Board of Education recognizes 24 valedictorians
At its meeting on June 2, the Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) Board of Education recognized 24 students as the valedictorians of the NPHS Class of 2015.
The title of valedictorian traditionally goes to one student who has the highest Grade Point Average (GPA). According to Joshua Eby, principal, “our district has chosen to take a different stance on that.” Following CVUSD’s guidelines, students must earn an indexed GPA of 4.65 or higher to become valedictorian, which often leads to multiple valedictorians from the same school.
Indexed GPA is calculated by taking a student’s scholastic GPA (which includes all academic classes), and adding 0.2 for an A in an honors, AP, or IB class or 0.1 for a B. This means that valedictorians must take a minimum of 33 semesters of honors, AP, or IB classes to earn the title.
“At the end of last year I was told that I was really close (to the required GPA), so it was like ‘why not just go for it?’” Maddy Fischer, senior, said. Fischer was able to complete the necessary amount of classes to become a valedictorian, despite taking some CP classes her freshman year. “There’s other people that have taken even more honors, IB, (and) AP classes.” Fischer said. “Because they take more, they can get B’s.”
Jared Simmons, senior, wanted to be a valedictorian since freshman year. “I didn’t really know if it would be attainable or not,” Simmons said. “I was always just trying to do my best, and then it worked out.”
On June 2, the valedictorians from NPHS and Thousand Oaks High School gathered at the district office to be acknowledged for their academic achievement. Students received a plaque and shook hands with the school board members and the outgoing superintendent, Dr. Baarstad. Eby read the valedictorians’ plans for college, extracurricular achievements, and advice that the valedictorians had for their peers.
“It was nice … hearing how many of them wanted to give back to society as they move on, which really shows the kind of people they are,” Eby said.
For the valedictorians, the title was about much more than their high GPA. Fischer explained that she valued the experiences she gained from her classes as well as the award. “You don’t do it just for the recognition,” Fischer said. “For yourself personally it’s the greatest feeling. All of my hard work after four years has paid off and it’s really exciting. I feel proud of myself.”
“All the effort in the last four years has been worth it,” Simmons added.
