GENERAL
Wisconsin Statute section 38.41 establishes the Academic Excellence Higher Education Scholarship. The intent of these scholarships is to recognize Wisconsin’s high achieving pupils and to provide an incentive encouraging these students to attend eligible Wisconsin institutions.
CRITERIA
1. Pursuant to Wisconsin Statute section 39.41(1m)(a), the School Board shall annually, by February 15, name the twelfth grade pupil who has the highest grade point average as defined by Board policy number 345.12 and as shown on that pupil’s official transcript as of the last day of the last semester that ended just prior to the February 15 deadline as eligible for this scholarship.
2. Pursuant to Section HEA 9.05(1) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, the following eligibility criteria are hereby established for students competing for the scholarship:
a. Students must have attended the River Valley high school full time for the three semesters prior to the determination of scholarship and have attained senior status. A “senior” is defined as a student who is enrolled in his or her eighth semester of high school and who has completed at least 21 credits.
b. Full time open enrollment students will be considered eligible for the scholarship provided they meet all other criteria as required under HEA 9.04(2).
c. The student must have the highest grade point average as calculated according to Board policy number 345.12.
TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURE
If two or more students have the same grade point average the following criteria, in rank order, will be used to determine the eligible student:
a. If the eligible students’ grade point averages (GPAs) are identical, then the student with the most credits in the core academics area will be awarded the honor. The core academic area is defined as mathematics, social studies, science and English.
b. If the eligible students’ GPAs are identical and criteria (a.) does not determine the recipient, then the student with the highest composite American College Test (ACT) score available as of the end of the seventh semester will be awarded the honor. This score must be in the guidance department by the end of seven semesters to be considered. At this level a student not taking the ACT forfeits consideration for valedictorian or salutatorian.
If a student has taken the exam more than once, then the highest composite score received, prior to the end of the seventh semester, will be used for tie-breaking purposes.
c. If the eligible students’ GPAs are identical and the criteria (a.) and (b.) do not determine the recipient, then the students with the most credits through seven semesters will receive the honor.
d. If none of the criteria listed above break the tie, then the tie shall be broken by a chance drawing of names.
A senior is considered qualified for the scholarship if he/she is admitted to and enrolls, on a full-time basis, in a center or institution within the University of Wisconsin system or Wisconsin Technical College system or a participating private university in the state. This must be done by September 30 of the academic year immediately following the school year in which the senior was designated as the scholar.
APPROVED: July 11, 1991
REVISED: June 11, 1998
APPROVED: June 25, 1998
12/21/2004 pw