Academic Awards Night

I still can't believe a district that doesn't honor the valedictorian... That's crazy.
 
candide72 said:
I still can't believe a district that doesn't honor the valedictorian... That's crazy.
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Our school is ending it after this year for some reason. Principal told me some in the administration don’t like it.
 
candide72 said:
I still can't believe a district that doesn't honor the valedictorian... That's crazy.
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Not only do we not have a valedictorian, we no longer have a homecoming or Prom king and queen, reasons for not wanting to offend transgender students.
I find this logic ridiculous as this does not help include any particular group...it just excludes everyone IMHO.
 
DD attended a 100-year-old all-girls school that never had a student attend a Service Academy. You would have thought she was selected to fly to the moon when her BGO presented her appointment. Two years later they still request that she come by the school in uniform and post her picture with the school director on their website and FB page. To them it remains a big deal.
 
A1Janitor said:
My son told me he is going to acknowledge his classmates that are entering service in his valedictorian speech before anyone else. We have west point, full AFROTC, and so far three enlisted to army.
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That is great. As of last year, DS's school did away with valedictorians. I think it was a good decision because it coincided with doing away with grade weighting, which really skews the overall GPA in a school with both IB diploma students and regular curricula students. What they now do is put out a request to any graduating senior to submit a topic for a 4-minute graduation speech and someone in the faculty (or a committee) chooses one student to give the speech, based on the topic. My DS submitted the topic of the class's duty to service. He was not selected. So, it will be "informative" to learn who was selected and what their topic will be.

I am not looking forward to graduation. We have three graduating over the next month - BS in bioproducts engineering, MS in environmental engineering, and high school. I jokingly told my wife that maybe I could schedule my upcoming dental crown replacement for one of those dates. (There is a special place in heaven for all you BGOs who have to sit though many awards ceremonies and graduations for people you are not related to. Thank you!)
 
The only graduation I ever attended and liked was my daughter’s.

I will be sad at my son’s because I Day is the day before graduation. It’s also my daughter’s 21st birthday. So she and I might have a few drinks before. I told her I am so excited for her to have her first drink!
 
Our DD is USNA Foundation sponsored (will be attending MMI) and her Blue and Gold contacted her to come to her senior awards night to honor her. It is a great accomplishment for all kids appointed or sponsored and they should be recognized for their hard work.
 
candide72 said:
I still can't believe a district that doesn't honor the valedictorian... That's crazy.
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In the district where we're from, they did away with that years ago so not surprised by this. Also, many now don't call out SA appointees for anything special but rather acknowledge all those who will be going into military service in whatever form that is.
 
Sydney C. said:
candide72 said:
I still can't believe a district that doesn't honor the valedictorian... That's crazy.
Click to expand...

In the district where we're from, they did away with that years ago so not surprised by this. Also, many now don't call out SA appointees for anything special but rather acknowledge all those who will be going into military service in whatever form that is.
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How do you feel about this?
 
My DS has had both sides of the coin as far as questions of “why in the world he would want to serve” and “I admire your desire to keep our nation safe”. His school has been very supportive and encouraging. When he received his MOC nomination they posted his photo in the schools social media accounts. Many of his peers came up and congratulated him after the post. One of the moments he told me about was one of his teammates that he wasn’t close with asked him would you really risk everything to protect this country? He replied yes I will, the other student looked him in the eye and said I never liked you, because you seemed like a fake show off, but now I know you legit, and the real deal sorry for giving you such a hard time, I respect you!

Life is hard and getting into a SA or ROTC scholarship is something special, take time to enjoy the moment and smell the roses. We have so many setbacks in life as anyone who will be a Cadet or Mid had ups and downs to get there they deserve the pat on the back for what they have earned.
So many of these kids are selfless, that’s why they are taking the path to to serve. I doubt many are showboats and blowhards and going through has been a humbling process for all. They deserve their moment in the sun.
 
My BGO asked me to connect him with the school so that he can hand me the Appointment during the graduation ceremony. My school gladly accepted and is in touch with my BGO.

_______________
USNA Class of 2023
 
Not to rain on your parade here, but your BGO will hand you your Offer of Appointment. You won't be appointed until June 27th. That's the day that you're drenched with sweat, standing there baking in the direct sun with your right hand raised, repeating the Oath of Office, wondering what you got yourself into.

That was a terrible run-on sentence, but you get the idea. ;)
 
I have to say, since my DS received his offer of appointment two months ago,the only contact he received from any entity has been USNA. His BGO has not contacted him (is that unusual?) and though he received both congressional and senatorial nominations, neither office contacted him and he has no idea which nom he was charged to (is that unusual?) His guidance counselor congratulated him but it has not been publicized at school and only a handful of friends know “where he is going to college”. He wore a USNA shirt to baseball practice the other day and his coached asked him if he was joining the Navy after high school (he doesn’t know anything about USNA). His wrestling coach was very proud of him, though. I’ve been quite surprised at how few people know what USNA is. Maybe if the movie “Annapolis “ wasn’t such a stinker it would be different.

