Improving college admissions by honoring all-around students in America’s high schools

The Discus Awards honor students who do not always get the recognition they deserve, helping match well-rounded high school students with colleges that are hungry for a different kind of success.

More than a numbers game

Traditional awards programs focus on the numbers: Test scores, grades, and win-loss records. But college admissions offices know that it takes more than academic success and athletic prowess to predict real-world success in and out of the classroom. The Discus Awards recognize uncommon students whose character and passions are anything but average.

Ten key attributes

Discus Award winners shine in more ways than one. In fact, the award highlights ten major categories, or attributes, where students can make an important contribution during high school. Every Discus Award winner has a proven track-record in at least three of these attributes:

 Academics: For grades, honors, competitions...
 Arts: For drama, writing, music, film, photography...
 Athletics: For sports, training, coaching, cheerleading...
 Community Service: For volunteering, tutoring, mentoring...
 Faith: For youth groups, missions, retreats...
 Government: For student government, model UN, politics, campaigns...
 Green: For clean-ups, recycling, building awareness...
 Technology: For Web, programming, science, blogging...
 Work: For part-time jobs, family business, entrepreneurship...
 Other Achievements: For clubs, student activities, overcoming obstacles, and more...

Applying to college is complicated. By focusing on multi-dimensional students, the Discus Awards show college admissions departments at U.S. colleges and universities the whole person behind the statistics.

How it Works

Students in grades 9-12 can nominate themselves or their friends, and teachers, counselors, and parents can nominate a high school student they know. Nominations are free, and will be accepted at www.DiscusAwards.com and soon on Facebook. It’s simple. Nominees pick three attributes, write a short blurb for each one, and provide a reference. Students are encouraged to go the extra mile with photos and videos illustrating their accomplishments. A judging panel of education professionals will review the nominations and name the winners.

Winning the Discus

Winners are named every month, and highlighted in national and local media. Students can post their awards to favorite social media sites, and include them in their college applications. The Discus Awards’ unconventional focus gives college admissions officers a complete, multi-faceted view of potential students.

Each school year, the Discus Awards identify a select group of winners who represent the cream of the cream of the crop. These exceptional all-around students will receive $2,000 college scholarships to help pursue their talents and meet their educational goals.

Behind the Discus

The Discus Awards spring from a partnership between longtime educational services company Campus Direct and the internationally regarded awards company Recognition Media.

Campus Direct has worked closely with colleges and universities for more than 20 years, providing industry-leading products and services to schools, students, and parents.

Recognition Media is an owner and producer of leading awards programs and events in Internet, media, and advertising, including the prestigious Webby Awards—called the “Internet’s highest honor” by the New York Times, and five other international awards programs.