Upper School Awards & Honors Student Awards

Webb's Upper School appreciates and recognizes the outstanding achievements of students each year by giving awards for excellence in courses, in scholarship, leadership, athletics, citizenship and community service. In recognizing the achievements of some students with special awards, the school does not diminish the importance and impact of those who have matured in so many positive ways during the year, who have made quiet but lasting contributions to the school, or who have enriched the lives of their classmates or the community.

Year-end academic honors are awarded to those students who have shown superior performance in each academic discipline. In addition to the awards listed in this handbook, seasonal sports banquets are held to honor outstanding athletic performance, marked improvement, and exceptional sportsmanship. Also, over the course of the academic year, Webb recognizes athletic and academic accomplishments and achievements of students during our daily Chapels.

Subject Awards

English

• The RUTH P. GRAF AWARD for excellence in English is given to the top student in senior English in honor of this former Webb School faculty member.

• The GINNA MATHEWS MASHBURN AWARD FOR WRITING ABOUT LITERATURE is given to the author of the most outstanding essay in junior English. This award was established in honor of an esteemed colleague who devoted her 25-year career to teaching Webb students the skills and art to make literature meaningful to both themselves and to others.

• The WEBB SCHOOL AWARD FOR CREATIVE WRITING is given to the student whose writing has most enriched the life of the school.

• The EXTRA! AWARD FOR JOURNALISM recognizes those students whose contributions to The Spartan Spirit and Princeps far exceed what their job descriptions require.

Mathematics

• For more than 90 years, the RENSSELAER MEDAL has been awarded to promising juniors who have shown excellence in mathematics and science. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute guarantees a four-year merit scholarship for each medalist who is accepted and enrolls at the school.

• The GEORGE TURLEY AWARD, established in 1989 by members of the classes of 1961 and 1962 to honor George Turley, a mathematics teacher in the early years of Webb School, recognizes excellence in mathematics.

Science

• The BAUSCH AND LOMB HONORARY SCIENCE AWARD is presented to the junior who is considered the best student in science judged by the excellence of his or her work and the number and rigor of science courses taken.

• The GEORGE GRAFTON WILSON II AWARD, established in honor of longtime head of the science department, George Wilson, is given to a senior boy or girl who has shown high academic achievement in science and interest in science outside the classroom.

Social Studies

• The JAMES C. LINVILLE AWARD, established in 1985 to recognize the outstanding attributes of Capt. James C. Linville, USN Retired, who served as chairman of the school’s history department, is given to a student who has excelled in history/social studies.

• The ROBERT SAUNDERS AWARD, established by members of the Class of 1963 in honor of their classmate, Lt. Robert Saunders, who died in the Vietnam conflict, is given in recognition of commitment to service and excellence in social studies.

Visual & Performing Arts

Choral Music

• The CARLSON CHORAL MUSIC AWARD, established in memory of Scott Carlson Polk, Class of 1995, and to honor the continued commitment and legacy of the Carlson family to Webb School, is given to a senior who excels in the choral music program and who shows achievement, enthusiasm, and dedication.

Drama

• The DRAMA AWARD is given in recognition of a student’s theatrical work and dedication to the overall drama program. This award acknowledges diversity of dramatic interests, advocacy of the theatrical arts, and overall interest shown by the student for the arts both within the school community and beyond.

Wind Ensemble

• The DIRECTOR’S AWARD FOR BAND is an honorary award given to a student who has demonstrated outstanding musicianship, creativity, leadership, and service to the Webb School band program. Sponsored by the National Band Association, this award is presented to students who have distinguished themselves by showing superb dedication and sacrifice to the art of music, and most expressively, instrumental music.

• The JOHN PHILIP SOUSA AWARD, created in 1954 with the cooperation of Helen Sousa Albert and Priscilla Sousa, daughters of the famous composer and bandmaster, recognizes a student who has shown outstanding dedication and superior musicianship. This award has been a nationwide symbol of excellence in musical achievement and is considered the pinnacle of achievement in a high school band program.

String Orchestra Ensemble

• The DIRECTOR’S AWARD FOR STRING ORCHESTRA is an honorary award given to a student who has demonstrated outstanding musicianship, service, leadership, and creativity to the Webb School string orchestra program. This award is presented to students who have distinguished themselves by showing exceptional dedication and sacrifice to the art of music, and most expressively, instrumental music.

