Golden Warrior Selection 2017

The Golden Warrior award is the longest running tradition in student recognition at Ygnacio Valley. Golden Warriors of the past are all honored in the main office on a perpetual plaque, in four categories. 

Scholarship
In the past, this award was simply given to the top 10 students of the senior class, with no perpetual plaque or fanfare, based on cumulative GPA by the Winter semester of the senior year. This tradition felt redundant, as there is a separate award and medal given to the top ten GPA students already. Several years ago, the award process was changed, and the Golden Warrior scholarship now goes to the Valedictorian, the student with THE highest GPA in their class, or two students, as was the case for the class of 2014. A perpetual plaque was started as well, so that these students could be commemorated and honored for their achievements. 

Citizenship
The Golden Warrior Citizenship award goes to the senior who has demonstrated extraordinary good character on campus and off, gives freely of their time, and is known to all for their demeanor, good nature, and service heart. They participate in school events and activities and are ingrained in the campus community in one way or other, modeling the Warrior Way and showing the community at large what we hope all of our students to strive for. 

Leadership
The Golden Warrior Leadership award goes to the senior who rises to the occasion at school and off campus in the community, taking charge where necessary, and living and behaving in a way that others want to follow them. They take the initiative, they are involved in the YVHS campus, they are the ones that MAKE things happen instead of WATCH things happen. These Warriors are often seen throughout the year volunteering their time to a variety of campus happenings, and of course exemplify and model the Warrior Way. The Leadership award is for those students who are not only integrated in the campus community for their involvement, but are seen as natural leaders in their pursuits and among their peer groups. 

GOLDEN WARRIOR
This award goes to the senior who exemplifies all of the traits we honor in our Warriors, Scholarship, Citizenship, and Leadership. They are involved in the school community, and for the community at large they are proud to be a Warrior. They help others and serve as examples to underclassmen, they work hard for success academically, and they overcome adversity with grace and perseverance. 

Nomination Process
When the nomination window opens, teachers and staff at Ygnacio Valley are invited to nominate outstanding seniors for this award. The nomination form, on google forms, leaves space for the staffulty member to lobby for their candidate and explain why they have chosen them for that particular award. Several reminders go out, particularly to the staffulty leaders of clubs, academies, performing arts, and athletics where they might have a more in depth view of the senior as a community member and in leadership roles. 

Once the deadline has arrived and nominations are in, a committee of staff and members of the junior class gather to discuss candidates and look over senior class rosters to be sure that no one feels as though a student was overlooked. Nominees are listed with their involvement on campus and contributions throughout the campus and off campus community. All nominees are vetted to be sure they meet the minimal qualifications of being a student at Ygnacio for more than 2 years, being a senior on graduation track with credits, and having a minimum of a 2.0 GPA. 

A final list of nominees is then developed from this meeting and the online nomination process, with no minimum or maximum number of nominees possible. 

The nominees are all notified at school, and announced through the media outlets. Throughout the winter and spring, nominees are highlighted on campus, on the web, and in bulletins to allow the community to learn more about their contributions and the reasons they were recognized in the first place. They will be recognized at the Winter Rally as well. Each nominee will be asked to speak at the Golden Warrior Dinner, allowing the school community to see these outstanding students in action. 

In May, staff and faculty are invited to VOTE for the Golden Warrior awards, using the criteria above. The Golden Warrior Scholar is determined, and then a student is selected for Citizenship, Leadership and the Overall Golden Warrior is selected as well, and these student winners are then announced at Senior Awards Night, and honored again at Graduation.