Distinguished scholars program

The Distinguished Scholar Program is a four-year program designed for the needs of the academically talented high school student. Admission to the program is selective, and the student must apply prior to the freshman year. The minimum requirements for admission to the program are an IQ of 120, achievement test scores at the 90th percentile, a GPA of 3.0 in middle school, and high recommendations from all academic teachers in 8th grade.

Participants in the program are expected to maintain the highest standards of respectful behavior, integrity, diligent academic effort and leadership within the school community. The High School Faculty evaluates every Scholar at the end of each year to determine whether (s)he is maintaining these standards, and whether (s)he may remain in the program. Only the very best are able to complete the four-year program to earn the distinction of “Distinguished Scholar.”

Distinguished Scholars pursue a very rigorous course of study including four credits of Science, Math, English, Foreign Language, Scholars Research and Bible, along with three credits of Social Science and various electives, for a total of 32 academic credits. Each Scholar must complete a minimum of four AP classes in order to graduate from the program. In addition, Scholars must complete a research project each year, which is presented to the Faculty and critiqued by a panel of judges. The Research Projects completed by the Distinguished Scholars of the Class of 2004 included the following:

• Freshman Year – The student selected a thesis question of his/her choosing from the field of political science or government to research and answer. In addition to writing an MLA style research paper, a display advocating and defending the position adopted by the student on the issue was designed and built.  

• Sophomore Year – The student selected an area of special interest to him/her in the physical sciences, and presented his/her findings in an MLA style paper along with a 3-dimensional model or science demonstration constructed by him/her.  

• Junior Year – The student selected a social problem and researched the causes and possible solutions for this problem. After writing an MLA paper on his/her findings, the student then volunteered a minimum of 35 hours of community service in some position that addressed this social issue.  

• Senior Year – The student selected an interdisciplinary thesis question to research with several other Scholars. Each Scholar specialized in and focused his/her individual research on one aspect of or academic discipline related to the thesis question. The group prepared an oral presentation for the High School Faculty of their findings and the answer to the thesis question advocated by the group. Each Scholar had to give an oral defense of this thesis statement by responding to questions posed by the Faculty that related to his/her area of individual expertise.