The students who proudly took centerstage May 11 to accept their Eddy Awards are more than just great students.

Monday, May 15, 2000

The students who proudly took centerstage May 11 to accept their Eddy Awards are more than just great students. Those sixth-graders from Ironton Middle School and St. Lawrence Elementary are part of a proud city tradition.

The Child Welfare Club has given out Eddy Awards for more than 30 years to students in the top 25 percent of their classes at both schools who earn the top scores on a standardized test.

Many of the students who proudly claimed their trophies this past week were not the only academic stars in their families. Many of them – as has been true in years past – had parents or brothers and sisters who earned the honor when they were sixth-graders.

Ironton needs more programs like the Eddy Awards. Students consider winning the award an honor and work hard to get that recognition.

Recognizing that academic success is as important as celebrating the Fighting Tigers stellar football record – that is the only way we can show our children that academics are as important as touchdowns.

Like it or not, these days, education makes the difference. The better you are in school, the more likely you are to have a successful and profitable career. Stressing academics to our children is a way to guarantee that kind of life for them.

Congratulations to the 2000 Eddy Award winners. They are already on their way to realizing what promises to be a great future.