Paris High School is proud to celebrate eight students who have earned academic honors through the College Board National Recognition Program.
The program, available through BigFuture®, recognizes high-achieving students and helps them stand out on college and scholarship applications. Each year, students earn recognition based on their academic performance, including achievement on College Board assessments such as the PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™ 10, and AP® Exams.
Earning a College Board National Recognition Award reflects a high level of academic achievement. Students must maintain a cumulative B+ GPA or higher and demonstrate exceptional performance through qualifying College Board assessments. Depending on the award, students may rank among the top 10% of eligible test takers within their high school or among eligible students in their state. Students may also qualify through strong performance on multiple AP Exams.
In 2026, the College Board National Recognition Program offered three award designations to recognize outstanding students across schools and communities nationwide: the First-Generation Recognition Award, Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award, and School Recognition Award.

This year, eight Paris High School students earned one or more of these academic honors:
•    Eli Allen – Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award
•    Akshay Bacharanianda – School Recognition Award and Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award
•    Hannah Cunningham – School Recognition Award and Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award
•    Christian Elrod – Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award and First-Generation Recognition Award
•    Caroline Gillem – School Recognition Award and Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award
•    Arjan Khadka – School Recognition Award and Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award
•    Ellie Schmidt – First-Generation Recognition Award, School Recognition Award, and Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award
•    Ian Woodroof – Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award
"These students have challenged themselves academically and consistently demonstrated the kind of dedication we want to see in our students," said Paris High School Principal Chris Vaughn. "To see their hard work recognized at this level is something our entire campus can celebrate. We are incredibly proud of what they have accomplished, and we look forward to seeing where their talents and determination take them next."
Students verify their eligibility during their sophomore or junior year by meeting College Board criteria, which include:
•    Taking the PSAT/NMSQT in 10th or 11th grade, the PSAT 10 in 10th grade, and/or AP Exams by the end of 10th grade.
•    Earning a cumulative GPA of B+ or higher (at least 3.3 or 87%–89%) by the time of submission.
•    Ranking among the top 10% of qualifying test takers in their high school, among first-generation college students in their state, and/or among rural and small-town students in their state; or earning a score of 3 or higher on two or more distinct AP Exams taken in eighth, ninth, and/or 10th grade.
The recognition provides students with an academic distinction they can include on college and scholarship applications while also helping colleges identify high-achieving students. Thousands of nonprofit colleges and scholarship organizations that participate in the College Board Student Search Service™ can connect with award recipients during the recruitment process and share information about postsecondary opportunities.