Since 2003, the Governor’s Scholar award, with the assistance from the Iowa Farm Bureau, has been awarded to students across the state of Iowa as recognition for their academic excellence within their four years of high school. Awarded to the students with the highest cumulative GPA’s, the Governor’s Scholar award had two Pleasant Valley recipients: seniors Henry Gannaway and Kira Pielak.
At the ceremony, the students being honored received a plaque and certificate to show their accomplishments over the past 4 years. “Becoming a Governor’s Scholar was an incredible way for me to see my commitment come to fruition. It can be tough sometimes to keep up a strong work ethic in high school when much of the effort seems to be unrecognized or unrewarded, so getting this honor is an important reminder of the success that comes with dedication,” state award recipient Henry Gannaway.
Unlike other schools within the state of Iowa, PVHS does not release class rank. Class rank can be helpful for students when applying to colleges as well as scholarships, as it gives the opportunity for students to compare themselves to their peers as well as potentially challenge themselves in order to rank higher.
“I can understand, on one hand, why PV might not recognize class rank among their students, in the interest of not fostering unhealthy competition in our already competitive academically school,” says award recipient Kira Pielak. “Personally, I do wish that PV did release class rank, if only during senior year as a compromise.” With a school as large as PVHS, finding a way to appease all students and their families can be a difficult task which contributes to PVHS’s lack of rank within grades.
However, many seniors focus and work hard all four years of high school in order to get the recognition they desire, along with the awards that come with it. “ For me, this opportunity served as a validation that I had been working hard in high school, and I think that is a valuable experience for students to have,” explained Pielak.
So while PVHS doesn’t participate in class ranking, in comparison to other schools, it still gives opportunities to seniors like Gannaway and Pielak in order to celebrate the success they have had within their time at PVHS. The Governor’s Scholar award shows off the accomplishments of the finest students with the state of Iowa and it gives the recognition that for many schools goes unnoticed.
