Best High School Awards In USA | 2024 [UPDATED]

Are you a USA high school student with an excellent track record in academics, sports, and leadership? Then you should apply for any of the Best High School Awards in the USA.

This award adds a feather to your cap and improves your college admission prospects.

In addition to the award, the competitive race for the award presents a way of making High School interesting and fun for students. These awards are widely seen as the most prestigious general academic award a top high school student can achieve. 

Below are some of these awards and how and when you should apply. Before that, here’s the table of content.

#1. The President’s Educational Excellence Award

The President’s Educational Excellence award is one of the best high school awards in the USA. The office of the President of the United States grants this award.

It is awarded based on the criteria provided by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. It is granted in recognition of the student’s academic performance in the classroom.

The award is given to juniors or seniors with an average of ‘A’ grades in challenging classes and scoring highly on a national standardized test.

The award is also based on high motivation, initiative, integrity, intellectual depth, leadership qualities, a solid attendance record, and exceptional judgment.

The President’s Award for Educational Achievement is given to a senior who has shown tremendous growth, demonstrated an unusual commitment to learning in academics despite various obstacles, and improved grades to truly superior levels.  The President’s Award for Educational Achievement this year has been earned by Tal Derei.

#2. Digital Media Best High School Awards in the USA 

The Digital Media Award is given to the student who has shown excellence in producing and creating digital media.

The recipient must have demonstrated strong visual awareness and creativity while pursuing his visions through the art of photography.

He or she must have examined a particularly bleak view of human actions that lead to different results, like peace, health, destruction, and war.

The recipient must have been dedicated, creative, and spirited; she is an artist in the truest sense of the word. Digital Media Award is one of the best high school awards in the USA.

#3. Chesed Best High School Awards In the USA

This Chesed award is granted to the student who has led exemplary lives in the moral values of kindness and making the world better.

The major criterion for the award winner selection is the devotion of a student’s substantial time in and outside the school to serve a wider community. This Chesed Award is being awarded to one of the best high schools in the world.

#4. Citizen Award

This award is granted to the student who best models his school by showing what it truly means to be a contributing and supportive school community member. That is the student who takes the best advantage of the school offers.


#5. Leadership Best High School Awards in the USA

This award is granted to a junior or senior student with the highest contribution through leadership to the school community.

The recipient must have demonstrated leadership qualities in several scenes, like informal programming or the Student Government Association. Students aspiring for this award should be a shaper of consensus. He must have influenced, not only his class but the student body and faculty.


#6. Crown of a Good Name Award

Crown of a Good Name award, which is seen as one of the best high school awards in the USA, is granted to the student who best models the values of the school.

The recipient must have conducted himself with academic integrity and accomplishment and a passion for growing in ethical living and learning and must have also made significant contributions to the welfare of the school community through participation in the informal and co-curricular life of the school and be a model of a breadth of vision, reliability, and capacity for a commitment that makes for a well-developed mind, body, and spirit.


#7. Language Best High School Awards In the USA

This award is presented to students with outstanding skills in learning and excellent grades in the languages, such as German, Mandarin, Spanish, etc., who are motivated by grades and living.


#8. Excellence in English Award

This award is given to the student who goes above and beyond the normal expected English Language Arts standards, demonstrates finely tuned analytical abilities, and makes explicit that which is implicit.

While earning high marks, this student is not solely motivated by the grade. Rather, she lives poetically, being present and attentive to the nuances of language and genre.

Furthermore, she generously contributes to constructing knowledge and participates fully in the writing process. This year, the Excellence in English Award goes to Dana Bluevise.

The recipient must be motivated by the grades and live poetically, being present and attentive to the nuances of language and genre.


#9. Sport Excellence Award

Sport Excellence Award is granted to recognize outstanding skills in different sports fields, such as soccer, football, basketball, volleyball, tennis (table and lawn tennis), badminton, fencing, and other relevant sports. The recipients of these awards must have been the best in their class through their studies.

#10. The Young Scientist Award

This award is given to the student most excelling in the sciences. The recipient must have outstanding achievements in both areas of sciences (physical and life sciences) that reflect superior scientific temperament, high self-motivation, innovative, powerful critical thinking, and independent analysis skills.

#11. Senior Science Best High School Awards in the USA

This award is given to the most devoted student to the sciences. The recipient must have done outstandingly well in a large variety of science courses and must have chosen to take extra science courses in lieu of other electives, and must be planning to be a professional scientist post-college and is working accordingly toward that goal.

#12. Senior Thesis Best High School Awards in the USA

This award is given to the student who bests analyses and evaluates scholarly research to answer a self-designed essential question.

The recipient must have built content knowledge, worked collaboratively, developed critical thinking skills, and did extensive research working diligently with his teacher and mentor. His final paper must show college readiness and sophistication in style and content.

#13. Mathematics Excellence Award

This award of excellence is granted to the student who has not only produced outstanding results in mathematics but has shown a genuine interest in Mathematics and combined a natural ability in math with dedicated study habits. 

He is a role model to his classmates and a delight to his teachers.  I am pleased to present this award to Xinhao “Leo” Liu.

#14. Music, Drama, and performing Arts Department Award

This award for music is given to the student who best possesses the qualities of a performer, curiosity, talent, and creative energy by stepping up for anything needed musically at his school.

