The Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees has adopted a new academic honor system to replace the traditional titles of valedictorian and salutatorian, redefining the honor to more closely reflect students’ outstanding academic achievements and exemplary citizenship.
Beginning with the Class of 2022, Whittier Union will follow the Latin honors system, granting students with one of three honors: cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude status (with honor, with great honor, with highest honor).
The District will also recognize select students as Board of Trustee Award Recipients. In order to be considered as a Board of Trustee recipient, a student would have to earn the Summa Cum Laude designation and demonstrate exemplary citizenship during their four years of high school, as determined by the school.
Citizenship may include outstanding participation in school activities, school leadership, perseverance through adversity and support for the school and its students. In measuring GPAs, all courses will be included; computations will be carried out to four decimal places.
The principal at each school will form a committee that includes site administration, counselor representation and teacher and classified employee representation to make the selection for the Trustee Award(s). Students must attend a Whittier Union school for at least two years to be eligible.
“With so many outstanding students in the Whittier Union High School District, we believe that we should recognize all who pursue academic and personal excellence and give them the accolades they deserve,” Superintendent Martin Plourde said.