Principal’s awards represent some of the most meaningful recognition students receive during their educational journey, celebrating not just academic achievement but the complete picture of what makes exceptional students—character, leadership, citizenship, and contributions that elevate entire school communities. Unlike standardized test scores or grade point averages that measure specific dimensions of student performance, principal’s awards acknowledge the holistic excellence that school leaders directly observe in students who make lasting positive impacts on their educational environments.
Yet confusion often surrounds these prestigious honors. Parents wonder what distinguishes principal’s awards from honor roll recognition. Students question what criteria actually matter for selection. Schools struggle to create selection processes that identify truly deserving recipients while maintaining transparency and fairness. Meanwhile, many exceptional students who would benefit tremendously from this recognition remain unaware of how these awards work or how to position themselves as strong candidates through their daily choices and contributions to school communities.
This comprehensive guide explores everything students, families, and educators need to understand about principal’s awards—from the various types and selection criteria to preparation strategies and how schools create lasting recognition through modern display systems that preserve these achievements for years beyond graduation ceremonies.
Principal’s awards matter because they represent personal recognition from educational leaders who witness student growth, character development, and community contributions firsthand. These honors carry particular weight with college admissions committees, scholarship foundations, and future employers because they signal that respected education professionals identified these students as exceptional beyond what transcripts and test scores alone reveal.
Modern recognition displays ensure principal's award recipients receive lasting visibility that extends far beyond individual award ceremonies
Program Snapshot: Understanding Principal’s Award Systems
Different schools implement principal’s awards in varied ways, but understanding common frameworks helps students and families navigate these recognition opportunities effectively.
| Award Type | Primary Focus | Selection Authority | Typical Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Principal’s Honor Roll | High academic achievement (typically 3.75+ GPA) | Automatic based on grades | Quarterly or semester |
| Principal’s List | Top academic performers (often 4.0 GPA) | Automatic based on perfect/near-perfect grades | Marking period or semester |
| Principal’s Leadership Award | Demonstrated leadership impact | Principal selection with input from faculty | Annual or as warranted |
| Principal’s Character Award | Exceptional character and citizenship | Principal selection based on observations | Annual or as warranted |
| Principal’s Scholar Award | Combined academics and character | Principal selection considering multiple factors | Annual for graduating seniors |
| Principal’s Award for Excellence | Overall exceptional student contribution | Principal discretionary selection | Occasional special recognition |
Understanding the Principal’s Honor Roll
The most common principal’s award that students encounter is the Principal’s Honor Roll, an academic recognition celebrating exceptional grade point achievement.
What is Principal’s Honor Roll?
Principal’s Honor Roll typically recognizes students achieving the highest academic standards in a given marking period or semester. While specific criteria vary by school, common requirements include:
Typical Principal’s Honor Roll Requirements
- Grade point average of 3.75 or higher (on 4.0 scale)
- No grades below B+ in any course
- Completion of all coursework without incompletes
- Minimum number of credits or courses
- Good citizenship standing without disciplinary issues
- Regular attendance meeting school standards
Some schools use the term “Principal’s List” interchangeably with Principal’s Honor Roll, while others distinguish between the two with Principal’s List requiring perfect or near-perfect grades (typically 4.0 GPA with all As) and Principal’s Honor Roll including students with slightly lower but still excellent academic performance.
Learn more about comprehensive academic recognition programs that celebrate these achievements alongside other student honors.
Individual recognition profiles celebrate each Principal's Honor Roll recipient with photos and achievement details
How Does Principal’s Honor Roll Differ from Regular Honor Roll?
Most schools maintain tiered academic recognition systems with multiple levels:
Common Academic Recognition Tiers
Principal’s Honor Roll/Principal’s List (Highest Honor)
- Typically requires 3.75-4.0 GPA
- Most prestigious academic recognition
- Often requires all grades A or A-/B+ or higher
- May include additional citizenship requirements
Honor Roll (High Honor)
- Typically requires 3.5-3.74 GPA
- Strong academic performance
- Generally allows some grades below A range
- Celebrates consistent achievement
Merit Roll or Honorable Mention (Good Performance)
- Typically requires 3.0-3.49 GPA
- Acknowledges solid academic work
- Recognizes above-average performance
- Encourages continued improvement
The distinction matters because Principal’s Honor Roll represents the absolute highest tier of academic recognition within schools, signaling exceptional rather than merely good academic performance. This top-tier designation carries particular weight on college applications, scholarship submissions, and resumes because it demonstrates not just intelligence but sustained discipline and commitment to excellence.