The award winner must have selflessly contributed his talents and continued to grow and master his talent throughout his stay in school. The student must also have great skill in grooming other students in the performing arts department, helping them learn and teach their parts.

#15. Information Computer Technology Award

This award is given to the most exceptional students in ICT. This award criterion includes but is not limited to excellence in programming, Internet architecture, digital design, and cybersecurity. Like other great computer scientists and computational mathematics.

The recipient of this award must have exhibited the investment, creativity, leadership, and persistence needed to solve technological challenges, bring innovative new ideas to fruition, collaborate effectively with colleagues, and hang tough when others give up.

Other Awards You Should Consider

The list below will outline mostly leadership awards you can apply for if you’re a young person passionate about leadership.

Widener University Leadership Award

Award

For the past 10 years, Widener University partnered with NBC 10 to give principals and other high school administrators in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware the opportunity to acknowledge and honor the region’s best and brightest future leaders who take it upon themselves to make a significant difference in their schools and communities.

If the selected student leader enrolls at Widener as an undergraduate student, they will participate in the Apogee Leadership Scholars Program. Our Apogee Scholars receive a $20,000 scholarship over four years and access to four years of leadership programming, including a Widener Leadership Certificate.

Eligibility

Students in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware have demonstrated leadership by standing up for what is right, finding a way to address a wrong, or making a significant difference in their schools or communities.

Deadline

Students must be nominated by their principal to progress in the competition.

2. Brower Youth Awards for Environmental Leadership

Award

Earth Island Institute established the Brower Youth Award for Environmental Leadership in 2000 to honor renowned environmental advocate David Brower, who said, “I love to see what young people can do before someone old tells them it’s impossible.” They recognize the outstanding leadership efforts of young people working to protect our shared planet.

Each of the six recipients of the Brower Youth Awards will receive a $3,000 cash prize, a professionally produced short film about their work from an Emmy Award-winning film crew, and flight and lodging accommodations for a weeklong trip to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Eligibility

Youth environmental change leaders ages 13 to 22 (as of May 14, 2024) living in North America (including Mexico, Canada, and some Caribbean Islands) and U.S. territories are encouraged to apply.

Deadline

May 2024

3. Ronald Reagan Leadership Medal

Award

This prestigious award is presented to graduating students who best exemplify the following characteristics: Drive, Humility, and Service Before Self. It allows schools to recognize outstanding high school students whose drive, integrity, and citizenship qualities are emblematic of our nation’s 40th President.

Each nominated student will receive an exclusive medallion and a letter of recognition from John Heubusch, the Executive Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. Awards will be mailed to school administrators during May, in time to be presented at a culmination ceremony, award reception, or graduation.

Eligibility

Eligible students graduate in the current academic year and exemplify the values of Drive, Humility, and Service Before Self.

Deadline

Students must be nominated by their principal in order to progress in the competition.

4. Elks Most Valuable Student Competition

Award

The VMS scholarship is open to high school seniors who are U.S. citizens. The 500 four-year scholarships are awarded based on academics, service, leadership, and financial need. Ranging from $1,000 to $12,500 per year, Most Valuable Student scholarships are for students pursuing a four-year degree full-time (minimum of 12 semester hours), in a U.S. college or university. All scholarships are in the form of certificates of award, conditional upon the full-time enrollment of the winner in an accredited U.S. college or university.

The 20 Top Finalists traditionally participate in an all-expenses-paid Leadership Weekend in Chicago, during which they’ll interview with the national judges. These 20 Finalists will be vying for two first-place awards of $50,000, two second-place awards of $40,000, and two third-place awards of $30,000. The remaining 14 finalists will receive awards of $20,000. The 480 runners-up will receive fifth-place scholarships of $4,000.

Eligibility

Current high school seniors or the equivalent citizens of the United States are eligible to apply. Applicants do not need to be related to a member of the Elks. High school graduates are not eligible to apply. Applicants must be citizens of the United States on the date their applications are submitted; permanent legal resident status does not qualify.

Deadline

November 15, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. PST

5. Young Women in Public Affairs Award

Award

Because Zonta International believes that young women are the key to women’s advancement in the field of public service, it offers the Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) Award, which recognizes young women, ages 16-19, for demonstrating leadership skills and commitment to public service and civic causes and encourages them to continue their participation in public and political life.

The program operates at the Zonta club, district/region, and international levels. Zonta clubs provide awards for club recipients, and the Zonta Foundation for Women funds district/region and international awards. District recipients receive US$1,500, and 10 international recipients are selected from the district/region recipients to receive awards of US$5,000 each.

Eligibility

Women aged 16-19 on 1 April each year, studying at a secondary school, college or university in a Zonta district/region, or who are studying elsewhere but are citizens of a Zonta country, who demonstrate evidence of the following, are eligible to apply:

  • Active commitment to volunteerism.
  • Experience in local government, student government, or workplace leadership (paid or unpaid).
  • Volunteer leadership achievements.
  • Knowledge of Zonta International and its programs.
  • Support Zonta International’s mission of empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy.

Deadline

Applications must be completed and presented to Zonta clubs according to the club’s assigned deadline. A club recipient is selected, and the application is presented to the governor/regional representative by 1 April. The district/region recipient is selected, and the application is presented to Zonta International Headquarters by 1 May.

Conclusion

If you think you have what it takes to take on any of these opportunities or win any of the awards, feel free to apply for them immediately. Good luck.

WE ALSO RECOMMEND

You May Also Like