Urbandale High School Receives Award For Academic Excellence And Outstanding Achievement Among State's 4A High Schools

URBANDALE, IA. -- Urbandale High School today was named second among Class 4A metro high schools and fifth overall in Iowa in the Bank Iowa Traveling Challenge Cup Competition for the 2016-17 school year. The statewide competition honors high school students for academic excellence and outstanding achievement in state-level competitions. It began in 2007.

“Urbandale High School has always taken great pride in creating high-quality educational experiences in the classroom and exceptional leadership experiences on the courts, fields and stage,” Urbandale High School Principal Tim Carver said in a press release. “It is great when the work and preparation put in by our students, teachers, athletes, coaches, performers and directors gets recognized at such a high level. We want to thank Bank Iowa and its supporters for this honor.”

In the Bank Iowa competition, points are given for every activity in which a school reaches or advances in a state competition, receives Division I ratings or earns academic recognition from the Iowa High School Athletic association, Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, Iowa High School Speech Association or Iowa High School Music Association.

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“Our placement in the final 2016-2017 standings of the Bank Iowa Challenge Cup further demonstrates the team approach we employ in activities at Urbandale High School,” said William Watson, the district director of activities and community education. “Our students, coaches and directors work hard to ensure that they are successful not only within the context of their individual activity, but ensure that students understand the importance of and represent those positive values that participation can help instill.”

Urbandale students can be involved in 26 activities throughout high school. Six years ago, the Urbandale Activities Department began researching and assessing leadership development programs that could be implemented within the activities program.

Collaborating with the Drake University Robert D. and Billie Ray Center and the Institute for Excellence and Ethics in Manlius, New York, the district created the JHawk Foundations program, which focuses on character and leadership development for students in activities. The program is based on collegiate-level programs but unique to high schools, the district press release said.

Waukee High School took top honors among 4A high schools in the Bank Iowa Traveling Challenge Cup Competition. Other metro-area schools placing in the top 10 were Ankeny High School in seventh place and West Des Moines Valley High School in eighth place.

Image via Urbandale Schools website