Searcy (LP) As graduation nears, a lot of students are pushing to still keep up their grades. Senioritis is a real thing but there is an elite group of students that push themselves, and their known as honor graduates. Honor graduates apply themselves in higher end courses and keep their GPA up.

“An honor grad is a student who takes the most challenging classes,” said senior Johnathon Sledge. “It is really hard to keep a great GPA.”

Being an honor grad takes four Advanced Placement(AP) level classes, which means they take some of the hardest courses offered at the high school. They require a lot of time and dedication to actually pass the class. They also cannot just pass the class, but they also have to maintain a high GPA.

“I studied my little heart out especially in my junior and senior year,” said senior Sierra Marsh. “I really wanted my GPA to look great for college.”

Being an honor grad though has its benefits like giving you a hands up when applying for colleges or programs, but it also gives students a sense of accomplishment.

“It makes me feel like I am at the top of my class,” said senior Tori Pate.

Since it takes so much work, some may think that honor graduates would wish they had never done it, but for them, they would have done it all the same.

“I would not change it,” said Sledge. “I am thankful for the experience I have had and the lessons I have learned about myself and from the school.”

Although it seems like a lot of work for a sash at graduation, it means much more to honor graduates than that.

“I am proud of this status because it is proof of all my hard work,” said Sledge.

They all had a similar piece of advice for future honor graduates too.

“Study, study, study,” said Marsh.

Congratulations to all of the honor graduates of the 2016 Class. You have earned it!