Raton High School Celebrates Students Awarded with Academic Honors from College Board National Recognition Program

Students at Raton High School earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Program. The Program celebrate the hard work of high school students nationwide to help them display their strong academic performance.

For the first time, the academic honors recognize first-generation students, in addition to rural and small town, Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic students. The program opens college access for more students because many institutions use the awards for their recruitment efforts.

“We are thrilled to celebrate our students and recognize them for the great work they have been doing. We are proud of their strong academic performance in the classroom and on the PSAT/College Board assessments,” said Lynette Simpson, RHS School Counselor. “This honor reinforces their individuality and achievements.”

Students were eligible for these awards based upon a combination of criteria: high GPA, scoring in the top 10% of the state, and meeting one of the special student characteristics.

Congratulations to the following students for being nationally recognized:

Hispanic Recognition Award:

L to R: Standing: Kaydence-Murcia-Trujillo (12^th) Hailey Bacca(12^th)

Sitting: Aubrey Valdez(12^th), Addison Medina (11^th), Elaina Gigante(12^th)

National Rural and Small Town Recognition Award:

L to R: Standing: Indio Ward(11^th), Faith Howard(12^th), Kaydence Murcia-Trujillo(12^th), Hailey Bacca

(12^th), Elijah Kenney (11^th)

Sitting: Aubrey Valdez(12^th), Addison Medina (11^th), Elaina Gigante(12^th)

Not pictures: Russell Simmons(12^th)

First-Generation Recognition Award:

L to R: Elijah Kenney(11^th) and Indio Ward(11^th)