Academic Signing Day recognizes scholarship winners
Posted on Thursday, May 8, 2008
BENTONVILLE - Twenty graduating seniors were recognized Wednesday for their academic excellence at the first Academic Signing Day hosted by the Bentonville Public Schools Foundation.
The Bentonville High School students who received at least $ 50, 000 in academic scholarships from their chosen college or university were invited to participate in the ceremony at the Arend Arts Center at BHS.
Lindsey Wade, who was awarded $ 15, 000 a year to attend the University of Tulsa, said she did not know what to expect of Academic Signing Day when she learned she was one of 20 students to be recognized.
"I was hoping to get the academic recognition, though I'm going to be walking on the soccer team," Wade said. "I'm not going to be valedictorian or salutatorian, but I'm glad this event could recognize others who also did well in high school."
Foundation board president Brian Burke said the foundation began considering an academic signing day about a year and a half ago after talking with a Little Rock school district representative.
"I wish I could say it was an original idea," Burke said. "We wanted to see the same type of attention for academics that athletics gets, and this was a great way to recognize these students."
Many parents attended the 30-minute ceremony, during which the students received a small trophy and a pen set for their accomplishments.
Award recipient Ryne Ramaker's mother, Pam Ramaker, said a ceremony like the Academic Signing Day is needed to show the community the students' academic achievements rather than strictly focusing on sports.
Senior Andrew C. Tackett, who plans to attend the University of Arkansas for computer engineering, said," This was a good thing to have to show students that their hard work actually accomplished something, not just a letter in the mail that says'congratulations. ."
Mayor Bob McCaslin delivered a keynote speech in which he called the group "quality product"of the Bentonville Public School system that deserves the credit it is getting.
The class of 2008 is the first graduating class since the U. S. Department of Education gave the high school a Blue Ribbon title in October for its high student achievement and performance. McCaslin pointed out that Bentonville High School is one of only 37 nationally recognized Blue Ribbon Schools.
The 20 students received full scholarships to attend the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Arkansas Tech University, Harding University, Ouachita Baptist University, Texas A & M University, the University of Missouri at Columbia, Denison University, Florida Atlantic University, the University of Tulsa, Rhodes College, William Jewel University and the U. S. Naval Academy.
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