Strategies for Achieving Principal’s Honor Roll
Students targeting Principal’s Honor Roll status should implement systematic approaches to academic excellence:
Start Strong Each Marking Period
The most critical time for academic performance occurs during the first weeks of each grading period:
- Complete all assignments on time from day one
- Establish strong relationships with teachers early in semesters
- Front-load studying rather than cramming before major assessments
- Monitor grades weekly through online portals identifying concerns immediately
- Seek extra help at first sign of difficulty rather than waiting until grades suffer
Maintain Balance Across All Subjects
Principal’s Honor Roll requires excellence across all coursework, not just strength areas:
- Allocate study time proportionate to course difficulty and current performance
- Prioritize challenging subjects requiring additional time and effort
- Recognize that elective courses count equally with core academic subjects
- Seek tutoring or peer support in weaker areas before grades become problematic
- Balance course rigor with realistic assessment of workload capacity
Understanding end-of-year recognition programs helps students appreciate how Principal’s Honor Roll fits within broader achievement celebrations.
Understand Your School’s Specific Calculation Method
Honor roll criteria vary significantly between schools, making it essential to understand your specific institution’s policies:
- Confirm whether your school uses weighted or unweighted GPA for honor roll
- Verify exact GPA cutoffs for Principal’s Honor Roll at your school
- Understand whether all courses count or if certain classes are excluded
- Check if there are specific grade requirements beyond GPA averages
- Know when GPA is calculated (end of quarter, semester, or trimester)
- Ask about citizenship or conduct requirements beyond academic performance
Manage Attendance and Behavior
Many schools require clean citizenship records alongside high grades:
- Maintain regular attendance avoiding unnecessary absences
- Arrive on time to all classes respecting instructional time
- Follow school rules and behavioral expectations consistently
- Avoid disciplinary issues that might disqualify honor roll eligibility
- Demonstrate respect for teachers, staff, and fellow students
Interactive displays in high-traffic areas create natural moments where students explore academic achievements and set personal goals
Principal’s Discretionary Awards: Beyond Grades
While Principal’s Honor Roll recognizes academic achievement through objective criteria, many schools also implement discretionary principal’s awards celebrating qualities that transcend grade point averages.
Principal’s Leadership Award
This recognition honors students demonstrating exceptional leadership impact throughout school communities through both formal positions and informal influence.
What Leadership Qualities Matter for Principal Recognition?
Principals look for students who:
- Hold formal leadership positions (student government, club officers, team captains) and fulfill those responsibilities with distinction
- Demonstrate informal leadership through positive influence on peers regardless of official titles
- Take initiative addressing school needs or launching beneficial programs
- Show courage standing up for right principles even when unpopular
- Unite diverse groups around common goals
- Model desired behaviors inspiring others through consistent example
- Accept responsibility for mistakes and learn from setbacks
- Elevate others rather than seeking personal glory
- Demonstrate emotional intelligence navigating complex social situations
- Create lasting positive change extending beyond their immediate involvement
How Students Can Position Themselves for Leadership Recognition
Students interested in leadership recognition should:
- Seek leadership opportunities aligned with genuine interests rather than resume-building
- Demonstrate consistency between values and actions
- Document leadership impacts with specific examples and outcomes
- Request teacher or advisor recommendations highlighting leadership qualities
- Reflect thoughtfully on leadership lessons learned through experiences
- Show leadership across multiple contexts (academics, athletics, clubs, community)
- Mentor younger students sharing knowledge and supporting their development
Explore student council programs that develop leadership skills leading to principal’s award recognition.
Principal’s Character Award
Character awards celebrate students embodying the ethical qualities and citizenship that schools aspire to cultivate in all students.
