<p>I am currently in a "discussion" with my DD's high school because they "overlooked" recognizing her for her NMF status at the senior award night last week. We were told in Feb. the presentation would be made at the awards program. School does not seem to be concerned about the oversight and rather "unceremoniously" handed her the certificate the next day. I am trying to "tactfully suggest" that some alternate arrangement be made in the 10 days before graduation. We are thankful for NMF status, it has provided my daughter with many opportunities and scholarship offers. Even so, we all like to be recognized in front of our peers, especially when it was previously arranged and expected. I was wondering how other schools handle NMF presentation. Just briefly, was a presentation made by the school?</p>
<p>Couldn't they make an announcement
"Opps, last night we errorred at the Awards Ceremony. Susie Q was one of our National Merit Finalists. We congratulate her."</p>
<p>Its not perfect, but its something.</p>
<p>Thats the least they can do.</p>
<p>Our school released a statistic, but no names. We have some 66 commendeds and 8 finalists. The little cards were handed out at a private afterschool assembly that many students skipped. NMS never came up again after that.</p>
<p>Our school announced them (along with the honor roll) in the news letter sent to all parents, and the actually NM scholarship was announced and handed out at the senior awards night.</p>
<p>The NMS and NM Commended awards are given out at the awards night for seniors.</p>
<p>Our school had 35 Finalists and 37 Commended. The names were never announced, just the numbers. The certificates were handed to the students by their advisors. No presentation. (Perhaps because of the sheer numbers involved? If there were only one or two or eight, maybe they would have done something more public?)</p>
<p>School announced semi-finalist (2) and commended (1) in a mid year bulletin sent home, along with a little bio. Certificates handed to them by the counselor in her office. Only mentioned at Senior Awards Night if a finalist won a scholarship because of NM status.</p>
<p>My son was the only NM Finalist at his school, and this was overlooked both at the senior awards ceremony and in the graduation program. Basically, we shrugged it off. It was not overlooked by his college, which granted him a $2000 annual scholarship on top of his need-based aid... when it came down to it, that's what mattered.</p>
<p>Our HS has more NMFs than any other school in the country (150 or so--out of 420 or so seniors)...the school doesn't even hand out certificates...my S got his in the mail...he also didn't get any scholarship money (didn't choose a participating school and I don't work for a participating company and he didn't get one of the NM "small scholarships")...the county school system does send out press releases announcing "big scholarship awards"--typically those that come from participating companies w/employees whose kids are NMFs...bascially, at our HS it's a gigantic yawn...doesn't seem to bother S; maybe going to school w/all those super-achievers makes him more immune to "honors?" He celebrates those he gets, congratulates those who get others, and places the whole "honors thing" at the bottom of his priority list...</p>
<p>Wow - our school makes a rather big deal of this, comparatively speaking. The district newsletter (distributed to every household in town) prints a photo of the semi-finalists in the fall; a photo of the commended students is printed a few months later. Yet another photo of the finalists is printed in the spring. The commended students (usually about 20-25) receive their certificates in a brief meeting after school; the semi/finalists (usually 4-6) are announced at awards night and called onstage to receive their certificates. The school distributes press releases about all designated students to two local papers, as well. There's a category for NM recognition in our school profile (22 commended/6 semis/6 finalist/1 NMS kind of thing), though of course no names are included.</p>
<p>We have a veryvery long awards night at our high school, which includes recognition for alums, awards that have previously been presented in separate ceremonies, etc. I'm glad NM awards are presented then, too - they seem just as significant as the others, and in some cases more so.</p>
<p>Certificate was sent home in a plain white envelope. No announcement at all, which was just fine with DD. School culture issue?</p>
<p>S's school does not announce NMFs or AP scholars or any of these things. There are internal awards given, but that is it. I think it is a school culture issue.</p>
<p>Definite school culture issue. On the rare occasions when my high school had a NMF, it would never have recognized them in any formal way. You see, recognition of excellence makes the dumb kids feel bad -- uh, I mean, it fosters unhealthy competition among the students. Yeah, that's it.</p>
<p>I think most public schools do include a list in their official bulletin when they report the SAT stats and that sort of stuff. I know our school district does do this.</p>
<p>In October, when the test results first come out, my son's school (a Jesuit HS) published a group picture of its 22 NM semifinalists (identified by name below) on the front page of the monthly newsletter. A list of the 24 Commended students was posted on an inside page. That was it.</p>
<p>When I think about it, I don't think any of our schools did anything special for NM recognized student other than a brief mention in some school newsletter. I don't think they are recognized beyond that.</p>
<p>our school mentions the NMF and Commended seniors at an academic awards ceremony for all students, but does not list in the program. But, quite frankly, most parents and kids don't think it's such a big deal since it is only one test over four years of HS work, where one mis-bubble could make a difference.</p>
<p>A couple of the good private schools in the area go so far as to take out large display ads in the newspaper announcing their NMFs - they usually have around 15-20, which is great for a small school. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, my S's parochial school gave him absolutely no recognition of the honor whatsoever, and he was the only NMF out of a class of over 200. At graduation they handed out awards to the top math student, top English student, etc., as well as some other academic awards, but nothing for S, not even a mention of his NMF status in the graduation program, although other awards were mentioned.</p>
<p>It was a little disappointing but probably more so for us parents than it was for him.</p>
<p>Congrats to your d! My heart goes out to her, because we have been there. S, who was a NM Scholar, was also omitted from the senior awards program, and then he was listed as a finalist iin the graduation program, by which point I was pretty irked. But the principal made up for it big-time -- had him stand up at graduation and announced the good news, an experience that was very memorable and a complete surprise for s. Don't forget that spreading this info is good PR for the school as well as for your d! And students in future graduating classes will appreciate your setting things straight.</p>
<p>My S's school hands out certificates at all school awards ceremony. All of the other schools in town seem to have listings in the local paper. I wanted to come to the award ceremony, but my S said, "No parents will be there, don't bother." In other words, please don't come. I guess it isn't a big deal for them.</p>