Griffin Lawrence, a senior at Eastern Hancock High School, was named as one of 40 Indiana Academic All-Stars selected from around the state.
INDIANAPOLIS — An Eastern Hancock senior student has been selected by state educators as one of the best and brightest in the state. The lone county student who was recognized last week as one of 40 Indiana Academic All-Stars is Eastern Hancock High School’s Griffin Lawrence.
Griffin says earning the honor was a great recognition as he prepares to head off to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute to study engineering as soon as he graduates high school.
“I feel like it’s nice honor and all, but I’m just mostly happy to be able to get into the college I wanted to go to,” Griffin said.
If all goes according to plans, Griffin will study engineering and minor in environmental engineering. He hopes to make a difference in the world and possibly be a nuclear scientist who works in the nuclear energy field to help develop new technologies to better the world.
“I want to do something with my life that will help me contribute to the world,” Griffin said.
In addition to being a top-notch student in the classroom, Griffin has also been active in sports, playing tennis for three years for the Royals. He’s also taken part in numerous clubs, including starting a recycling program as part of a youth environmental group. He also has a part-time job and likes to help his friends.
Griffin said he’s also spent time volunteering around the county, helping out at the county’s hospital as well as the local food pantry.
It was Griffin’s well-rounded approach toward life and his academic work that helped get him selected as an Indiana Academic All-Star.
Now in its 38th year, each spring 40 high school seniors from throughout Indiana are named to the Indiana Academic All-Stars, a program is controlled by the Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP).
In addition, 50 other students were recognized as Academic All-Star Regional Honorees. The students were selected from a field of 281 outstanding nominees from the state’s private and public accredited schools.
Academic All-Star distinction recognizes seniors who excel in the classroom first and foremost, but who also are actively involved in their schools and communities, and take on leadership roles in those activities.
The program is produced by the Indiana Association of School Principals, and sponsored by Purdue University. Additional support is provided by Inter-State Studio. The IASP Indiana Academic All-Stars program says they want to salute academic excellence in the same manner that student athletes traditionally are honored.
By providing a showcase for academically talented seniors, the sponsoring organizations hope to accomplish the following objectives, give academic achievement the prestige it deserves; motivate students to recognize the value of academic excellence; provide students with an incentive for academic achievement; and promote a positive image of Indiana’s young people.
Each public and private high school accredited by the Indiana Department of Education may nominate one senior for consideration as an Indiana Academic All-Star. From these nominees, a selection committee chose the regional winners (representing five regions in Indiana) and the 40 Indiana Academic All-Stars.
Selection of the school’s nominee is based upon the following considerations: student transcript, with a focus on Advanced Placement, Dual Credit, International Baccalaureate, and Advanced College Placement classes taken/grades received; academic achievements and honors; academic courses and academic extracurricular activities along with other extracurricular activities, community service and leadership qualities.
The Indiana Association of School Principals leads in the advocacy and support of all principals in their commitment to every child. The Department of Student Programs hosts 11 different academic competitions for students in grades 4-12, as well as a Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest, the Academic All-Stars Program, and the Indiana Cheer Championship. Annually, over 30,000 students are involved in Department of Student Programs sponsored events.
To learn more about the Indiana Association of School Principals and the Department of Student Programs, visit www.iasp.org.
