Barbara Lawlor, Nederland. A plethora of door prizes, a stack of plaques, a pile of scholarship checks, and cum laude sashes awaited graduates at the Nederland High School Senior  Recognition Night hosted by the Nederland Lions Club. Not to mention the NHS water bottles.

Recognition night is an annual event in which local organizations contribute to the future of graduating seniors. Local businesses donated gift certificates and cash awards for the door prizes, which were given out between award presentations last Wednesday night, May 21.

A couple of years ago, BVSD discontinued the appointments of valedictorian and salutatorian, opting for cum laude designations according to grade point averages. Those with a 3.95+ GPA received a Cum Laude white sash: Mackenzie Radandt and Dante Pasionek. Those with a 4.3+ GPA received a Magna Cum Laude blue sash: Kalina Culver, Jake Gerecht, Taylor Coons and Elizabeth Berumen-Gonzalez. Those with a 4.55+ GPA received a Summa Cum Laude gold sash: Anne Cox.

NMSHS principal Adam Fels and Counselor Aly Shambo placed the sashes on the graduates.

Frank and Susan Lutz presented the Peak to Peak Rotary Excellence in the Arts Awards: Ben Rubio for Music; Jacob Gerecht for instrumental music, and Amber Clasby and Cheyenne Clutter for general arts.

Anne Cox received the Everance College Scholarship for $750, the Kiwanis Scholarship for $1,000; Lions Club Scholarship for $2,000 and the Peak to Peak Rotary Scholarship for $1,000.

Jacob Gerecht received a United Power Scholarship for $500 and the NHS Robotics Scholarship for $1000.

Cheyenne Gehardus received the Alan Green Memorial Foundation scholarship for $2,000.

Taylor Coons received the Alan Green Memorial Foundation scholarship for $2,000.

Elizabeth Berumen-Gonzalez received the Alan Green Memorial Foundation scholarship for $2,000.

Isaac Thibedeau received the Lions Club Scholarship for $1,000.

After the awards were presented, Principal Fels told the audience,“Their honors are our honors.”