<p>My son has only gotten one award K-12 even though he’s NMS and one of the best students in the school, also respectful, good behavior, lots of ECs, etc. Honestly, though, he hasn’t had to work terribly hard and he hasn’t had to work at a paying job, so maybe the kids who have to work harder do deserve extra recognition. It kind of hurts though.</p>
<p>Back when my D was in HS, she was notified during the summer before senior year that she had attained at least Commended STatus in the NM contest. Shortly before the deadline for turning in Finalist apps material, she was notified by HS that, oops, she was a semi-finalist, could she fill out the finalist application in one day? Well, of course she did. A week later, at the National Honor Society induction, the principal made a big announcement that he’d just been notified who were Commended in the group, and read the names. D’s name was not listed. We waited for the naming of the one Semi-Finalist, but it didn’t happen. To the crowd, basically the top kids’ parents, it appeared as if D hadn’t even made Commended. AFterwards, I approached the principal to ask why she’d been left out. His answer was, “IF” it turned out there was a mistake, he’d fix it. He didn’t seem to quite get what it meant to be SF as opposed to Commended. Anyway, it was too late for fixing it; the announcement had already been made, in the only venue where anyone cared. AFterwards, they made a big deal of announcing it at a pep rally, which just embarrassed D, as, let’s face it, the crowd was there for football, not academic ‘nerds’.</p>
<p>The principal at my kids’ high school was very football-oriented, and not too keyed into academics. At an Academic Awards breakfast for seniors, he announced the list of students who had been recognized as National Merit Semifinalists for “their outstanding performance on Advanced Placement tests” and their certificates were printed with this same information! </p>
<p>Unbelievable!</p>
<p>I didn’t have the issue many of the kids described here have – I got plenty of awards, more than my share. But at my high school graduation, some other boy got the prize for top Spanish student. I had taken the most advanced Spanish class the school offered in 9th grade (and been in the top 3-4 kids in the class), spent 10th grade in Spain, gotten a 5 on the AP in 10th grade, learned Catalan, and taken a 400-level university course in Spanish Renaissance Poetry in 11th grade (with the top grade in the class). I was years beyond the kid who won the prize as a Spanish student. </p>
<p>It didn’t occur to me that I was even a candidate for it, since I had basically only taken one year of Spanish in that high school, although I spent plenty of time hanging out with the Spanish teachers and students, speaking Spanish and talking about Spanish/Hispanic literature. But my mother! Oh, it disturbed her no end that I didn’t get that honor, too. I’ll bet that if I asked her today she would still be angry about it. </p>
<p>(By the way, the kid who won the prize majored in Latin American studies in college, married a Chicana, moved to El Paso, and has spent his career as a bilingual border-country banker. I want to a college that didn’t have a strong Spanish department, and I never took another Spanish course in my life after 11th grade – I didn’t need to. The Spanish teachers clearly made the right choice when they awarded the prize.)</p>
<p>S was passed over for math and science award as an 8th grader because he was taking AP Calc and AP Physics. It was okay with us, although it looked a bit strange to everyone. The idea, after all, was to reward the best student in the math and science classes–neither of which S was attending.
