<p>Though I would have been fidgeting at that ceremony, I think that those who went through the trouble of applying for schools and awards and then sharing the positive outcomes deserve some recognition of it. This is very valuable info for future students. I always urge kids who are looking for good merit money to talk to the GC about what schools have been giving to graduated of that particular high school to students of a given calibre. Having the graduating seniors have a list right out there each year, gives future students a great resource.</p>
<p>My kids’ graduations have been split into a number of gatherings. The conferring of the diploma takes long enough as each name is individually called, and there is the personal handshake and photo, so to read out anything other than a few things after the speeches and other parts of the ceremony would have taken it well past three hours. It was close to three hours as it was. The awards and colleges accepted are listed on the program, however, and is the only place one can get such a list from the school as they do not provide as some do for ready access. Catholic high schools, in particular, seem to have pretty extensive such lists.</p>
<p>Our HS has a scholarship awards night and it was amazing. At a school where sports are often the focus it is nice to see the kids who work hard at academics recognized. My son walks in both worlds but I enjoyed this ceremony more than the zillion sports banquets that we have been to over the years:) It was long (about 3 hours), but it was a great way to kick off the graduation week festivities!! The kids do know who is top in the class and they can pretty easily identify who is getting the awards based on need and/or merit. The kids get to decide if they want to be recognized at the ceremony so they do not have to attend if they do not want to.</p>
<p>Our honors night is invite only… to those that received a scholarship or honor. The only college scholarships mentioned are the ones to the school that the student is attending, and amounts aren’t given, just the name of the scholarship. While students receiving community awards or specific high school awards go up on stage to accept, those students only receiving college merit awards just stand up in a group. I guess I might need to turn in my “grown up card” as well. Both of my boys received merit scholarships covering more than half their tuition, yet they are not recognized as much as the student who received the $500 one time award from the tire store in town. Neither of my boys really wanted to go to the honors night… this is probably why.</p>
<p>I agree…this is a great thread! Thanks to all who are posting. Also agree that the HS awards/scholarships lists printed on the grad program or in the paper can be a valuable info source for rising seniors & even underclassmen. We are using this strategy. DS is our oldest & a rising Jr, so I have little knowledge of Sr awards/honors night, but this thread is certainly providing insight. It makes me wonder what DS’s HS does.</p>
<p>It’s really a good idea for parents of rising seniors who are looking for money sources to go to any awards ceremony–well, that 's a bit extreme, but certainly asking for, getting and using any lists of awards. It’s nice to know if a local tire shop is giving out some scholarships. You might want to pay them a visit and introduce your kid to the owner if you need tires in the next few months and give them your business. Heck, every bit helps. Absolutely, get that info from the school or a parent of a graduating senior. Nice to know that Local U gave out 20 nice sized awards for graduates of that class. If your student is putting together a list, it can give some schools a boost or whether they even go on it. When you go fishing, you want to go where the fish are. Those lists give some fishing holes.</p>
<p>I admit that I has never thought of attending the award ceremony to get ideas for scholarships. Makes it all the more unfortunate that D’s HS refused to acknowledge the very generous award she received from a regional credit union. The award was based on academics and community service ( no “need” component) and I’m sure that there were others who could have benefited from knowing about this award. Too bad the school didn’t consider this when snubbing my child. ( but I’m not bitter… )</p>
<p>jjjboysmom, I understand why they do what they do. Local businesses and families that give individual scholarships or give to the local foundation for student scholarships etc.are giving from their hearts and it is important as a school to show appreciation to those people and families, as “small” as it might seem to a parent about to write huge checks. The student, also, needs to thank the family, person or business either personally or with a note. College students will have plenty of opportunities to thank their colleges in the form of alumni contributions to give back what they received.</p>
<p>FallGirl that is unfortunate that the school cannot thank a local business for many reasons and use the evening/program as an public opportunity to do so.</p>
<p>My daughter’s high school has a list of scholarships they sponsor, as well as local scholarships where students can apply on their own. However, her school’s list is by no means complete. I found a better list on the website of a nearby high school.</p>
<p>I was amazed that there were only a couple applicants for some local scholarships. Many students did not know about them, or missed the deadline.</p>
<p>momofthreeboys… please don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to “dis” the local scholarships. Those community members should be recognized and thanked, of course, as should the students who applied and received these awards. But, if these honors nights are supposed to reinforce the value of working hard, then I don’t understand why the kids who worked really hard aren’t really recognized. My boys worked very hard in high school; both took all honors classes, one took 8 AP’s, the other 11 AP’s. They earned good grades, and were offered numerous, high value merit scholarships at the schools they were accepted to. There are plenty of other kids at our high school in the same boat. All these kids just get to stand up as a group in the audience, clap at the end… not much recognition.</p>
<p>My feeling is that it is a time issue. Granted, none of us want to be there for hours and hours. But if you are trying to entice kids to work hard… a $90K merit scholarship might seem more inviting than a $500 one.</p>
<p>A few years ago when S2 graduated his college sent an award certificate to the high school for his small but competitive scholarship and it was presented to him that night but most of the college money is self reported and my guess that is the primary difference and I am guessing many parents would “lump” financial need award dollars with money awarded solely for scholastic achievement…but that is just my guess. One could argue that it’s’still an achievement for a student to receive monetary subsidy but that would apply to a high percentage of kids I’m guessing. My S3 got invited to the event this year but are full pay for him so I will be clapping big time even if it is only a couple hundred bucks.</p>
<p>Our high school requires a copy of the letter of merit scholarship from the college/university. So, although technically it is “self-reported”, there is no mix up of merit versus need. Our school doesn’t list need based awards from the colleges/universities.</p>
<p>My turn to vent. Last year, D applied for and received 4 community based scholarships that judged academic and/or athletic merit as well as community service. There was no requirement of financial need for any of them. </p>
<p>Two of the organizations quickly sent her award money to her college once she sent a proof of enrollment. The other two sent their checks with a letter to the school instructing them to return any money leftover to the foundation that issued the awards after paying for her school expenses. How could they take money away that was awarded based on merit? Tacky!</p>
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