Volunteer Scholars is an awarding organization for the President’s Award of Outstanding Academic Excellence. This award is part of the President’s Education Awards Program (PEAP) through the US Department of Education.
The President’s Award of Outstanding Academic Excellence recognizes students who have achieved academic excellence and who are “graduating” from elementary school (completing 6th grade, rising 7th grader); middle school (completing 8th grade, rising 9th grader); and high school (graduating 12th grader). This award is a commendation and validation of academic success and will be a noteworthy accomplishment on a student’s record or personal resume.
**Applicants must be members of Volunteer Scholars at the Elite level to be considered for this award.**
Award
Students will receive a stamped and enameled metal pin and downloadable, print-ready certificate. All recipients earn a 1″ diameter enameled lapel pin: 6th graders receive the blue/gold; 8th graders receive the red/gold; and 12th graders receive the black/gold.
Eligibility
Membership Level
Students must be Elite or Elite Senior members of Volunteer Scholars to be considered for this award.
Grade
Student must be in 6th grade, 8th grade, or 12th grade during the membership year to receive this award.
Student Status
Members must be enrolled in public school, private school, parochial school, charter school, home school, online or virtual school, hybrid of these, or community college (through age 18).
6th Graders
Report Cards or Transcript
Upload the final report cards or transcript for 5th and 6th grade. Report cards or transcript should list subjects studied and letter grade awarded (A, B, C, D, F), where an A represents at least a 90% mastery. Overall grades from 5th-6th grade must average to 90% to be eligible.
Parent Statement
Provide a written parent statement discussing student’s academic motivation, initiative, integrity, intellectual depth, leadership qualities, and/or exceptional judgement. Statement should be limited to 500 words.
Test Scores
Upload a copy of results (scores) from a nationally normed, standardized achievement test which reflects at least 6th grade level and has a composite score of 90th percentile or higher. Common nationally normed tests include California Achievement Test, Stanford, and Iowa Test of Basics Skills, but other tests will be considered if scores are reported as nationally normed.
8th Graders
Report Cards or Transcript
Upload the final report cards or transcript for 7th and 8th grade. Report cards or transcript should list subjects studied and letter grade awarded (A, B, C, D, F), where an A represents at least a 90% mastery. Overall grades from 5th-6th grade must average to 90% to be eligible.
Parent Statement
Provide a written parent statement discussing student’s academic motivation, initiative, integrity, intellectual depth, leadership qualities, and/or exceptional judgement. Statement should be limited to one typed page.
Test Scores
Upload a copy of results (scores) from a nationally normed, standardized achievement test which reflects at least 6th grade level and has a composite score of 90th percentile or higher. Common nationally normed tests include California Achievement Test, Stanford, and Iowa Test of Basics Skills, but other tests will be considered if scores are reported as nationally normed.
12th Graders
Transcript
Submit a high school transcript reflecting high school work from 9th through 12th grade. The high school transcript should identify the titles of all high school courses, grades earned, and GPA.
GPA
Transcript should include student’s GPA, calculated over 8 semesters, on a 4.0 scale. Quality points can be awarded for honors classes (+0.5), AP (+1.0) or dual enrollment (+1.0). Overall high school GPA must be 3.5 or higher for this award.
Student Activities
Provide a student resume or one-page typed statement of activities, written by the student, listing his/her extracurricular activities, leadership, volunteer work, employment, sports, awards, or honors in high school.
Entrance Exam Score
Provide a copy of standardized test results from a college entrance exam (SAT or ACT) reflecting a score of 90th percentile or higher.
Award Year
The PEAP award year shall run from September 1 through August 31 each year. All PEAP documentation must be entered in the Volunteer Scholars online portal by 11:59 pm on August 31. Applications received after that time cannot be counted for the closing year, nor can they be carried forward to the next year.