“Each Department Scholar nominee will be honored at Senior Awards Night. Each nominee will receive a recognition award and the individual Department Scholar winner will be announced. The top student from each department will receive the Department Scholar Medallion to worn at graduation”
What does this mean to you? Do you think “the top student” means the one with the highest GPA? Daughter got this nomination and we were just having fun trying to see if she will get the final award. She doesn’t have the highest GPA but probably one of the top 3, her current GPA up to last semester for the past 4 years is 4.69. I think a couple female athletes have higher GPA by decimals, but my daughter gets more recognition in her sports for getting a couple in school and county awards, also her sports is all year round due to club, while others have only one season in HS. Also daughter is the only one who will continue playing varsity level in college.
I know each school sees this kind of award differently but just something fun to see how other people interpret it.
I think that the school may be hedging its bets and that top student means top GPA with the caveat that the student is not a behavioral problem, or some other issue. Regardless, in the grand scheme of things, it’s not something I’d spend a lot of time parsing.
It sounds like this award is similar to one that I received decades ago. “Most Outstanding Senior,” aka “Scholar-Athlete Award.” My GPA was 5th in my class of 577, I was a league champion in track.
Since the award came late in the year, it meant nothing for college admission. But I got a big trophy, and it made my parents proud when they attended the awards ceremony. I don’t recall whether it was mentioned at graduation.
If I were you, I’d take pride in the award that your daughter is probably receiving. I wouldn’t be parsing the GPA to the second decimal point. Nor would I be second guessing the meaning of the award. It’s testimony to your daughter’s all-around talent and achievement. Congratulations!
Each school is different (and for all I know it may be different from year to year). I was top male scholar-athlete because I had the highest GPA on a varsity team. I was sure my friend who was a three sport athlete and in top 15 would get it.
Not only are schools different, but In our HS different departments given out awards based on different criteria. it doesn’t always mean having the highest GPA in the subject although a high GPA and high course rigor is certainly a part of the equation. I varies based on department. For example Latin always gives it to the highest GPA but in science the student also needs to distinguish his/herself with a high level of scholarship/research (ex. science research project, science olympiad etc.).
In any event. enjoy her nomination and make sure she knows she is a winner whatever happens.