• The NATIONAL SCHOOL ORCHESTRA AWARD, inaugurated in 1960 as the counterpart to the Sousa Band Award, recognizes excellence in playing and contributions to the ensemble. This award is the highest honor one can bestow upon a member of a high school string orchestra.

Visual Art

• The CLOVER WATERMAN AWARD, established in honor of a former Webb School faculty member, is given to a student whose work in visual art is outstanding, and who demonstrates achievement, ability, and initiative.

World Languages

• The SHIRLEY SEIDEL BRIGGS AWARD is given to a junior or senior who has shown diligence, precision, high achievement, and interest in the study of world languages at Webb. Consideration is also given to contributions made to the language program through participation beyond the classroom.

French

• The BRIGITTE NIEDERDRENK AWARD was established by a former Webb School language teacher and her sister in honor of their mother, Brigitte Niederdrenk, who was fluent in several languages and whose language abilities and interest in other cultures influenced those with whom she came into contact. This award recognizes a student who has shown high academic achievement in French.

Latin

• The EMILY ANNE FISHER AWARD, established by the Class of 1976 in honor of this outstanding Latin instructor, recognizes scholastic achievement in Latin.

Spanish

• The HISPANIC HONOR SOCIETY MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE is given to a student who has shown high academic achievement in Spanish.

Mandarin Chinese

• The MANDARIN CHINESE AWARD is given to a student who has exhibited high academic achievement in the study of Mandarin Chinese.

Special Awards

• The JOHN W. GREEN AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP, established in 1956, recognizes a student from each grade level with the highest grade-point-average, to date, for this school year.

• The WILLIAM R. WEBB III CITIZENSHIP AWARD established to honor the founder of Webb School of Knoxville, recognizes students in each class who have enriched the school community through their exceptional commitment to excellence, loyalty, spirit, leadership, participation in school life, and service, often unselfishly, to others.

• The MOCKINGBIRD AWARD, established in 2007 by Robert and Mary Jo Potts, honors a ninth grade student who most embodies the literary characterization of a mockingbird as represented in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird: “. . . mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy . . . but sing their hearts out for us.” The recipient of this award is distinguished by the metaphorical music that he/she makes – music that is played through his/her kindness and honor, selflessness, gentle playfulness, and active involvement in the life of the Upper School.

• The CLINT WHITE AWARD, established by the Class of 1986 to honor the memory of their classmate, is given to a sophomore student who possesses a rare combination of consideration, humor, maturity, and optimism.

• The ANNE ZIRKLE AWARD, established by the Class of 1990 in memory of their friend and classmate, honors a junior boy or girl who is spiritually inquisitive, intellectually talented, compassionate, humble, and kind in spirit.

• The SHANE WEBB AWARD, established by the Class of 1985 in memory of their classmate, is given for academic and athletic excellence to a senior boy or girl who is committed to the ideals of hard work, the importance of higher academic training, and a career of service to others. The student must have earned at least a B average, participated in at least two sports, provided quality leadership both on and off the field, and plans to pursue a career in the field of medicine (including a degree in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, psychiatry, or psychology).

• The JOYCE HUNTER AWARD, established by the Class of 1992 in honor of Joyce Hunter, longtime head of the mathematics department and girls’ track coach, recognizes a female scholar-athlete.

• The WARREN HEISER AWARD, established in 2013 by the Upper School faculty and staff in honor of Warren Heiser, longtime English teacher and coach, recognizes a male scholar-athlete.

• The NANCY S. THOMA AWARD, established by the Class of 1983 to honor a former college counselor, is given to a senior who renders a valuable service to the school through willingness to help others and a spirit of cooperation.

• The CHANCE-STRUDER AWARD, established in 1980, is given to a senior boy who has made a unique contribution to the life of the school through his sensitivity, insight, enthusiasm, and dedication. The award honors Art Chance and Ray Struder, both members of the Class of 1980, who through their courage in the face of adversity, enriched the school.

• The SERENDIPITY AWARD, established by Genevieve Hudson, former headmistress of the Webb School for girls, recognizes a senior girl whose presence has been beneficial to others, and who has made a contribution to both faculty and students.

