COVID-19 has had an impact in the academic community more than just forcing our public schools to completely alter their educational structure and methods. Each year for the past 38 years, the Rotary Club of San Saba hosts one of the largest award ceremonies held in San Saba County. High school students that maintain a 90 or better overall academic average are invited to the San Saba Rotary Club Honor Student Banquet (HSB). The first banquet was held in 1982 under the leadership of Club President Jimmy Shook.
In the mid 1990’s, club member Joe Gary, a retired US Army officer, suggested that the club change from the practice of giving the students pens, bookmarks, and note pads as a gift, to presenting a medal to the students for their achievement. The club desired to award each qualifying student a 2” bronze tinted medal on a 2” blue and gold pin back drape. The Rotary Wheel, encircled with the wording “San Saba Rotary Club” and “Honor Student” was on the obverse of the medal. The reverse was left smooth to engrave the name of the student to which the medal was presented.
The first medals included a design where the bottom spoke of the Rotary Wheel was removed to enable the engraver to etch the year awarded on the inside of the wheel. This was changed in later years to use a non-modified Rotary Wheel; all engraving was moved to the reverse of the medal.
As the first class of four-year recipients were honored, the club decided to present a shadow box to each senior that had qualified all four years of the Honor Student Banquet. Those shadow boxes have traditionally been made by club members or by the SSHS building trades class. Around the turn of the century, it was decided to also give each student a tee-shirt that displayed the theme for the banquet and showed that the student had been named a “Rotary Honor Student”.
Each year, an individual is invited to give an inspirational and motivational speech. Over the years, these have included elected officials, university presidents, judges, business executives, community leaders and clergy. As the purpose of the presentation is to reach high school students, it was eventually realized that most of these speakers aimed their presentations to the adult audience thus losing the attention of the students.
The club sought advisement and assistance of SSHS teacher Tracey Thomas. Mrs. Thomas, who leads the Peer Assistance and Leadership program (PAL) at SSHS, helped in rethinking the class of speakers that would most likely be able to reach students. Mrs. Thomas suggested that speakers who work with youth and have experience speaking to students would be desirable. She initiated contact with Tory Gant, Regional Director of the PAL program, and he agreed to speak. In turn, he also recommended other speakers with similar background and experience. This change showed marked response from the students in attendance.
Initially, the HSB was held in the SSHS cafeteria but was later moved to the San Saba Civic Center once that building was erected.
The number of students that are honored each year usually numbers about 125-130. About 25-35 seniors are awarded a shadow box for having been an honoree all four years they have been in high school.
In 2018 the club decided to make the award available to home school students that meet similar academic standards achieved by the students that attend public school.
This year, we too must adapt the method we, as Rotarians, use to acknowledge the academic rigor that our students have shown. With the ability to put our traditional banquet on hold for a year, we have chosen to go ahead and honor our students with the awards and scholarships that we give. This year, each student will receive a souvenir invitation, the traditional Honor Student medal, and a tee-shirt displaying Rotary International’s theme of “Rotary Connects The World.” Seniors that have maintained the required academic standard all four years, in addition, will receive the traditional shadow box.
Though this is a unique year, our clubs want to maintain our recognition of academic excellence. The class of 2020 is being challenged by obstacles that no other class has had to cross. They will have stories to tell in years to come. Maybe “walking to school uphill both ways in the snow” will be replaced when they recount their senior year. Challenged yes, defeated no. They are achievers. They will not be stopped. They will prosper as they seek their futures. If this were a game, and it surely isn’t, I think the score would probably be COVID-19 0 – Seniors 20. Good luck, and God Bless!
If you are interested in being a part of our club we invite you to join us in a Zoom meeting online. Give me a call, and I will send you the link. Mike Thomas 512-924-4687.