He’s a pretty humble guy but I wish he would get just a bit of recognition from his school or community. He’s not someone who needs attaboys but just this once I wish he got one (since he won’t be getting any for a long, long time). I think it bothers him a little (disappointed may be a better description) especially when the theater kids, robotic kids, D1 signees etc. get them regularly. As he noted, it’s been “anticlimactic”. On the other hand, no worries about an inflated ego going into Plebe Summer.
 
THParent said:
Not to rain on your parade here, but your BGO will hand you your Offer of Appointment. You won't be appointed until June 27th. That's the day that you're drenched with sweat, standing there baking in the direct sun with your right hand raised, repeating the Oath of Office, wondering what you got yourself into.

That was a terrible run-on sentence, but you get the idea. ;)
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LOL I plead guilty to this as well.

I thought you got an offer of appointment, followed by an acceptance of appointment ... which represents the appointment.

And the day you take the Oath is induction.

I hope we have a mild summer this year.
 
ders_dad said:
I have to say, since my DS received his offer of appointment two months ago,the only contact he received from any entity has been USNA. His BGO has not contacted him (is that unusual?) and though he received both congressional and senatorial nominations, neither office contacted him and he has no idea which nom he was charged to (is that unusual?) His guidance counselor congratulated him but it has not been publicized at school and only a handful of friends know “where he is going to college”. He wore a USNA shirt to baseball practice the other day and his coached asked him if he was joining the Navy after high school (he doesn’t know anything about USNA). His wrestling coach was very proud of him, though. I’ve been quite surprised at how few people know what USNA is. Maybe if the movie “Annapolis “ wasn’t such a stinker it would be different.

He’s a pretty humble guy but I wish he would get just a bit of recognition from his school or community. He’s not someone who needs attaboys but just this once I wish he got one (since he won’t be getting any for a long, long time). I think it bothers him a little (disappointed may be a better description) especially when the theater kids, robotic kids, D1 signees etc. get them regularly. As he noted, it’s been “anticlimactic”. On the other hand, no worries about an inflated ego going into Plebe Summer.
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We faced a lot of that.

But we also faced the opposite side. People saying very nice things ... because they know what it means.

At dinner, an 80+ man walked up to my son and asked if he was going to USNA this year - because he was wearing a Navy football hat, USNA shorts and a USNA sweatshirt. He told him how proud of him he was.
 
ders_dad said:
He’s a pretty humble guy but I wish he would get just a bit of recognition from his school or community.
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The vast majority of cadets/mids I’ve met don’t want the glossy, gushy public accolades. They’re doing this for many reasons, with broad recognition near the bottom of the list. The intent is truly “to serve,” which carries with it no promise of huzzahs and slaps on the back.

On the other hand, many parents want the “attaboy” — covertly and perhaps subconsciously — for themselves. Where their kids go to college has become an indicator (accurate or not) of one’s parenting prowess. Harvard? Wow! What, State Tech? Huh.

@ders_dad, I’m not at all saying that’s you. I don’t know you. But I, for one, will say I appreciate your DS’s willingness to protect our country, and I wish your whole family congratulations.
 
We went to a running store to have my son check out some shoes for Plebe Summer. Our sales associate was a mom whose kids attended the same high school. She had tons of questions, at the end of it all she was in tears, so proud and excited for him. She even gave him a nice military discount. It was so sweet.
 
MidCakePa said:
On the other hand, many parents want the “attaboy” — covertly and perhaps subconsciously — for themselves. Where their kids go to college has become an indicator (accurate or not) of one’s parenting prowess. Harvard? Wow! What, State Tech? Huh.
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Agreed. DS is kid 3. Sure don’t need that. I got my attaboy when DS came running down the stairs one morning clutching a towel around his waist and exclaiming “I got an appointment!” I will hold that moment forever.
 
ders_dad said:
I have to say, since my DS received his offer of appointment two months ago,the only contact he received from any entity has been USNA. His BGO has not contacted him (is that unusual?) and though he received both congressional and senatorial nominations, neither office contacted him and he has no idea which nom he was charged to (is that unusual?)
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Frankly, I don't recall much emphasis on presenting the Offer of Appointment at any of the BGO training sessions I have been to. It kind of goes with the territory of promoting awareness, and I always offer to do it. That said, USNA does send the Certificate of Appointment directly to the Appointee, so its probably not an expectation.

This is one of the cases where I think its perfectly acceptable for the Parent to contact the BGO, and ask if they would come and recognize their DS/DD.

As for MOC presentation, USNA gives the MOC the option of giving the initial Offer, primarily as a courtesy (and its always good to give a MOC the opportunity to feel important). Some take advantage, some don't....but I wouldn't expect any further communication or accolades from the MOC.
 
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