Key Character Qualities Principals Recognize
Integrity and Ethical Behavior
- Honesty even when facing negative consequences
- Consistency between private and public behavior
- Resistance to peer pressure compromising values
- Taking responsibility for mistakes without excuses
- Following rules because they’re right, not just to avoid punishment
Respect and Compassion
- Treating all community members with dignity regardless of status or background
- Showing kindness to students often excluded or marginalized
- Demonstrating empathy understanding others’ perspectives
- Respecting differences in backgrounds, abilities, and viewpoints
- Supporting peers facing challenges or difficult circumstances
Service and Citizenship
- Contributing to school community beyond personal benefit
- Volunteering time supporting school events and activities
- Demonstrating pride in school through positive representation
- Participating in community service outside school walls
- Leaving school better than they found it
Perseverance and Resilience
- Maintaining positive attitude through difficulties and setbacks
- Continuing effort despite challenges or obstacles
- Learning from failures rather than being defeated by them
- Supporting others facing their own struggles
- Demonstrating grit and determination over time
Understanding academic recognition beyond grades helps students appreciate the holistic nature of principal’s awards.
Building Character That Principals Notice
Character recognition typically reflects accumulated observations over time rather than single events:
- Make ethical choices consistently in small daily decisions, not just visible moments
- Show respect to everyone including support staff often overlooked by students
- Volunteer for thankless tasks that benefit communities without bringing personal glory
- Support peers generously celebrating their successes without jealousy
- Demonstrate integrity when no one’s watching, knowing that character reveals itself
- Accept setbacks with grace learning lessons rather than making excuses
- Build reputation over years through consistent positive contributions
Permanent recognition displays preserve character award recipients alongside academic achievers, showing schools value multiple dimensions of excellence
Principal’s Scholar Award
Many schools present annual Principal’s Scholar Awards to graduating seniors who exemplify the complete picture of student excellence—combining academic achievement with leadership, character, and contributions to school communities.
Typical Principal’s Scholar Criteria
Selection often considers:
Academic Excellence
- High cumulative GPA (often 3.8 or higher)
- Challenging course loads demonstrating intellectual curiosity
- Strong performance across all subject areas
- Academic honors like National Honor Society membership
- Advanced Placement or dual enrollment coursework
- Academic competition participation or recognition
Character and Citizenship
- Clean disciplinary record throughout high school
- Reputation for integrity and ethical behavior
- Respectful relationships with teachers, staff, and peers
- Positive attitude and coachability
- Demonstration of core school values
Leadership and Service
- Documented leadership positions and impacts
- Sustained community service involvement
- Positive influence on school culture
- Mentorship of younger students
- Initiative addressing school or community needs
School Contributions
- Participation in multiple school activities
- Commitment to programs beyond graduation benefit
- Representing school positively in community
- Building school spirit and pride
- Leaving lasting positive legacy
This holistic recognition often carries more prestige than purely academic honors because it acknowledges the well-rounded excellence that distinguishes truly exceptional students from those who simply earn high grades.
How Principal’s Awards Impact College Applications and Scholarships
Principal’s awards carry particular weight in competitive processes because they represent personal recognition from educational professionals who know students well.
College Admissions Advantages
Common Application Honors Section
The Common Application allows students to list up to five honors, designating recognition level (school, state/regional, national, international). Principal’s awards fit prominently in this section, particularly for students without national-level recognition.
Principal’s Award Advantages in Admissions
- Demonstrates excellence beyond self-reported grades and test scores
- Provides third-party validation from respected education professionals
- Shows holistic achievement when discretionary awards include character and leadership
- Distinguishes candidates in competitive applicant pools
- Signals qualities like integrity and citizenship that colleges value
- Complements other application elements with character recognition
Counselor Recommendations Connection
Principal’s awards strengthen school counselor recommendations by:
- Providing concrete examples counselors can reference
- Demonstrating that school leadership identified student as exceptional
- Corroborating claims about character, leadership, or academic excellence
- Adding credibility to subjective assessments
- Showing official institutional recognition, not just teacher opinion
Scholarship Applications
Many scholarship programs specifically value principal recognition:
Local Scholarship Advantages
Community scholarships often prioritize principal’s awards because:
- Local committees trust school principal assessments
- Awards demonstrate character and citizenship local donors prioritize
- Principal recommendations carry significant weight in local contexts
- Recognition shows institutional support for student
- Holistic nature appeals to scholarship committees valuing more than academics
Understanding scholarship recognition systems helps students maximize principal’s award impact.
