This year, six seniors were on the honors track, but next year\u2019s senior class has 29 participating, said program sponsor Sonja Copeland.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a college prep track, but it can also simply be a life focus track,\u201d said Copeland, who teaches French at M-CHS. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to help kids find their top three passions and figure out who they want to be as an adult.\u201d<\/p>\n
Honors students pick three areas of academic success that they will focus on throughout their four years at M-CHS. Those typically are subjects such as math, science or English, Copeland said. Students also must identify career aspirations, complete 80 hours of community service and maintain a 3.2 grade point average over four years.<\/p>\n
Senior year for honors students culminates with each student making a 15-minute presentation before a committee on a topic of their choice. Teachers, parents and administrators judge the presentations, and the winner is awarded a $500 scholarship. This year, only one scholarship was awarded, but next year there will be two, Copeland said.<\/p>\n
The school redesigned the program to give students an opportunity they didn\u2019t have before, Copeland said. Since M-CHS students live in such an isolated area, sometimes they don\u2019t get to participate in things students in other areas might get to take advantage of, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re trying to give students access to things their peers in other areas have access to,\u201d Copeland said. \u201cThe bottom line is preparing for college.\u201d<\/p>\n
The only criterion for the seniors\u2019 presentation is something that shows \u201cthe greater good,\u201d Copeland said. One senior this year argued in his presentation that students are better off if they take music classes in school, she said. Next year, a fine arts component will be added to the program, so seniors will be able to incorporate a performance in their presentations if they choose, she said.<\/p>\n
Current M-CHS juniors said the honors track involves lots of hard work, but it\u2019s worth it. Micah Hightower said he made the better decision in choosing to pursue the honors track instead of the standard diploma.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt makes me work harder and manage time better,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Sam Allsup said the honors program \u201cpushes you to do better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sam Bagge said honors students stick together and get to know each other during high school.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou get to bond with the same group,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Michelle Hoy said her high school experience would have been different if she hadn\u2019t chosen to go for an honors diploma.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t have pushed to take harder classes,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n