HCPS Honors 67 Top Scholars in Class of 2021

After an unfortunate hiatus in 2020 due to the pandemic, the annual Top Scholars celebration is returning to Henderson County Public Schools (HCPS), albeit in a new form. Sixty-seven of the district’s highest-achieving graduating seniors will be honored this evening at 6 p.m. during 2020-2021 Top Scholars recognitions held throughout the county.

An annual celebration in our district for 17 years, the Top Scholars ceremony has historically taken place under one roof with all 60+  students and their families gathered for a banquet. Planning for such a collective gathering wasn’t feasible under capacity restrictions only recently lifted by Gov. Cooper, but the spirit and excitement of the evening will take place at each high school’s individual event, as families, principals, senior counselors, HCPS administrators, and School Board members recognize the successes and community leadership of these seniors.

“We are thrilled to recognize and celebrate some of our district’s highest achieving seniors for their successful endeavors in the classroom and beyond,” said HCPS Superintendent Dr. John Bryant.

“If 2020 taught us anything, it is that flexibility and resilience will define our future success,” Bryant said. “Not only are these seniors at the top of their graduating classes, they’ve displayed extraordinary resilience, excellence in the arts and athletics, served as leaders in their respective schools, and exhibited selfless commitment to their greater school communities during one of the most challenging times in the history of public education.”

This year, the top three students from Henderson County Career Academy and Henderson County Early College, the top 15 students from Hendersonville High, North Henderson High, and East Henderson High, and top 16 students from West Henderson High will be honored.

As a group, this year’s cohort of Top Scholars received a total of $2,046,300 in college grants and scholarships, had an average 4.42 GPA and 28 ACT score, and volunteered at more than 95 organizations and nonprofits in Western North Carolina, the Upstate, and beyond. Forty-eight of the 676 Top Scholars are originally from North Carolina, and 55 plan to continue their education in the state.