High school letters mean more than they once did. That’s good. Milaca and other high schools are recognizing a broad range of students’ accomplishments.
There was a time when many high schools gave letters only for participation in sports. About 15 years ago, I wrote a column about an intense controversy in a southern suburban community when a student recommended that her school award letters to students who excelled in academics. Several athletic coaches strongly disagreed.
Fortunately the school administration decided that the young woman was right. Giving a school’s letter means that a school is honoring a student’s accomplishments, whether in athletics, academics or arts.
It’s fine awarding letters for athletic participation. But that should not be the only accomplishment that is recognized.
Troy Anderson, Milaca principal wrote that Milaca High School students can earn a letter in athletics, and “Choir, Marching Band, Speech, One Act Play, Academics, Fall, Play, Jazz Band, National Honor Society, Pep Band, FCCLA, FFA and Student Council.”
Vanessta Spark, director Elk River Spectrum (Charter) wrote, “The activities that students can letter at Spectrum High School are academic, community service, drama, music, and National Honor Society.”
Roman Pierskalla and Mr. Gustafson, the Rogers activities directors responded that their students could earn a letter at Rogers High School in sports, DECA, Knowledge Bowl, National Honor Society, Math Team, Band, Choir, Student Council, Academic Letter, Weight Training, Speech, One Act Play, and Cheerleading.
Marco Voce, principal at Zimmerman High School told me that “ ZHS students can get a letter for academics, NHS, Choir, Band, Strength and speed, media, Drum line, knowledge bowl, speech and all the sports we offer by ourselves or with Elk River High School. I believe that we have a procedure in place for making activities be for a letter.”
Pete Olsen, Princeton principal wrote that students can earn letters in athletics, Band, Knowledge Bowl, Math League, Mock Trial and Speech. It is up to the activity advisor to create the criteria that results in a letter being awarded.”
Steve Massey, Forest Lake principal, described an interesting requirement for students who want a letter in athletics: “Many of our athletic teams and clubs require service as part of their membership or participation. The students’ service hours are often factored in the calculation for a letter. For example, to earn a letter in football, athletes must complete 30 hours of service during the season or the summer prior to the season.”
Pierz Superintendent George Weber wrote that “each organization, including sports are to present a process to grant a letter to our activities director so we have some degree of consistency across all activities. There was a time where you did not receive the exact same style of letter or even could order the same style of letter jacket. Now they are all identical.”
Responses from about 15 other Minnesota high schools reflect wise decisions. Honoring students for a variety of accomplishments sends a clear, important message about what the school values.
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