AWM student earns academic honors from College Board

Burnett recognized for excellent work, earns awards that identify academically competitive underrepresented students

By LAUREN CLEEK

West Memphis School District

Academies of West Memphis senior Christian Burnett has earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. These National Recognition Programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications and connect students with universities across the country, helping them meaningfully connect to colleges and stand out during the admissions process. Colleges and scholarship programs identify students awarded National African American, Hispanic, Indigenous and/ or Rural/Small Town Recognition through College Board’s Student Search Service.

Burnett said he was surprised when he heard he received the award. “I didn’t know it was a thing at _rst so when Ms. Johnson came in and told me it made me feel good and feel proud of the effort and everything I put in and made me feel like it was worth it,” Burnett said.

Over the course of his high school career, he has taken AP Computer Science, AP English Language and Composition, and AP Calculus, his favorites being math and English. Burnett truly feels these types of classes, along with the PSAT tests, have helped him prepare for life after high school. “It’s prepared me better for my education. Just having more knowledge for everything I’m doing and applying all of that into one helps me grow my education,” claimed Burnett.

He hopes that he can inspire other students to consider taking AP classes. “Go for it. Put in the effort. It’s worth it. It will help them become successful in the long run,” af_rmed Burnett.

“We’re thrilled that Christian has earned this recognition.

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BURNETT BURNETT

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“We are very proud of him for his achievements in his classrooms and on College Board assessments,” said AWM Principal Gary Jackson. “These programs help students from underrepresented backgrounds stand out to colleges during admissions.”

Students who may be eligible have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have excelled on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10, or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP Exams; and are African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, Indigenous, and/or attend school in a rural area or small town.

Eligible students will be invited to apply during their sophomore or junior year and will be awarded at the beginning of the next school year. Students will receive their awards in time to include them on their college and scholarship applications.