Most awards given in high school are given for excelling academically, but the Florida High Medallion Awards are given to students for their character. Each year, Florida High faculty nominates 50 for the award.

     “[Receiving this award means] you always preach about character, upholding your character when people are not looking. People are…paying attention to your every move,” Academic Dean April McGriff, who oversees the awards, said. 

     After students are nominated, they and their parents are invited to the award ceremony, where they will then find out who nominated them and receive their medallion along with their certificate. 

     “They too don’t know that they’re getting this award or that someone is actually acknowledging what they have done within the past year,” McGriff said.

     This award is meant to help recognize and encourage students, even outside of academics. 

     “I feel like it’s probably encouraging, because everything in school is so academically based, like honor roll and principal’s list and stuff like that, to the point where students feel like [recognition outside of academics] is out of reach,” history teacher Jeremy Mello, who has nominated a student for the Medallion Award in the past, said. 

     This award is meant to recognize students who have good character and apply their best effort in their classes, even when no one may be looking.