At Ascent Classical Academy of Fort Mill, student awards exist to honor what we value most: the pursuit of virtue, responsibility, and academic excellence.
Our recognition system is intentionally structured to affirm daily acts of character, celebrate consistent examples of virtue, and culminate in the recognition of excellence rightly earned.
Rather than rewarding popularity or isolated achievements, our awards reflect our commitment to forming students who love what is good, true, and beautiful – and who live those commitments in ordinary and extraordinary ways.
A Tiered Approach to Recognition
Our student awards follow a clear, thoughtful structure that allows students to grow gradually in character and excellence. Each level builds upon the previous one, reinforcing that excellence is not accidental but cultivated over time:
Daily Recognition
Quarterly Recognition
Annual Recognition
Virtue Notes (Daily Recognition)
Virtue Notes are brief acknowledgments given when a student is “caught” practicing one of the school’s Core Virtues. These notes affirm that even small, often unseen actions—acts of honesty, diligence, kindness, self-control, or courage—matter deeply.
Any member of our staff may issue a Virtue Note at any time. Each note identifies the virtue demonstrated and provides a short, specific example of the student’s action.
- Grammar School (K–5): Virtue Notes are typically sent home with the student. Teachers retain copies for future consideration in quarterly or annual recognition.
- Upper School (6–9): Virtue Notes are usually handed directly to students. Teachers retain copies for future consideration or House recognition.
Virtue Notes are meant to be frequent, encouraging, and specific. They help students learn the language of virtue and recognize how character is formed through daily choices.
Exemplar Awards (Quarterly Recognition)
The Exemplar Award honors students who consistently model the school’s Core Virtues over time. An exemplar is not recognized for a single moment, but for setting a steady example worthy of imitation.
Each quarter, teachers and staff nominate students by providing concrete examples of how the student has lived out the virtues in the classroom, on campus, and within the community.
- Nominations open near the end of each quarter
- One student per grade is selected
- Awards are presented publicly at the quarterly assembly
Recipients receive a certificate and are publicly commended for their character. The language used to describe the award is consistent across grade levels so that families and students hear the same expectations year after year.
Arete Awards (Annual Recognition)
The Arete Award is the highest student honor bestowed by the school. In classical education, arete refers to excellence—the full flourishing of virtue, character, and intellect.
This award recognizes students who demonstrate:
- A sustained commitment to the school’s Core Virtues
- Academic diligence and intellectual curiosity
- Humility, responsibility, and integrity in their studies and relationships
Teachers and staff nominate students in the spring, highlighting both character and scholarship. One recipient is selected per division and honored at the end-of-year assembly or commencement.
Arete Award recipients receive a formal certificate or plaque, and their achievement may be memorialized on a school plaque displayed on campus.
Why This Matters
Our awards are intentionally meaningful. We believe recognition should neither be automatic nor unattainable. When awards are earned through consistent virtue and genuine effort, they carry lasting significance.
Through this approach, students learn that:
- Character matters more than applause
- Excellence is cultivated through habit and perseverance
- Recognition is not the goal, but a reflection of a life lived well
This system helps form a shared culture where students strive not simply to win awards, but to become the kind of people worthy of them.
Ascent Classical Academy of Fort Mill reserves the ability to refine or expand this recognition system in partnership with the Home Office, always in service of our mission and students.