8 - Senior Academic Awards

The Class of 2028 will honor the academic Top Scholars

Students in the top 10% of their class academically (based on weighted GPA) will be recognized as Top Scholars.

The following criteria are used to determine Department Awards at HHS. 

These awards are presented to students at the Senior Awards Night.

Students earning these awards receive a certificate and a cord to be worn with their cap & gown at commencement.

Cords are different colors that correspond with each department

Students can earn multiple cords

Achievement

To earn this award, a Senior must:

• Have consistently excelled academically.

• Have consistent improvement and/or a C or higher.

• Have developed skills for adult living.

• Have established goals and achieved them.

Adapted PE

To earn this award, Seniors must have:

• Taken Adapted Physical Education for two trimesters.

• A positive attitude toward Adapted Physical Education.

• Represented Hudsonville High School with respect, responsibility, and integrity during all field trips.

• Demonstrate consistent effort and a positive willingness to try.

Art

To earn this award, a Senior must have:

• A 3.5 GPA or higher in Art courses.

• Completed at least 5 Art trimester courses. 

  • Trimester 3 of their senior year will be included.

  • Classes taken must include multiple advanced classes (Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Art III, and/or AP Studio Art)

• A unique command of skills and techniques with various materials and media.

• Be a leader in the classroom and use class time efficiently.

• Approval from all teachers in the Art Department.

Blood Donor for Life

To earn this award, Seniors must have

• Attempted to donate blood with our partner donation company 6 times during their 4 years of high school.

OR

• Worked 6 hours at blood drives hosted at HHS.

Business

To earn this award, a Senior must have earned an A or A- in 7 of the courses listed below:

• Introduction to Business

• Entrepreneurship

• Financial Management A

• Financial Management B

• Sports Marketing A

• Sports Marketing B

• Accounting A

• Accounting B

• Accounting C

• Business Tech 1

• Business Tech 2

• Microsoft Excel

• School Store Management (1 section)

Computer Science Award

To earn this award, a Senior must have completed AP Computer Science A with an A or A- and have taken the AP Computer Science A exam.

• They also must have completed 4 additional classes with an A or A- from the following courses listed below:

  • Intro to Programming

  • Python

  • Advanced Programming

  • Cybersecurity

  • 3D Modeling

  • Game Design

  • AP Computer Science Principles

English Language Arts

Senior award winners are nominated by and voted on by English Department members for exemplary performance and achievement in their English and Language Arts coursework.

Award categories are:

• Academic Writing

• Creative Writing

• English Elective Studies

• Literature Studies

• Performance

English Language Arts - Performance

To earn this award, a Senior must have accumulated 4+ points from the following criteria. Students earn points by completing:

• Class work

  • Intro to Drama (required)

  • Advanced Drama (required)

• Participation

  • Attending Drama Club consistently

  • Performing in the Fall Play and/or Spring Musical (on stage, backstage, or directing)

Family and Consumer Science 

To earn this award, a Senior must have:

• Taken at least 5 trimesters of department classes, only one of those can be an Independent Study. The third trimester of Senior year counts in this requirement.

• Had an A or A- in all classes.

• 6 or fewer excused absences. (School related absences do not count)

• Exhibited character/leadership in the classroom.

The Family and Consumer Science Department has final discretion on any award winner.

LINKS

To earn this award, Seniors must meet the following requirements::

• 4 or more trimesters of LINKS

• 6 or less absences as a LINK, per trimester (Unless school related/Special Olympics)

• Grade 94% or higher 

• Strong teacher recommendation

Mathematics

To earn this award, Seniors must have:

• Completed AP Calculus

• Earned an A or A- in all high school math courses taken

Earning a score of 5 on the AP Statistics exam or a 5 on the AP Precalculus exam prior to their Senior year can result in an exception to the math course grade requirements.

Music - Instrumental Band

• To earn this award, Seniors must have: 

  • Been a part of the Band Program since 6th grade and have contributed to the Band Program by participating in Marching Band, Jazz Band, Winter Drum Line, Winter Color Guard, Pep Band or by taking lessons.

Music - Instrumental Orchestra

• To earn this award, Seniors must have:

  • Been a part of the Orchestra Program since 6th grade and have contributed to the Orchestra Program by participating in ASE, Orchestra Council, community performances, music lessons and other additional performances.

Music - Vocal

To earn this award, Seniors must have:

• Taken choir class all three trimesters for four years AND has successfully participated in TWO of the following vocal music events:

  • Private voice lessons

  • Musical Theater Solo & Ensemble

  • Classical Solo & Ensemble

  • All-State Choir

  • Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp or Interlochen Center for the Arts Camp

  • HHS Performance Tour Choir (USA or International)

  • HHS Musical Cast or Backstage Crew for one or more musicals

  • Participate in multiple HHS choirs in one school year

Physical Education

To earn this award, Seniors must have:

• At least 4 trimesters of 2 different Physical Education classes above and beyond the required classes and performed at a high level.

• Successfully taken and completed a PEAK Performance Class and/or a Strength Class.

• A positive attitude toward Physical Education and its goals along with a teacher recommendation.

• A personal, self guided work ethic.

• Demonstrated consistent effort and leadership to others.

• Made Physical Education better because of the participation and example.

Science

• 10 Seniors will be recognized by the Science Department for exemplary performance and achievement in their Science Department coursework.

• To earn this award, a Senior must have passed the most trimesters of Science with a 3.0 GPA or higher, excluding Independent Study.

Social Studies

To earn this award, Seniors must have:

• Taken at least 2 AP courses and earned an overall grade of an A- or better in each class.

  • AP weighting does not apply in this award qualification

OR

• Taken 4 of the 6 elective courses listed and earned an overall grade of an A- or better in each class.

  • The 4 electives must be completed by the end of Trimester 2 of the student's senior year.

    • Current Events: Making History

    • Early World History

    • Psychology

    • Sociology

    • US History C

    • World at War

OR

• Taken at least 1 AP course and earned an overall grade of an A- or better in each class as well as 3 elective courses with an A- or better in each class.

  • The electives should be completed by the end of Trimester 2 of the student's senior year.

Vocational/Technical Education

To earn this award, Seniors must have:

• Achieved a 3.75 GPA in Vocational Education courses.

• Displayed characteristics of leadership.

• A positive school attendance record.

• Produced an outstanding project for MITES.

• Completed at least 6 trimesters in Vocational Education courses.

• Demonstrated the ability to work with others, shown outstanding work and study habits and demonstrated an excellent attitude towards school.

World Language

To earn this award, Seniors must have:

• Successfully completed 3 years of the same language - Chinese or German

OR

• Successfully completed 4 years of Spanish.

• Maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.75 (A-) or better in all World Language courses. Exceptions may be made at teacher discretion due to curriculum changes.

• Demonstrated speaking, listening, reading and writing skills that commensurate with the level studied as determined by the instructor in each language taken.

• Demonstrated a positive attitude and an evident love of the language.

• Approval from all World Language teachers.

World Language (Seal of Biliteracy)

To earn this award, Seniors must have taken the AVANT test and scored a 6 in all four categories of language acquisition.

Yearbook/Newspaper

To earn this award, Seniors must have been an editor for the Yearbook or Newspaper.