Anyway, 8th grade awards are inconsequential except to people’s bragging rights. High school awards and recognitions may carry important financial conqsequences as well as affecting college applications. They need to be fair and to be shown to be administered fairly and accurately. It does not seem to have been the case with Brandon. That committee of one needs to be overhauled.</p>
<p>
LOL! Doesn’t that say it all?</p>
<p>Years ago, when I was too naive to be disgusted with PTO nonsense at d’s school, I sat on a committee to establish a new memorial scholarship. Not a lot of $$$, maybe a one time $500 award to a h.s. senior who had gradiated from this grammar school. I was the only one who felt academic excellence should be rewarded. Everyone else felt that a 2.5 GPA would suffice, because “the top kids get everything already.” In other words, another scholarship was set up for the mayor’s cousin, or the BOE president’s niece, or the town attorney’s son. The committee of one that Brendon’s mom dealt with could have been from my town.</p>
<p>I suggested that we not acll it a “scholarship.” Call it a “character award” or some other euphamism. Because those who donated were led to believe that it would be awarded on the basis of merit.</p>
<p>Well, the All-Star game was last night. </p>
<p>I’m proud to say Brandon’s team won 26-15, and Brandon started and played the entire game as right offensive tackle - his primary position on his high school team. It was so great to have his high school football career end on a winning note and with such fanfare! </p>
<p>The stadium was packed. So many people who knew Brandon came up to us at the game; it was very gratifying and frankly touching. Even one of my clients showed up to see him play! </p>
<p>I talked to my father; at first he wanted to make a fuss with the newspaper, etc. But he calmed down, especially when he saw all of the people who stopped to see us in the stands. Afterwards he told me this was as proud an occasion for him as when my brother won the football MVP award 25 years ago (at the same high school Brandon attends, incidentally) or when my youngest sister was named to the All-Star volleyball team 15 years ago (also from the same high school.) </p>
<p>One of the nicest things about the evening was getting the picture of Brandon and his friend who won the Scholar-Athlete award after the game, in their All-Star uniforms. They were all dirty and sweaty of course; nevertheless, I will have that shot enlarged and framed for them both! </p>
<p>So all in all, it was a wonderful evening!</p>
<p>Nice story, Brandon’s mom. Any chance of a Notre Dame career for Brandon?</p>
<p>Many of the top schools do not stress awards throughout the year. At the end of the year, they have an award day, and that is pretty much it. I have no idea who makes NMS or AP recognition there. I don’t see an Honor Roll anywhere. There is a sports recognition ceremony three times a year, where every athlete gets recognized. The Cumme Laude Society has a thing once a year, I believe and there is a Music Honor society as well BUt the press that is given through our newsletters and other publications is on the sports, arts and community service. Lots of community service. And on cultural trips that are open to ALL students. </p>
<p>Every year at my younger kids’ school there is some contention about the graduation awards. They are supposed to be spread out so one kid does not win all, but some years they don’t do such a great job. They told parents one year that the award would be given by gpa (on a 100 pt scale) in each course. Well, a kid who won the math award was 5th in grades. THere had been such a stink that he did not make the math team a month or so before, to compete in some math tournament because top 4 are chosen ( they might have won the danged thing if that kid was there; he was truly the best mathematician, but would get dinged grade wise for no pencil, no paper,no notebook, no name on paper, illegilble writing, no book, no homework, you get the picture) and the school did not even place for the first time in years. Even the kids picked were not happy he was not on board for that thing, and because the math teacher got flak for that, I guess he gave the kid the math prize. Which resulted in more flak. Those sort of things happen every fricking year, and the pain is truly heart felt by those parents who feel their kids was slighted. Often there is some sort of injustice, but, you know that is just the way it goes!</p>
<p>When one of mine was swimming, I thought that was the perfect sport to end this sort of controversy. You got the times and that is that. Well, even then there is trouble. The relays. When you get to regional or other prestigious relay, there is leeway as to how you configure the relays. And stuff that you never thought of comes out. THe kid who swam the 200 breast has now has a higher 100 breast split than the tp 100 breast stroker showing that she has the highest 100 breast capability. You don’t even want to hear the stories. It is coaches’ choice, and they also judge with trend and who is hot that meet, which brings judgement into the picture and trouble. To stick to rules does not alway mean the best pick which can defy common sense, but to break them brings dissent. When leeway is given, it leads to issues, since it is not always clear that the departure from the rule was indicated.</p>
<p>StickerShock #89</p>
