Students who have been working hard all year deserve recognition for all their hard work. Often, when teachers celebrate progress instead of perfection, students start trusting themselves to take more responsibility and more serious time for their schoolwork. These standards and tones create a more engaged, supportive classroom environment for students to work efficiently and feel motivated and inspired enough to do so without common issues. Students around them also begin to develop a strong sense of ownership, resilience, and responsibility by honoring effort instead of completion.
Freshman James Jordan shares his experience with determination while being on honor roll, “Most times, it’s hard to feel like you’re able to do all of your work when you’re unmotivated. And when you’re anxious, it all feels super overwhelming.”
However, not every celebration is about reaching the final goal. Celebrating students that haven’t met the entire goal, but have met a piece of it, just gives them more power to believe in themselves and their goals academically. For example, one could say that they want to focus on turning all assignments in on time for an entire semester. This person could work hard all semester to achieve this goal, then be celebrated when they do.
“I love being celebrated for my [academic] achievements,” junior Dakota Miller explains. “So when the year seems to drag on, that’s my motivation for my homework.”
Some students will richly benefit from setting year-long goals and working their school years to complete them.
“I feel like if everyone had more time in the day, everyone would be at least halfway through all major assignments. But between jobs, sports, and personal struggles, homework just keeps piling up,” sophomore Rachel Rundle states, having earned honor roll while struggling with motivation.
It is also a possibility that students could have motivation at the beginning of the year, but towards the mid-year, the time seems to go so slow that their motivation for sports, assignments, and schoolwork halts.
“I love learning new things, and I also love participating in sports, and I couldn’t do that without motivating myself for my upcoming projects, assignments, tests, and games,” senior Lane Blossom states.
In order to boost student motivation mid-year, we must first assess the steps that need to be taken in order to restore willpower and determination to finish the year strong.
Spanish Professor Mateo Saucedo describes, having witnessed first-hand the effects of low motivation in students. He explains that, “Students often have a strong sense of determination and leadership when the year begins, due to school coming back around for a new year. But if you dangle a carrot, such as a reward, in front of their faces while giving them a considerably large assignment, they’re more inclined to complete their work.”
In an interviewed poll within Concord high school, five out of six students said that if there was a reward at the end of large projects and assignments, they would be ten times more determined to do their assignments on time. In another poll, six out of ten students said that if a smaller assignment does not present any challenge or opportunity to prove their dedication to education, they are much less likely to do the assignment at all.
Student Aid Amy Korman explains, “Projects and assignments need to pose enough of a challenge for students to complete them, but not so many that they feel overwhelmed. Many students feel overwhelmed by the amount of schoolwork they receive, and most have such little time to complete it.”
However, there are some students who go above and beyond when it comes to academics, and we would like to recognize them.
FRESHMAN- Jaquellinne Calva, Amariana Carter, Olivia Chadwell, Destiny Davis, Madison Drew, Peyton Easterwood, Ava Foster, Karson Frazer, Ava Hall, Jase Herendeen, Ayla Hinton, Preston Holt, Finn Hutchinson, James Jordan, Wyatt Mandrelle, Alexis Miller, Levi Otto, Audrey Pyle, Audrey Rinehart, Zakarian Stevens, Hagen Stimer, Braelynn Thorrez.
SOPHOMORE- Mya Barret, Genevieve Chadwell, Jessica Clouser, Brady Coburn, Delaney Colburn, Charles Cole, Destiny Ewers-DeLaCruz, Marcus Gill, Rakai Hill, Zane Jason, Leah Jones, Josephine Kimmel, Tru Kloack, Kaitlyn Lack, Grace Lewis, Mathon McKenzie, Allie Morris, Alyssa Persinger, Addison Riske, Rachel Rundle, Annie Saenz, Emily Smith, Gage Thurman, Carter Vandenburgh, Hunter Watts.
JUNIOR- Avery Arbuckle, Liam Bauman, Isaiah Davis, Colton Gray, Carter Keefer, Bradie Lehman, Landen Lynn, Waylon Mandrelle, Reagan Mehl, Dakota Miller, Lucy Otto, Kristen Parker, Ahvi’Ana Pearson, Hannah Ryan, Kadin Shook, Keaton Smith, Haley Stimer, Garrett Tyler, Easton Woolworth.
SENIOR – Tylend Allen, Cieara Barrett, Lane Blossom, Emma Burbo, Bella Coppernoll, Trenton Frazer, Brayden Grindall, Paul Herendeen, Maddox Hutchinson, Elizabeth Jordan, Jaylin Knoblett, Jordyan Metcalf, Saniya Newton, Brodey Persinger, Tyler Rundle, Macy Sinden, Mina Slone, Connor Stevens, Julia Stevens, Lilieana Vandenburgh.
Congratulations to all students who have accomplished honor roll for 2025-2026 semester one.
