On October 31, students attended an assembly to learn about Trinity High School’s new partnership with the Challenge Program and Presbyterian Senior Care Network. Together, these businesses will work to provide Trinity students with opportunities and financial awards for academic and personal achievements.

Ms. Burns, guidance counselor and proponent for the Challenge Program, explained,“the Challenge Program has two goals, to connect local businesses with schools and provide scholarships to encourage students.” 

Through these two goals, the Challenge Program hopes to encourage students to strive for improvement and focus on the skills that will help them in the future. The program specifically designed five contest categories (academic improvement, academic excellence, community service, STEM, and attendance) that place an emphasis on the characteristics that become valuable to students once they enter the workforce.

In Trinity High School, there will be one sophomore, junior, and senior awarded in each of these five categories between this spring and next fall. With support from the Presbyterian Senior Care Network, the Challenge Program will award each of these 15 selected students with $200 financial awards.  

The process of submitting nominations for these awards will not be difficult or complicated, ensuring that every student has an equal opportunity. Around the start of the second semester, an email with a Google form attached will be sent to every high school student. 

From there, students will have the opportunity to select which of the five categories they are interested in pursuing. Once students have submitted these initial nominations, teachers and administrators will review the entries and select the finalists in each grade. 

This year, Trinity students are also eligible to compete for the Challenge Program’s “Student of the Year” award. These nominations will require students to reflect on how they have improved and excelled in any of the five categories. Burns encourages students to talk to a guidance counselor if they are interested in submitting a nomination for this part of the program. 

Overall, Burns encourages students to “take the improvement message [of the Challenge Program] to heart. It could pay off.”

Without a doubt, every student has the chance to benefit from the Challenge Program. And with these opportunities and rewards, today’s students have the capability of inspiring a culture of perseverance and hard work in Trinity that will last for years to come.