School-Based Scholarships
Many high schools offer scholarships requiring principal nomination or consideration:
- Character-based scholarships often require principal endorsement
- Leadership scholarships value principal’s assessment of impact
- General excellence scholarships benefit from principal’s awards
- Special circumstance scholarships may involve principal recommendations
Digital recognition kiosks provide comprehensive platforms showcasing principal's award recipients alongside other prestigious honors
Resume and Professional Impact
Principal’s awards strengthen resumes for employment and professional opportunities:
High School and College Resumes
Include principal’s awards in education or honors sections:
- Demonstrates excellence beyond grades
- Shows recognition from authority figures
- Indicates leadership, character, or comprehensive achievement
- Distinguishes resume in competitive application processes
- Provides talking points for interviews
Interview Discussion Points
Principal’s awards create natural interview topics:
- Explain what the award recognized (leadership, character, achievement)
- Describe specific actions or qualities that led to recognition
- Share lessons learned through experiences that earned recognition
- Demonstrate humility while acknowledging achievement
- Connect recognition to qualities relevant for opportunity
How Schools Create Lasting Recognition for Principal’s Award Recipients
Traditional recognition approaches—brief mentions at ceremonies, names in programs, or printed certificates stored in drawers—provide momentary acknowledgment that quickly fades from community awareness. Modern schools implement comprehensive recognition systems ensuring principal’s award recipients receive lasting visibility that extends far beyond individual ceremonies.
Traditional Recognition Limitations
Challenges with Conventional Approaches
Schools relying solely on traditional methods face significant constraints:
- Ceremony recognition lasts only moments during awards presentations
- Physical plaques and trophies require ongoing purchasing as students achieve
- Trophy case space limitations force difficult choices about whose achievements display
- Printed programs and yearbook mentions provide static one-time visibility
- Historical achievements become invisible once current year passes
- Families and community members miss recognition unless attending ceremonies
- No ability to search, explore, or discover past recipients
- Recognition feels temporary rather than permanent
Digital Recognition Solutions for Principal’s Awards
Forward-thinking schools implement digital recognition displays like Rocket Alumni Solutions that transform single-event recognition into year-round visibility while creating engaging experiences celebrating principal’s award recipients permanently.
Unlimited Recognition Capacity
Digital platforms eliminate physical space constraints:
- Single display showcases unlimited students across all award categories
- No need to remove historical recipients accommodating current honorees
- Comprehensive archives preserve every principal’s award recipient indefinitely
- Equal recognition regardless of when award was earned
- Multiple award categories coexist without competing for limited space
Interactive Exploration Features
Modern displays create engaging experiences beyond static plaques:
- Search functionality enables students to find themselves or classmates instantly
- Filter by award type, graduation year, or other criteria
- Detailed profile pages tell complete stories with photos and descriptions
- Links to related achievements showing students’ complete honors
- Social sharing enables recipients to celebrate with extended networks
- QR codes provide mobile access to individual recognition profiles
Explore comprehensive digital recognition implementation strategies for schools modernizing honor systems.
Interactive touchscreen displays invite exploration, dramatically increasing engagement compared to static trophy cases
Simple Content Management
Cloud-based systems enable efficient recognition maintenance:
- Update displays from any internet-connected device without campus presence
- Template-based entry creation ensures consistent professional presentation
- Bulk import tools for multiple recipients added simultaneously
- Role-based permissions allow appropriate staff access without technical expertise
- Scheduled publishing for semester and year-end recognition rollouts
- Remote management eliminates need for physical display access
Multi-Location Visibility
Digital recognition extends far beyond single trophy cases:
- Physical touchscreen displays in high-traffic school locations (lobbies, commons, hallways)
- Web-based platforms accessible from anywhere worldwide
- Mobile-optimized displays enabling smartphone and tablet access
- Social media integration extending recognition beyond school community
- Alumni access allowing graduates to revisit their recognition years later
- Family access enabling relatives worldwide to view student achievements
Cost-Effective Long-Term Solution
Digital recognition systems provide sustainable alternatives to ongoing physical award costs:
- One-time hardware investment plus annual software subscription
- Eliminates ongoing plaque purchasing, engraving, and trophy expenses
- Dramatically reduces administrative time managing recognition displays
- Single system accommodates all recognition categories
- Serves schools for decades with periodic hardware refreshes
- Lower total cost of ownership compared to traditional approaches
Schools implementing comprehensive digital recognition report 80-90% reduction in time spent managing student honors while celebrating 3-5x more students than physical constraints previously allowed.
