Duchesne Honors High Academic Achievement

St. Charles, MO – Duchesne High School students who earned a 3.75 or higher grade point average during the 2010-11 school year were recognized at a special awards ceremony Oct. 6. 

Ninety-nine sophomores, juniors and seniors–20 percent of Duchesne’s student body–were honored at the ceremony. First-time honorees received academic monograms; previous honorees received academic chevrons. 

Duchesne Principal Fritz Long addressed the students and their parents, likening his remarks to an academic pep talk.

“To some of you, good grades come naturally; others here need to work hard for the grades they earned,” Long said. “Whichever group you are in, I challenge you to do more. Like a coach encouraging her players to make that play again, to keep up the intensity, to not let the other team take it back – I want you to do even better.”

Long also noted that many students achieved high academic performance while participating extensively in athletics and campus organizations.

“It is great to be able to honor those students who have worked so diligently to maintain their grades while also involving themselves in all aspects of the school, whether leading a team as captain or serving the community as a volunteer,” he said.

Senior Margaret Reilly, a three-time honoree and president of Duchesne’s National Honor Society chapter, took those words to heart.

“I truly appreciate the recognition I received,” she said. “Many times, it’s easy to focus on our activities and overlook academic achievements. A special ceremony to celebrate our best students is great encouragement to stay motivated in the classroom.”