Newspaper helps honor academics

With so much competition among schools on the athletic level, it is sometimes easy to ignore and lose sight of the core purpose of our schools ­ academics and preparing students for their next step in life. Recognizing academic performance and achievement should never be taken for granted.

Education is the one key to the betterment and growth of the Pennyroyal region and to our country. While industrial and retail recruitment, developing quality of life components, bettering race relations, and offering good housing are important, it is educating the people that will ultimately be the catalyst that progresses our communities.

Because of the leadership of the Kentucky New Era believe so strongly in this philosophy, the institution is on a mission to focus many of its civic efforts and resources in promoting and enhancing the awareness of education i.e. encouraging success in the classroom.

Over four years ago, the Kentucky New Era set out on a mission to recognize outstanding academic achievers and performers among the seniors from all high schools in the newspaper’s four-country coverage area, consisting of Caldwell, Christian, Todd and Trigg counties. With input from high-school representatives, college representatives and prospective sponsors, a regional academic all-star team program was developed. The underlying purpose is to let students know the community is paying attention,

How the program works

Area high schools select a senior nominee to represent their school in one of the eight disciplines: arts, career/technical, English, foreign language, journalism, math, science and social studies/economics. Both the nominee and a teacher are asked to submit an application. Representatives from the area colleges and universities judge the nominations. All nominations are recognized publicly within the paper preceding the ceremony in April and again during the event. Each nominee will receive $100 from Rotary, In order to emphasize the importance of excellence in academics, the Kentucky New Era awards a $500 scholarship to the students chosen to make up the Academic All-Star Team. In addition, four sponsors, Austin Peay State University, Hopkinsville Community College, Murray State University and Western Kentucky University, offer an additional $500 scholarship to the winners, should they attend their respective institution.

In 2005, a middle school program was added. The middle school program functions in a similar manner, though using only four disciplines, and there are no judging or financial awards.

There is a high level of promotion and recognition given to the program and the nominees prior to the culminating event.

Within a few days after the inaugural ceremony in 2003, numerous comments, phone calls and emails were received thanking the Kentucky New Era for bringing such a program to the forefront. The acceptance of the program far exceeded all expectations. More private business involvement has allowed the program to be enhanced with additional scholarships and promotion.

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