Selection Process Best Practices for Principals and Schools
Schools should implement thoughtful selection processes ensuring principal’s awards identify truly deserving recipients while maintaining fairness and transparency.
Establishing Clear Criteria
Academic Honor Roll Criteria
For automatic recognition like Principal’s Honor Roll:
- Define exact GPA requirements with precision (3.75+ unweighted, 4.25+ weighted, etc.)
- Specify whether weighted or unweighted GPA determines eligibility
- Clarify individual grade requirements beyond GPA averages
- Establish attendance expectations if applicable
- Define conduct standards for eligibility
- Communicate criteria clearly to students and families at year beginning
- Apply criteria consistently across all students without exceptions
Discretionary Award Guidelines
For principal-selected honors:
- Establish written criteria even for discretionary awards
- Create rubrics evaluating leadership, character, or comprehensive achievement
- Involve multiple perspectives (assistant principals, counselors, teachers)
- Document rationale for selections
- Review equity ensuring awards reach diverse student populations
- Maintain consistency with established school values
Inclusive Selection Approaches
Avoiding Bias in Recognition
Principals should actively work to prevent recognition systems that favor certain student groups:
- Ensure selection committees include diverse perspectives
- Review recognition patterns identifying any demographic disparities
- Consider whether processes unintentionally advantage certain populations
- Seek nominations from wide range of faculty and staff
- Look beyond most visible students finding quieter achievers
- Balance traditional leadership (student government) with informal influence
- Value different forms of contribution equally
Explore comprehensive recognition frameworks that celebrate diverse student excellence.
Communicating Selection Decisions
Transparency and Explanation
When presenting awards, principals should:
- Explain selection criteria clearly so all understand expectations
- Provide specific reasons why recipients earned recognition
- Share stories illustrating award recipients’ qualities or achievements
- Emphasize multiple pathways to excellence, not single mold
- Encourage all students seeing awards as achievable through effort
- Thank nominators and selection committee members
- Celebrate recipients without diminishing non-recipients
Comprehensive recognition environments integrate principal's awards within broader school celebration systems
Frequently Asked Questions About Principal’s Awards
What GPA Do You Need for Principal’s Honor Roll?
GPA requirements for Principal’s Honor Roll vary significantly by school, but typical standards include:
- Most Common Requirement: 3.75-4.0 GPA on a 4.0 unweighted scale
- Alternative Standards: Some schools require perfect 4.0 GPA for Principal’s List
- School-Specific Variations: Individual schools set their own exact thresholds
- Weighted vs. Unweighted: Clarify whether your school uses weighted GPA (giving extra credit for honors/AP courses) or unweighted GPA (treating all courses equally)
To find your school’s exact requirement: Check your student handbook, ask your guidance counselor, or review honor roll information on your school’s website. Requirements can differ dramatically between districts, making it essential to understand your specific school’s policies rather than assuming general standards apply.
Is Principal’s Award the Same as Honor Roll?
Principal’s awards encompass various recognition types, with Principal’s Honor Roll being just one specific category:
Principal’s Honor Roll = Academic recognition for high GPA, typically the highest tier of regular honor roll
Principal’s Awards (broader category) = Can include:
- Principal’s Honor Roll (academic achievement)
- Principal’s Leadership Award (leadership impact)
- Principal’s Character Award (citizenship and ethics)
- Principal’s Scholar Award (comprehensive excellence)
- Other discretionary principal recognition
Think of it this way: Principal’s Honor Roll is a type of principal’s award, but not all principal’s awards are honor roll recognition. Some celebrate character, leadership, or holistic achievement beyond grades alone.
How Are Students Selected for Discretionary Principal’s Awards?
Selection processes for principal’s leadership, character, and scholar awards typically involve:
Nomination Sources
- Teacher nominations based on classroom observations
- Counselor recommendations from student interactions
- Administrator observations of school contributions
- Peer nominations in some schools
- Self-nomination with supporting materials
- Parent or community input in rare cases
Evaluation Process
- Review of nomination materials by selection committees
- Discussion of candidates considering multiple perspectives
- Assessment against established criteria or rubrics
- Principal’s final decision incorporating input received
- Documentation of selection rationale
Key Selection Factors
- Sustained patterns of behavior, not isolated incidents
- Multiple perspectives corroborating candidate qualities
- Specific examples and evidence supporting nominations
- Alignment with school values and award purposes
- Consideration of diversity ensuring broad recognition
Can Students Receive Multiple Principal’s Awards?
