BY RYAN PALENCER
CNHI
AVON — Tuesday evening’s school board meeting here was all about honoring excellence.
The Avon High School Auditorium was packed to capacity to honor the 915 students that earned all As in the 2009-10 school year.
“I have two thoughts as we get going here,” Superintendent Dr. Tim Ogle said. “It is so great to see the crowd here tonight. We have set a record with over 900 invitations being sent out to Avon boys and girls and young men and women who have achieved all As. It is unprecedented in our history and we are proud of each of you and proud of the work that has gone on throughout the school year.”
In addition, the Avon Education Foundation honored its teacher grant recipients.
Pam DeWeese, a school board member and president of the AEF, said, “The Avon Education Foundation is a non-profit organization that began back in 2001. Our sole purpose is to help embellish and enhance the educational opportunities here in Avon, because we believe in excellence. Our kids here represent that with their families.”
The AEF has also given each third-grader a free dictionary. They have given out more than 2,015 dictionaries to assist the young students with reading. The AEF also recognizes Avon alumni who are good role models. They offer a special night at the high school for the top 25 graduating seniors.
“As all of you know, the state budget cuts to education are challenging all of us, and Avon is not immune,” DeWeese said. “Requests for assistance next year are up. The good news is that the Avon Education Foundation board has decided to take on that challenge.”
School board secretary Mark Buckley said, “We have 915 students to honor for all As. That is more than 11 percent of overall student enrollment. That is a huge accomplishment.”
Anne Engelhardt, another school board member, agreed with Buckley and said, “It was very encouraging for the 915 students and their families. It was really neat to see.”
Kim Woodward, school board vice president, said it’s nice to recognize outstanding students in front of such a large crowd.
“This evening just speaks to our academic excellence in so many ways,” she said. “It’s so gratifying to be here with so much participation and so many smart kids. I really love this.”
School board president Gary Brinkman said the corporation frequently honors students.
“I don’t know how many years that we have been doing this, but it has been just a great idea,” he said. “We have done other things to raise the awareness of the academic achievement of our students, but it’s great to see the grandparents and parents (present).”
In addition, school board members stated how pleased they were with how graduation went at the new location — the Indiana Convention Center.
“I really appreciate the graduation,” Engelhardt said. “That was quite an event at the convention center. It just went really well and I want to tell the high school staff that they did a great job. It seemed to just flow.”
Woodward added, “The commencement was very well done. I heard lots of positive comments from parents about how they really didn’t miss the old gymnasium and it was very natural to have it at the convention center. Certainly, the high school staff did such a great job in pulling all of the details together.”
ryan.palencer@flyergroup.com
