Students who earned a 4.0 or higher GPA gathered in the cafeteria on March 8 with classmates and parents at 7 a.m. for the 4.0 GPA award ceremony.

Out of nearly 3,000 students at Central, 1,035 qualified for the award. This is 55 more students than last year.

“[I am] extremely proud of [the] students who have achieved a 4.0 GPA,” Principal Bill Wiesbrook said. “[To earn it], most students must put forth great effort, [which] includes significant homework, dedication and sacrifice.”

Senior Katie Kahl was selected to give a speech on the students’ shared achievement, and then the four grades separated into different rooms after, where they were individually recognized and presented their awards.

Jessica Yue, captain of the debate team, president of BPA and also a member of Mu Alpha Theta, NHS and Latin Honor Society, recognized the importance of GPA and the achievement of getting a 4.0 or higher.

“[Even though] grades and numbers aren’t everything, performing well in school is still incredibly important to your future academic career, and GPA is a good indicator of performance,” Yue said. “The 4.0 award is a great way to celebrate achievements and the work students put in consistently, with the breakfast being a nice way to do so.”

Senior Anisha Reddy agreed with Yue.

“The 4.0 awards are a great way to recognize the academic excellence our school is known for,” Reddy said. Reddy and Yue will be honored with a plaque at the Senior Awards Ceremony on May 8.

Senior Bethany Krupicka planned to organize a raffle as an incentive to attend the 4.0  award ceremony, but the idea was scrapped when staff worried that the raffle would divert attention away from the award itself.

“Unfortunately, not all members of the NCHS administration agreed that having a raffle was a positive contribution to the awards breakfast so there [was] no raffle [this year],” Krupicka said.

Wiesbrook feels proud of the students and the effort they put in to earn a 4.0 GPA.

“Hard work is a trait to be proud of and usually results in success,” Wiesbrook said. “These students and families should be very proud, and I enjoy celebrating this achievement with our students.”