ACCOLADES

Opportunities for
RECOGNITION, HONORS, and AWARDS

*updated for 2025-2026

WHHS Honors Night Subject Awards

Art Senior Award of Distinction

Each year, one senior is recognized at WHHS Honors Night with the Art Senior Award of Distinction. This award honors a senior artist who has consistently demonstrated excellence in both artistic growth and personal character throughout WHHS art journey.

In addition to strong artistic skill and scholarship, this student shows enthusiasm, initiative, and leadership in the art community. They may have participated in art based service opportunities, supported peers, and contributed to a positive studio culture. Most importantly, they have shown a deep commitment to continuing their creative journey after high school, with future plans that reflect their passion for and continued involvement with the arts.

The recipient of this award represents what it means to be a principled, driven, and united artist—and a lifelong creative thinker.

Underclassman Art Award

Each year, one underclassman (grades 9–11) is recognized at WHHS Honors Night with the Art Underclassman Award. This award is given to the art student who best embodies the Spartan characteristics of being Principled, Driven, and United, both in and out of the art studio.

This student consistently demonstrates creativity, strong work ethic, and a collaborative spirit. Whether through classroom projects, participation in art events, or supporting peers, the recipient of this award leads by example and contributes positively to the WHHS art community. Their passion for art and dedication to growth mark them as a rising leader among their peers.

WHHS Senior Fine Arts Honors Night
Awards and Recognitions

NAHS Award of Distinction

Each year we select three West Hall NAHS members that embody the characteristics of both
Sparta as well as the three character traits of the National Art Honor Society.

Principled, Driven, and United and Character, Service, and Scholarship

These students are recognized during the Senior Fine Arts Honors Night in April.

Fine Arts Community Service Recognition

West Hall Fine Arts students who complete 120 hours or more of fine arts-based community service during their four years of high school are recognized for their outstanding commitment to using their creative talents in service to others.

This award honors students who go above and beyond the Hall County School District’s recommended service expectations, consistently demonstrating leadership, initiative, and a strong connection to their community through the arts. While many hours are earned through active membership in NAHS, Thespians, or Tri-M, service may also include mentoring younger students, assisting in outreach programs, or contributing to collaborative art projects and public installations.

Students who meet the 120-hour threshold receive formal recognition during Senior Fine Arts Honors Night. In previous years, recipients were awarded certificates. Beginning in 2026, qualifying students will also receive a silver honor cord to wear at graduation, symbolizing their dedication to both the arts and community service.

To be eligible, all service hours must be clearly documented on the West Hall Fine Arts website.

National Art Honor Society Cord

The National Art Honor Society rainbow honor cord intertwines one strand of purple, yellow, and green with another strand of blue, orange, and red. Worn during graduation, the rainbow cord is a symbol of a student’s artistic excellence, strong character, and commitment to service through the arts. It marks the graduate as a creative leader and a proud member of the National Art Honor Society.

To earn the right to wear the official National Art Honor Society rainbow honor cord at graduation, a student must remain a member in good standing through their senior year.

To remain in good standing, members must:

Be officially inducted into the West Hall High School Chapter of the National Art Honor Society
Pay annual National Art Honor Society dues
Maintain a B average or higher in all art classes, as required by the National Art Education Association
Graduate with a minimum 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
Demonstrate integrity and leadership, with no incident reports on file
Complete and document a minimum of 20 fine arts-based community service hours during their senior year on their personal Fine Arts website

Georgia Department of Education
Fine Arts Diploma Seal

The Georgia Department of Education’s Fine Arts Diploma Seal is awarded to graduating seniors who have demonstrated a high level of commitment, achievement, and leadership in the fine arts throughout high school. This state-recognized honor reflects not only artistic skill, but also dedication to service, collaboration, and creative growth.

To earn the right to wear the official Georgia Fine Arts Diploma Seal honor cord at graduation, students must meet all requirements set by the Georgia Department of Education.

FOUR FINE ARTS CREDITS
Students must successfully complete a Fine Arts Pathway by earning three credits in the same arts discipline—visual art, music, or theatre—and a fourth credit in either the same discipline, another fine arts discipline, or an approved creative industry course.

20 HOURS OF SERVICE
In their senior year, students must complete a minimum of 20 hours of arts-based community service.

FINE ARTS EXTRACURRICULAR
Students must participate in two or more fine arts-related clubs or organizations during their senior year, one of which must be active membership in NAHS, Thespians, or Tri-M.

SENIOR CAPSTONE
At West Hall High School, the required Capstone Project must include clear documentation of all the above requirements, along with a senior artist biography published on the student’s personal Fine Arts website.

Graduates who earn this honor will receive both the Georgia Fine Arts Diploma Seal honor cord to wear at graduation and the official gold seal on their diploma, awarded by the Georgia Department of Education.

This seal signals to colleges, universities, and employers that the student has completed a rigorous, specialized pathway in the fine arts and is well-prepared for continued study or a career in the creative industry.

Fine Arts Diploma Seal Checklist

IB Visual Arts Career Pathway

The IB Visual Arts Career Pathway Recognition is awarded to exemplary seniors enrolled in the IB Career-related Programme (CP) who have demonstrated an exceptional level of dedication, achievement, and leadership in the visual arts. This honor is reserved for students who have successfully completed the full requirements of the National Art Honor Society, the Georgia Fine Arts Diploma Seal, and the specialized criteria of the IB Career Pathway in Visual Arts.

This prestigious recognition reflects a student’s ability to integrate creative practice with academic rigor, community engagement, and global-minded learning. These students are true scholar-artists, prepared for both post-secondary study and careers in the creative industry.

This distinction represents a multi-year journey through the visual arts program at West Hall High School. Students who receive this recognition typically begin their pathway as freshmen by completing Visual Arts I or II, and continue with a second art course during their sophomore year—ideally AP Art & Design, which prepares them for the demands of upper-level coursework.

As juniors, students begin the IB Visual Arts course, alongside two additional IB Diploma Programme courses:

One must be an IB Modern Language, and
The second is commonly IB English A or another IB academic course of the student’s choosing.

At the end of junior year, students complete an external assessment by submitting an AP Art & Design Portfolio, demonstrating technical proficiency, creative development, and conceptual growth. While enrollment in the AP course is not required to submit the portfolio, it is strongly encouraged.

In addition to their IB coursework, students in the Career-related Programme must complete the IB CP Core, which includes both a Community Engagement project and Language & Cultural Studies, reinforcing the program’s global and service-oriented focus.

During their senior year, students must be active members of the National Art Honor Society and fulfill all requirements to graduate with NAHS honors, including:

Paying annual dues
Being officially inducted into NAHS
Maintaining a B average or higher in all art courses
Graduating with a minimum GPA of 2.0
Demonstrating leadership, integrity, and service throughout their time in the program

To fulfill the requirements for the Georgia Fine Arts Diploma Seal, students must also:

Complete a minimum of 20 hours of arts-based community service during senior year
Actively participate in two or more fine arts-related organizations—typically fulfilled through NAHS membership and participation in the IB Art Exhibition

Finally, each student completes a Senior Capstone Project that documents their pathway, service, extracurricular involvement, and artistic growth. This includes a published Senior Artist Biography and Reflection on their journey as an IB Artist, showcased on their personal Fine Arts website.

IB Visual Arts Career Pathway Checklist