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Background
Pittsylvania County Schools is proud to announce the
2010 Graduate of
Merit Program. This is the 11th year of this outstanding
program which helps recognize and acknowledge the accomplishments of
graduates who exemplify attributes of achievement, proficiency, character
and social development demonstrated through commitment to excellence in
education.
 The Graduate of Merit program, a great
school and community partnership recognizing outstanding young people,
received acknowledgement from the Governor of Virginia. The program was
the recipient of the 2000 Horizon Award.
Since the inception of the program in 2000, 1,106 students have earned the
distinction of graduating as a Graduate of Merit. This year Pittsylvania
County Schools awarded Graduate of Merit medallions to 146 students.
|
YEAR |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
|
RECIPIENTS |
47 |
88 |
131 |
122 |
88 |
114 |
120 |
110 |
140 |
146 |
|
Chatham |
5 |
19 |
26 |
27 |
14 |
28 |
40 |
34 |
37 |
32 |
|
Dan River |
12 |
28 |
36 |
29 |
25 |
21 |
24 |
23 |
28 |
32 |
|
Gretna |
21 |
33 |
32 |
35 |
27 |
35 |
26 |
17 |
36 |
45 |
|
Tunstall |
9 |
8 |
37 |
31 |
22 |
30 |
30 |
36 |
39 |
37 |
Background
| Applications |
Awards/Scholarships |
Sponsorships |
Banquet | Flyer
Applications
The
application must
be submitted to guidance by:
-
Last day of September,
senior year for EARLY CANDIDATE CONSIDERATION
(includes completed application and community service log
to date) OR
-
Last day of first semester, senior year
Students must submit
their application to
their high school by this date. Informational meetings with Graduate of
Merit candidates will be held at each high school
(specific date to be announced).
To be
recognized as a Graduate of Merit, a student must earn a minimum of 155
points from the following categories. (Note: Beginning with the
Graduating Class of 2013, the student is required to earn a minimum of 170
total points to qualify.)
|
Category |
Description |
Points |
|
Final Grade Point Average |
10 points
per year for attaining a 3.0 average or above
1 additional point awarded for each tenth of a point cumulative
average above 3.0 after final GPA averages have been calculated |
40 points
variable points |
|
Total Courses |
5 points
per year in which a student takes a full complement of
credit-bearing courses |
20 points |
|
Coursework |
5 points
per year in which all courses are passed |
20 points |
|
Attendance |
5 points
per year with 95% or above attendance average
1 additional point per each percent above 95%
(cumulative four-year average) |
20 points
5 points |
|
Conduct |
5 points
each year absent bus suspensions and/or out-of-school suspensions |
20 points |
|
Community Service |
10 points
per 25 hours of service |
50 points |
|
Activities |
5 points
per year in which student participates in four or more activities
(participation shall be defined as a member in good standing) |
20 points |
Background
| Applications |
Awards/Scholarships |
Sponsorships |
Banquet | Flyer
Awards/Scholarships
Additional awards to be presented as a part of the Graduate
of Merit program are the Pinnacle Award, the Above and Beyond Volunteer Service Scholarships, the Averett University scholarships (established in 2005),
and new in 2006 the Community Scholarships, Liberty University scholarships,
The Institute for Advanced Learning Awards and the Superintendent’s 212
Award. A goal to improve the program will be to establish additional scholarship awards.
|
Mr. Shana Paul, The
Virginia Manager of Hewlett Packard Education, presents the Pinnacle
Award to Tyler Motley. The Pinnacle Award is given to that student
with the highest Graduate of Merit points. |
|
The Pinnacle Award is granted to the highest
ranked Graduate of Merit recipient. The Superintendent's 212 Award is
presented to the top Graduate of Merit recipient(s) based on Graduate of
Merit points awarded and ranked. The number of $500 scholarship awards
will be based on funding secured. |
Graduate of Merit applicants may apply for
the Above and Beyond Volunteer Scholarships (ABVS) which recognizes students
who volunteer 100 hours or more within one year. Students must meet ABVS
criteria for eligible types of volunteer services. Award recipients will
receive a certificate of achievement and and Above and Beyond keychain. The top eight (8)
ABVS recipients shall receive a
$500 scholarship, two scholarships per high school.
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Sponsorships
To continue to make the Graduate of Merit program a success, Pittsylvania
County Schools relies on business and community partnerships.
Informational letter,
sponsorship form and a listing of the 2009
candidates will be mailed to past contributors and other area businesses,
community organizations and churches at the end of January. The individual
student sponsorship fee is $75 per student.
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Banquet/Event
Specific details
relative to the banquet/recognition ceremony are in the process of being
finalized. The 2010 Graduate of Merit Recognition Ceremony will be
held on Thursday, May 20, 2010. The event will be held at the Averett
University Convocation Center (North Campus on Mount Cross Road). Final details will be forwarded to recipients and sponsors.
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Each recipient will be honored during a public ceremony/banquet. This
event is to be held at the end of the final semester and attended by
the students, parents, business sponsors and school officials.
-
Permanent notation will be located at the respective schools and
businesses.
|
|
Student Representative
Lesley Stowe during the bestowing
of the Graduate of Merit medallions. |
Forms (Documents are
in Word Format)
Information on the program may be found on
the Pittsylvania County Schools website at
http://www.pcs.k12.va.us/merit/. If you have questions, wish to
receive an informational packet or need additional information, feel free
to contact Dr. Lillian Daughtry Holland (Extension 5011) or Mrs. Tonda
Gregory
(Extension 5007) at 432-2761, 792-1624 or 656-6248. You may also
email Mrs. Gregory
Tonda.Gregory@pcs.k12.va.us. |
