Nearly 30 SCCPSS high school students at three high schools have earned academic honors for the College Board National Recognition Programs.  These programs celebrate student’s hard work in high school and showcase their academic performance.  The academic honors are an opportunity for students to showcase and share their strong academic achievements with colleges and scholarship programs that are seeking to recruit diverse talent.

For the first time this year, the academic honors recognize first-generation students, in addition to rural and small town, Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic/or Latino students. The program opens college access for more students because many institutions use the awards for their recruitment efforts.

Fifteen students from Woodville-Tompkins Technical and Career High School were awarded, along with eleven from Jenkins High School, and three from Groves High School.

A complete listing of those students honored, and their recognition is:

Grove High School

·         Zecoi Bongs – African American

·         Alyssa Shelton – African American

·         Leeari Victoria – African American

Jenkins High School

·         Chris Anthony Batenga – Indigenous

·         Julian Chapman – Hispanic

·         Miley Doan – First Generation

·         Xavier Henry – African American

·         Olivia Jones – African American, First Generation

·         Owen Lin – First Generation

·         Jun Lin – First Generation

·         Adon Oxendine – First Generation

·         Tyler Thomas – African American

·         Harrison Tran – First Generation

Woodville-Tompkins Technical & Career High School

·         Faith Adeniyi – First Generation

·         Johan Brisbon – African American, First Generation

·         Macy Cole – African American

·         Hannah Dawson – African American

·         Joshua Figueroa – Hispanic

·         Lajayla Green – African American, First Generation

·         Michaela Harden – African American, First Generation

·         Serani Hassan – African American

·         Mahum Khan – First Generation

·         Alfred McGuire – African American

·         Kalif Muhammed – First Generation

·         Zulee Slusser – Hispanic

·         Nyla Smalls – African American

·         Tony Wang – First Generation

·         Ayanna Williams – African American

“We’re excited to celebrate our students and recognize them for the great work they’ve been doing. We’re proud of their strong academic performance in the classroom and on College Board assessments like the PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™ 10, and AP® Exams,” said Alfred D. McGuire, Jr.,  Woodville-Tompkins Principal. “There’s so much that makes our students unique, and this honor reinforces their individuality and achievements as assets for their future. Our faculty, staff, and school community all share in this wonderful accomplishment”

Eligible students must meet the following criteria to qualify for College Board Recognitions:

· Earn a GPA of B+ (equal to at least 3.3 or 87%-89%) or higher.

· PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 assessment scores that are within the top 10% of assessment takers in each state for each award program or earned a score of 3 or higher on 2 or more AP Exams by the end of 10th grade.

· Attend school in a rural area or small town, or identify as African American/Black, Hispanic American/Latino, Indigenous/Native American, or a first-generation college student. A first-generation student is defined as a student whose parent(s) didn't complete a bachelor's degree.