National Recognition Programs

Like you, we are committed to elevating all students, especially those who are historically underrepresented on college campuses. Let us help you celebrate the top-performing underrepresented students at your school. Recognition is a signal to colleges that want to recruit awardees. The 2024 recognition awards have been announced.

How to Celebrate Awardees in Your School

Educators across the country tell us they celebrate awardees in school and throughout the community. Here are three ways you can celebrate your students:

If your school has awardees, this is an opportunity for your community to celebrate! The academic honors reflect the achievement of both the individual and the school. Educators across the country share three things you can do: 

1. Create School and Community Announcements: Use the celebration toolkit to celebrate your awardees on social media, in a district newsletter, or press release to local media. 

2. Showcase your Students on Social Media: When you post on social media, use one of the graphics below to celebrate your National Recognition Programs awardees. 

3. Host an Award Ceremony: Add your awardees’ names to the PowerPoint template to highlight students during your in-school celebrations and award ceremonies. 

Which of Your Students Are Eligible?

Sophomores 

• Must have a GPA of B+ (equal to at least 3.3 or 87%-89%) or higher at the time they are submitting. Weighted and unweighted GPAs are considered. 

• Must have a permanent address in the United States, a U.S. territory or U.S. military base, or attend a Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) school. U.S. citizenship is not required. 

• Must identify as Black/African American, Latino/Hispanic, Indigenous/Native, first-generation college student, or attend high school in a rural area or small town. 

• Must be in the top 10% among PSAT 10 and PSAT/NMSQT test takers in their state for their award program OR have received a 3+ score on at least 2 distinct AP Exams in 8^th or 9^th grade. 

Juniors 

• Must have a GPA of B+ (equal to at least 3.3 or 87%-89%) or higher at the time they are submitting. Weighted and unweighted GPAs are considered. 

• Must have a permanent address in the United States, a U.S. territory or U.S. military base, or attend a DoDEA school. U.S. citizenship is not required. 

• Must identify as Black/African American, Latino/Hispanic, Indigenous/Native, first-generation college student, or attend high school in a rural area or small town. 

• Must be in the top 10% among PSAT 10 and PSAT/NMSQT test takers in 11^th grade in their state for their award program OR have received a 3+ score on at least 2 distinct AP Exams by the end of 10^th grade.  

The first-generation programs is new this year. If one or both student’s parents do not have a bachelor's degree, the student can qualify as first generation. A student’s parents may have some education and still qualify.
 

What Do Students Need to Know?

Students were notified via email  August 2024 if they were awarded. Awardees can download their certificates on BigFuture under My Profile.

As importantly, colleges and universities use these honors to identify and contact high-achieving students who have opted in and are participating in Student Search Service™. When students are opted in, they hear from colleges and universities that want to recruit awardees like them.

Learn about the National Recognition Programs.
 

For questions about National Recognition Programs, please contact us at: [email protected].