<p>Sadly, there’s very little chance of that, except on their intramural contact football teams. Brandon is only 6’2" and 225, playing offensive tackle. To be honest, he’s not a natural talent in football, like he was in baseball. And I don’t think he’s aggressive enough for a Division I school. Everything he’s been able to do in football has been the result of a lot of very hard work, and it really doesn’t add up to much. Football has been more of a personal challenge for him, for some very big reasons, and he’s risen to the challenge well. </p>
<p>When one compares him to the fantastic players that come out of SW Florida . . . Deion Sanders, Edggerin James, Jevon Kearse come to mind immediately . . . well, you get the picture. And now Noel Devine, the senior All-American from our county who is the #1 high school running back in America. </p>
<p>Football is akin to a religion here in SW Florida. </p>
<p>I don’t know that he could be another “Rudy,” although it’s conceivable he could try out as a walk-on amd possibly make the practice team It would depend on if he really wants it.</p>
<p>
only?..LOL! Sounds absolutely puny. Yes, Div 1 is a whole different world. It sounds as if he’s made the most of his natural gifts & had a great experience. That’s what team sports are all about. I know plenty of parents of my 10 year old’s teammates who are already having delusional scholarship dreams. Mom is 5’2", dad is 5’8", but junior is the fastest wide receiver on the flag football team, so they are hopeful.</p>
<p>My close friend’s son has your son’s physical stats, and I was surprised that he was not considered BIG which he is in the highschool scene. He is looking at D-3 and less competitive D-1, including ivies right now as he is an excellent student with high test scores. His mother tells me that the coaches are looking at the potential of beefing him up as he does have a large frame, big bones. Even at the small schools the line has some formidable sized kids. We are not in football country here, so it is hard to say where this kid would fall in an area like yours even in the highschool arena.</p>
<p>cptofthehouse #93</p>
<p>You should SEE the size of the football players here. 300 lb kids on the offensive lines are not uncommon. </p>
<p>The head football coach from Carnegie Mellon has called our house a few times, and last week a player from CMU called Brandon. It’s a D-3 school; after the call from the player, Brandon said he MIGHT consider applying and playing football there. </p>
<p>He is also applying to Harvard, Stanford, Duke, Vanderbilt, and U of FL as his safety. </p>
<p>Notre Dame is so clearly his #1 choice, however. With his great stats (2330 composite SAT, NMSF, top 10% of his class, and his other ECs and awards), I hope he’s got a pretty good chance to get in.</p>
<p>Brandons Mom congrats to your son :)</p>
<p>
Latetoschool you nailed it. This is the method used in our school district too. There is a girl at Ds h/s that was diagnosed with cancer in m/s. The kids know whenever they are competing with her - the best they can aim for is 2nd place.</p>
<p>But football players are supposed to be dumb.</p>
<p>He sounds like the perfect candidate – scholar/athlete. Did Brandon get to visit ND?</p>
<p>Is Coral Gables near you? Sam Young started for ND as a freshman. 6’7" 292 lbs. Fast feet & good reflexes. These kids are almost a different species.</p>
<p>He has great stats, and I think he"ll have some good choices even without the football. Has he looked at UofChicago, Johns Hopkins. Middlebury (and lots of other LACS) and Georgetown? He could play on those teams and also get the top academics. I know several kids who have gone that route. My friend’s son was a great highschool football player who is now at USC, where he is not on the team with those guys’ stats, and though he is loving the experience, the one thing he so misses is PLAYING football, though he get the vicarious experience. He did say that he wished he had pursued some smaller school opportunites when we saw him this summer, even though he loves USC. He applied to all big football schools, ND was even one of them, because he thought he would enjoy that atmosphere. He got into all of them, including all of any honor colleges associated with the schools. He did not go for any schools where he would have been a recruit. Georgetown was hot for him that year, I remember, but he did not pursue the opportunity.</p>
<p>Coral Cables is down by Miami . . . actually it’s where the Univ of Miami is located. It’s about 3 hours southeast and across the state from us. </p>
<p>These kids ARE so talented and so big, it indeed appears they are a different species! </p>
<p>In my opinion, Florida is second only to Texas in football obsession. Good football players are absolutely DROOLED over in our area. Great football players are worshipped. LOL</p>
<p>Yes, cptofthehouse, I think Brandon should apply to some smaller schools. His football could be a good hook for Harvard, and I even believe he could play there and be competitive, if he wanted to. He’s not too crazy about the Northeast, but at least recognizes that he would get a great education there! </p>
<p>Someone has suggested he use football as a hook on his Duke application, since they’re trying to rebuild their football program there. Duke is like #4 on his list. He might do it. </p>
<p>I’ll pass on some of your ideas. JHU would be an excellent choice, since he’s wanting to be an anesthesiologist or oncologist. </p>
<p>Thanks for your suggestions!</p>
<p>Brandon’s mom:</p>
<p>Thanks for the wonderful update. I agree that B sounds like a great fit for ND, but the other schools on his list would also be excellent. He has a great shot at all of them.</p>
<p>Bs Mom Has your son considered Northwestern? It is in the Big Ten w/ great academics.</p>