By Kirsten Mahon/nw/multimedia editor
NW students who’ve worked hard to maintain good academic standing have until Nov. 4 to apply for the Outstanding Achievement Award.
NW Campus began awarding its outstanding students in 1980. Originally, the award recognized demonstrated excellence in the classroom only. Now, it encompasses campus and community involvement as well as attendance and participation.
On the application, students can review the 19 academic areas the Outstanding Achievement Award will address with 41 $200 awards available for students. Areas include aviation, visual arts, fire technology, history and a myriad of other academic concentrations available on NW.
The annual award ceremony allows students to bring their families to the banquet and tell their personal testament to a room of other outstanding students and their families and friends.
Joe Rode, NW student development services vice president, said many students who are honored weren’t encouraged to go to school and experienced much doubt.
“They sometimes would look out at the audience and challenge them and say, ‘What are you dreaming about that someone told you you can’t do? Because you can do it,’” Rode said.
Rode said one of the most memorable stories he remembers came from a woman in her late 50s who had been in prison for 10 years prior to coming to TCC.
“She said ‘I gotta tell ya,’” Rode said, laughing in memory. “‘These toilets that flush automatically, they take some getting used to.’”
Another student Rode remembers told the audience he had turned down recruitment into a gang and the award was reassurance he had made the right choice.
“Lots of people in the audience listen to the compelling stories and they almost bond with the student,” Rode said.
Applications are now available in the student activities, financial aid and counseling offices.