• The JULIA DOSSETT WEBB SCHOLAR AWARD, established during Webb’s 50th Anniversary and in honor of Julia Dossett Webb, wife of Webb School founder, Robert Webb, recognizes a senior whose academic work is distinguished by a love of scholarship and who, by example, has contributed most to the academic morale of the school.

• The HUDSON CUP, named for Genevieve Hudson, former headmistress of the Webb School for girls, is awarded to a senior girl who best exemplifies the ideals of Webb School.

• The SPARTAN SPIRIT AWARD, established as a companion award to the Hudson Cup, is given to a senior boy who best exemplifies the ideals of Webb School.

• The AQUILLA “BABA” COOK  AWARD, established by the Class of 2004, is voted upon by the members of the senior class. This award is given each year to an outstanding member of the Webb School staff who by his/her cheerful and positive interaction with the school community, and especially the students, distinguishes him or herself.

• The ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP AWARD, established by the Class of 2003, is voted upon each year by the members of the senior class. This award recognizes a member of the graduating class who best exhibits the following character traits: friendliness, humility, respectfulness, compassion, and hard work.

• The ERIC ENCARNACION MEMORIAL AWARD, established by the Class of 2007, is voted upon by the members of the senior class. This award is given to a graduating senior who crosses social barriers in his or her class, and is valued as a friend by all.

• The DR. EDWARD L. TAUXE AWARD, established to recognize a most influential teacher, was first presented in 1969. This award, voted upon by the members of the senior class, honors a Webb School teacher who has had a most positive influence on the lives of the students and stimulated them in their academic pursuits.

Awards Presented At Graduation

• The MARGARET AND LEONHARD SCHEUERMANN

TROPHY is the highest award presented to a senior girl who best exemplifies the ideals of character, personal integrity, leadership, and high academic achievement.

• The DR. S.J. CHAPMAN MEMORIAL AWARD is the highest award presented to a senior boy who best exemplifies the ideals of scholarship, leadership, and personal integrity.

Valedictorian & Salutatorian

Valedictorian and Salutatorian distinction is granted to those seniors with the highest and second-highest grade-point-averages, respectively. Each year, administrators at Webb School determine a Valedictorian and Salutatorian by using weighted grades from students' high school careers at Webb. Grades in the final semester of senior year must reflect an equally strong effort; therefore, second semester senior effort can affect the determination of the Valedictorian and Salutatorian awards. Students entering Webb as late as the beginning of their sophomore year are also eligible. Students entering Webb their senior year are not eligible. The Head of Upper School will approve any exceptions to this process.

Cum Laude Society

Seniors inducted into Webb School of Knoxville’s Cum Laude Society chapter hold the distinction of exemplary scholarship. Founded in 1906 and patterned after the college honorary society Phi Beta Kappa, the Cum Laude Society recognizes outstanding academic achievement in secondary schools for the purpose of promoting excellence (Areté), justice (Diké), and honor (Timé). Candidates are eligible for induction into Webb School's chapter of the Cum Laude Society based on the following criteria:

• Weighted GPA calculations from grades earned, beginning with a student’s sophomore year and through the completion of the first semester of senior year.

• No more than a total of 20 percent of the senior class can be selected.

• In addition to academic excellence, membership is only given to students who have demonstrated good character, honor, and integrity in all aspects of their school life.

• Students who entered Webb School as a junior may be considered for candidacy if their current and past performance warrants it.

• Students entering Webb School as a senior are not eligible.

• The following courses are exempt from the GPA calculation: non-AP fine arts courses, WebbPress (journalism, Spartan Spirit, Pierian, Princeps yearbook) and Independent Study coursework.

National Honor Society

Since 1921, the National Honor Society (NHS) has used scholarship, service, character, and leadership as criteria for membership selection into its local chapters. Seniors and juniors who have been in attendance at Webb School for at least one full academic year, have earned a cumulative GPA of at least 4.20, and have been active in service activities are eligible for induction into Webb’s chapter of the NHS. A faculty council participates in the selection of members by evaluating each eligible student on the basis of academics, character, and leadership. National Honor Society members are expected to continue their exemplary contributions to the school and community.