Danville High School students have earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs.

These National Recognition Programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications and connect students with universities across the country, helping them meaningfully connect to colleges and stand out during the admissions process. Colleges and scholarship programs identify students awarded National African American, Hispanic, Indigenous and/or Rural/Small Town Recognition through College Board’s Student Search Service.

The following DHS students have been recognized with the National Rural and Small Town Award:

• Junior Simon Drake
• Junior Carmindy Phillips
• Senior Ramona Pierce
• Senior Kira Pusateri
• Senior Chloe Strysick

Another DHS student who is no longer enrolled in the district was recognized with both a NRSTA and National African American Recognition Award.

 

A few of the students commented on what the award means to them. 

Pierce said it's rewarding to see hard work pay off.

"It's nice to be recognized as someone in a small town, someone in a more rural area, comparatively, have a little recognition," she said. 

Likewise, Pusateri said, "It's good to succeed and do well."

Strysick said, "I'm really grateful for the opportunities that I've gotten at Danville, and I think it can be hard to be in a smaller school, but I think it's so unique, and it's really an opportunity that I'm more grateful of, and I'm happy we were recognized in that sense." 

DHS leadership is thrilled that these students have earned this recognition and is proud of their achievements in their classrooms and on assessments.

Students who may be eligible have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have excelled on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10, or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP Exams; and are African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, Indigenous, and/or attend school in a rural area or small town.

Eligible students will be invited to apply during their sophomore or junior year and will be awarded at the beginning of the next school year. Students will receive their awards in time to include them on their college and scholarship applications. 

“We want to honor the hard work of these students through the College Board National Recognition Programs," said Tarlin Ray, College Board senior vice president of BigFuture. “This program creates a way for colleges and scholarship programs to connect directly with underrepresented students who they are hoping to reach. We hope the award winners and their families celebrate this prestigious honor and it helps them plan for their big future.”