Two years ago, administrators revamped the honors diploma program at Montezuma-Cortez High School to focus more on preparing students for college.
This year, six seniors were on the honors track, but next year’s senior class has 29 participating, said program sponsor Sonja Copeland.
“It’s a college prep track, but it can also simply be a life focus track,” said Copeland, who teaches French at M-CHS. “We’re trying to help kids find their top three passions and figure out who they want to be as an adult.”
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.
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.
The school redesigned the program to give students an opportunity they didn’t have before, Copeland said. Since M-CHS students live in such an isolated area, sometimes they don’t get to participate in things students in other areas might get to take advantage of, she said.
“We’re trying to give students access to things their peers in other areas have access to,” Copeland said. “The bottom line is preparing for college.”
The only criterion for the seniors’ presentation is something that shows “the greater good,” 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.
Current M-CHS juniors said the honors track involves lots of hard work, but it’s worth it. Micah Hightower said he made the better decision in choosing to pursue the honors track instead of the standard diploma.
“It makes me work harder and manage time better,” he said.
Sam Allsup said the honors program “pushes you to do better.”
Sam Bagge said honors students stick together and get to know each other during high school.
“You get to bond with the same group,” she said.
Michelle Hoy said her high school experience would have been different if she hadn’t chosen to go for an honors diploma.
“I wouldn’t have pushed to take harder classes,” she said.
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