means different things to different high schools - depending on who gave it out. Thank you!
This would be more along the lines of something state award of note vs HS scholar :
I wouldn’t dismiss the importance of school awards. It is very difficult to be a stand out athlete AND a stand out student. Make sure you say that it is given for highest GPA on team in the description.
@Proudpatriot Thank you. Does “highest GPA by Varsity individual” make it clear if she states it right after the award? I want to make sure colleges know it was only given to her. Thank you. I appreciate that you see the importance of recognition. This is not the only award she has received, but important nonetheless.
I would say something like Award for highest GPA on team. Abbreviate if necessary.
I don’t think any academic award is meh. Not everyone gets academic awards and the awards tell the colleges something about the person who won it.