13 students pose in front of the RCS library holding certificates

(Pictured left to right. Back: Lily Hackney, Carmela Peeples, Brayden Gentry, Hayes Davis, Thomas Morrow, Baylor Hong. Front: Maggie Bradsher, Lillie McCluskey, Alexis Vander Poppen, Elizabeth Ess, Caroline Cates, Aurora Bettendorf, CeCe Fitzgerald)

On Friday, October 10, Principal Martin recognized 13 high school students for receiving academic honors from The College Board National Recognition Programs during an assembly in the atrium. 

These honors are given to high-performing, underrepresented students. To receive recognition, students must meet score requirements on the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, or AP exams, and they must identify as a part of an underrepresented group.

The three national recognition awards these students received were the School Recognition Award, First Generation Recognition Award and Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award. According to The College Board, these awards honor students for the following:

  • The School Recognition Award honors the top-performing students in high schools nationwide.

  • The First-Generation Recognition Award honors students on track to be the first in their family to complete college.

  • The Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award elevates students from high schools in smaller communities that are often less well known by colleges. 

The recipients of these awards are below. 

Congratulations to these students on all their hard work.

Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award

Aurora Bettendorf

Caroline Cates

Hayes Davis

CeCe Fitzgerald

Brayden Gentry

Baylor Gilliam Hong

Lily Hackney

Lillie McCluskey

Thomas Morrow

Carmela Peeples

Alexis Vander Poppen


School Recognition Award

Aurora Bettendorf

Maggie Bradsher

Caroline Cates

Hayes Davis

Elizabeth Ess

CeCe Fitzgerald

Brayden Gentry

Baylor Gilliam Hong

Lily Hackney

Lillie McCluskey

Thomas Morrow

Carmela Peeples

Alexis Vander Poppen


First-Generation Recognition Award

Brayden Gentry

Lily Hackney

Carmela Peeples