The purpose of this award is to recognize and reward educational excellence. As America prepares to enter a new milennium of unlimited possibilities, it is important to provide incentives for students to achieve and encourage them to aspire to the highest educational standards possible. The President's Award for Educational Excellence rewards academic success in the classroom and school. To be eligible for the President's Award for Educational Excellence, students at each award levelend of grade 6 and grade 8 must meet the following criteria:

• Grade Point Average: A student is to earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 during grades 7/8 at Colina for 8th graders, or during grade 6 at Colina for 6th graders--through the second trimester of the exiting grade (6th or 8th) and considering all courses; and
• Standardized Achievement Test: On the CST from the previous year*, achieve at the "Advanced" level.
* The reason for considering the previous year's result is that the current year's scores are not available until after the deadline for selection.

The purpose of this award is to recognize students that show outstanding educational growth, improvement, commitment or intellectual development in their academic subjects but do not meet the criteria for the President's Award for Educational Excellence. This award should not be compared to the President's Award for Educational Excellence or seen as a second tier award, for it recognizes a very different type of academic achievement. It is meant to encourage and reward students who work hard and give their best effort in school, in many cases in the face of special obstacles to their learning. Criteria for this award include the following:

• Students who show tremendous growth and improvement but do not meet the criteria for the President's Award for Educational Excellence.
• Unusual commitment to learning and improving in academics despite various obstacles.
• A school record that would have met the school's selection criteria for the President's Award for Educational Excellence but illness, personal crisis, or special needs prevented the student from maintaining such high standards during the year despite hard work.
• Students with excellent school records who do not meet each criterion for the President's Award for Educational Excellence.
• Achieve high scores or show outstanding growth, improvement, commitment or intellectual development in particular subjects, such as English, math, science, social science, etc.