Highland honors student volunteers

    Highland High School has a new program to recognize the volunteer work of its students. The ?Red Cord Service Commendation? is an award presented to students at the end of their senior year who have amassed a large number of volunteer hours during high school. The seniors who have attained the required number of hours will be presented with the award at Senior Night, and will then wear the red cord at graduation.

    High School Principal Tim Navara said Highland?s program is based on a similar program at Mid-Prairie.

    ?Theirs is called ?Silver Cord,?? he said. ?We call ours ?Red Cord? to match our school colors of red and white.?

    In order for this year?s seniors to qualify for a red cord, they must complete 50 hours of community service. For juniors, they must amass 100 hours by their graduation date of 2012. Sophomores, freshmen and all grades to come must attain 150 hours.

    Navara said school officials are even talking about giving credit toward a red cord to students who have done volunteer work in the recent past, before the program was adopted.  

    ?We?re looking at a grandfather clause so that kids who have volunteered can apply their hours,? he said.

    Navara said the school would prefer that students inform the school about their volunteer work beforehand if possible.

    ?As long as we have a contact person to check with, that should be fine,? he said.

For more, see our Sept. 27 print edition.