Yes, students can receive multiple principal’s awards throughout their educational career and even within single years:
Cumulative Recognition
- Students might earn Principal’s Honor Roll multiple semesters demonstrating sustained achievement
- Same student could receive both academic (honor roll) and character awards
- Exceptional students may receive comprehensive recognition like Principal’s Scholar Award combining multiple dimensions
Not Mutually Exclusive Principal’s awards typically recognize different qualities, making multiple awards to deserving students both possible and appropriate. A student might reasonably receive Principal’s Honor Roll each semester while also earning Principal’s Leadership Award senior year, as these recognize distinct achievements.
Do Principal’s Awards Help With College Admissions?
Yes, principal’s awards provide measurable advantages in college admissions:
Direct Application Benefits
- Listed in Common Application honors section (allows five honors)
- Demonstrates third-party recognition beyond self-reported achievements
- Provides evidence of qualities colleges value (leadership, character, achievement)
- Distinguishes candidates in competitive applicant pools
Indirect Advantages
- Strengthens counselor recommendations through concrete recognition examples
- Provides interview talking points demonstrating excellence
- Shows school leadership identified student as exceptional
- Demonstrates qualities like integrity and citizenship through character awards
Particular Value For
- Students without national-level recognition needing strong school-based honors
- Holistic admissions processes valuing character and leadership
- Scholarships emphasizing citizenship and community contribution
- Schools receiving many applicants with similar academic profiles
While principal’s awards alone won’t determine admissions outcomes, they strengthen applications meaningfully, particularly when combined with other evidence of excellence across academic, extracurricular, and character dimensions.
Conclusion: The Lasting Impact of Principal Recognition
Principal’s awards represent far more than lines on transcripts or moments during award ceremonies—they provide lasting validation from educational leaders that students embody the excellence schools aspire to develop in all learners. Whether celebrating perfect academic achievement through Principal’s Honor Roll, recognizing transformative leadership impact, or honoring exceptional character that elevates entire communities, these awards communicate powerful messages about what schools value and which students exemplify those ideals.
For students, understanding principal’s awards creates roadmaps toward recognition that extends far beyond single dimensions of achievement. The path to Principal’s Honor Roll requires disciplined study habits and academic excellence. Leadership awards demand initiative, positive influence, and courage to address needs benefiting others. Character recognition comes through daily ethical choices, respect for all community members, and consistent demonstration of integrity when no one’s watching. Comprehensive scholar awards celebrate the complete picture of student excellence—combining academic achievement with leadership, character, and contributions that make schools better places.
Celebrate Every Principal's Award Recipient
Discover how modern digital recognition solutions help schools honor principal's award recipients permanently—from Principal's Honor Roll achievers to leadership and character award winners—through engaging displays that inspire excellence across entire school communities.
Explore Student Recognition SolutionsSchools implementing comprehensive recognition systems ensuring principal’s award recipients receive lasting visibility create environments where excellence becomes contagious. When students see peers celebrated for academic achievement, leadership impact, and exemplary character through prominent displays in hallways, commons, and digital platforms accessible anytime, they internalize messages about which qualities and contributions schools genuinely value. Recognition stops being abstract concept and becomes visible reality they witness daily and aspire to achieve themselves.
Solutions like Rocket Alumni Solutions enable schools to eliminate traditional limitations that forced difficult choices about whose achievements receive visibility. Digital displays accommodate unlimited students across all award categories, preserve recognition permanently without physical space constraints, create interactive experiences engaging students in exploring achievements, enable remote access for families worldwide, and provide simple management requiring no technical expertise. When schools make principal’s awards visible and accessible year-round, recognition extends far beyond individual ceremonies into ongoing celebration inspiring continuous excellence throughout school communities.
Whether you’re a student aspiring to earn principal recognition, a parent supporting your child’s journey, or an educator designing recognition systems, understanding these prestigious honors—what they celebrate, how students earn them, and why they matter—creates clarity about pathways to excellence while ensuring deserving students receive acknowledgment their achievements and character warrant. Principal’s awards represent education at its finest: recognizing and celebrating the complete picture of what makes exceptional students who will go on to make positive differences throughout their lives.
