Avon High School students excelled in College Board assessments and schoolwork to earn these awards, which colleges use to identify academically competitive underrepresented students

Avon, Ind. – Thirty-four Avon High School Students have earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. These programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications. This honor meaningfully connects students with universities across the country, helping them stand out during the admissions process. Colleges and scholarship programs identify students awarded National African American, Hispanic, Indigenous and/or Rural/Small Town Recognition through College Board’s Student Search Service.

The 25 Avon High School students who are included in College Board’s African American Recognition Program are Martha Abraham, Kehinde Adeleke, Adeboye Adenuga, Yotam Ainom, Hundre Askie, Kanyinsola Bankole-Brown, Chloe Crenshaw, Olivia Fahy, Tristyn Frazier, Anthony Goines, Madisyn Harris, Jailen Johnson, Nolan Kersey, Madison King, Victor Ogunsanya, Zainab Okunola, Nathaniel Patterson, Payton Rhinehart, Darrius Sayles, Robert Sykes, Olorunkorende Tokan-Lawal, Sasha Watson, Makayla Weems, Ifeoluwa Windapo, and Hannah Wright.

Eight students are included in College Board’s Hispanic Recognition Program: Joaquin Adair, Gerry Baltierra-Burgara, Brooke Christ, Crystal Garcia, Dillon Hess, Luke Howard, Kyle Roberts, and Arizely Marte Valencia.

Malina Harris is included in the National African American and National Indigenous Recognition Programs.

“We’re thrilled that our students have earned this recognition. We are very proud of them for their achievements in their classrooms and on College Board assessments,” said Principal Matt Shockley. “Any university in the nation would be lucky to have these outstanding students.”

Students who may be eligible have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have excelled on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10, or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP Exams; and are African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, Indigenous, and/or attend school in a rural area or small town.

Eligible students apply during their sophomore or junior year and are awarded at the beginning of the following school year. Students receive their awards in time to include them on their college and scholarship applications.

“We want to honor the hard work of these students through the College Board National Recognition Programs. This program creates a way for colleges and scholarship programs to connect directly with underrepresented students who they are hoping to reach,” said Tarlin Ray, College Board senior vice president of BigFuture. “We hope the award winners and their families celebrate this prestigious honor and it helps them plan for their big futures.”