Mayah Mumpower | news editor
A new program at WHS seeks to reward high academic achievement.
Excelsior is based off of Jostens Renaissance Recognition Program.
“Other schools have done and do the Renaissance Program but the staff here wanted to call it Excelsior,” principal Jan Hutley said.
The program rewards students for having a GPA of 3.5 or higher. It is split into three tiers with various rewards and is based on the previous semesters grades.
“I hope that encourages and rewards kids to take care of their first priorities which would be their academics. And for those students who have always done that it provides not only an incentive but a reward for kids who would do it anyway,” Hutley said.
Rewards include early dismissal from advisor base on Fridays, the option to skip a final in some classes and breakfast and lunch each semester. Students at the highest tier receive all of the rewards. 40 students made the inaugural group, including 20 in the top tier.
The students of all tiers received breakfast Tuesday morning in the library, and will receive more rewards throughout the semester. After semester grades, other students, including freshmen, will have the chance to join the program — although students will also be removed if their grades fall.
“I think that it’s a good way for students to care more about their grades and it helps reward those who have been working hard instead of punishing those who don’t,” senior Kyndal Maike said.
Excelsior Program Rewards
Tier 1: 3.857-4.0 GPA — Blue Card
– Every Friday (or last day of the week) dismissed at start of AB (after checking in with AB teacher and showing your Excelsior Card)
– Opt out of 1 Final (must have an A in the class to opt out of final) (Highland Community College or other college concurrent enrollment classes are exempt from opt out)
– Breakfast once this semester
– Lunch once this semester
Tier 2: 3.71-3.856 — Red Card
– Last 2 Fridays (or last day of the week) of the month dismissed at start of AB (after
checking in with AB teacher and showing your Excelsior Card)
– Opt out of 1 Final (must have an A in the class to opt out of final) (Highland Community College or other college concurrent enrollment classes are exempt from opt out)
– Breakfast once this semester
– Lunch once this semester
Tier 3: 3.5-3.7 — White Card
– Last Friday (or last day of the week) of the month dismissed at start of AB (after
checking in with AB teacher and showing your Excelsior Card)
– Breakfast once this semester
The Charger 
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