At Lakeview High School, a new display outside the cafeteria is changing the way that academic success is recognized. Thanks to the efforts of Lakeview Vice Principal Michael DeToro, Lakeview Principal Lawrence Herrholtz, and graphic designers at Columbus School Pride, the “Big Dog Awards” board is giving students a fresh and motivating way to see their hard work pay off.
The idea for the board didn’t start at Lakeview. While attending an away basketball game at Jefferson High School, DeToro and Herrholtz noticed something interesting. In Jefferson’s cafeteria, there was a display recognizing students for strong ACT scores. Inspired by this, they began thinking about how Lakeview could expand on its academic recognition.
The school already highlights honor roll students and straight A students with photos near the cafeteria, but they wanted to take things a step further. They wanted something that would include even more students and celebrate growth, not just high grades.
In regards of the board, Herrholtz had to say, “It’s not all about intellectual talent, it’s about how much you are willing to put into the subject. I believe it is going to help in the sense that the students will be rewarded for the amount of time that they are putting into their studies, to see their work is getting deserved recognition.”
That is where the new board comes in. Instead of simply recognizing the highest scores, the “Big Dog Awards” board focuses on improvement. It highlights students who exceeded their projected scores on state end of course exams, including subjects like Geometry, Algebra, ELA 10, U.S. History, Biology, and Government.
To make this possible, the school worked with the Trumbull County Educational Service Center to develop a fair and inclusive system. The state of Ohio provides each student with a projected score based on their past test scores. From there, teachers and administrators can compare that to their current score.
For example, if a student was projected to score a 700 but earned a 725, they would receive +25 points. On the other hand, a student expected to score very high, say 800, only improves slightly, they might not earn as many points. This system was created with the hope of shifting the focus away from natural ability seen at Lakeview, and instead highlighting the unseen effort, determination, and academic growth.
“We’re not looking for that kid that gets his projected average score, we are looking to appreciate the kids who did what was above expected of them, that’s who we want to acknowledge,” DeToro said.
This display opens the door for a much wider group of students to be recognized. Instead of only celebrating those who consistently earn top grades, the board gives every student a chance to succeed and be acknowledged. Whether someone is improving in Math, English, or Government, their progress matters.
The board itself will feature the top 20 students with the highest point increases across all tested subjects. Their names will remain displayed for an entire year, giving them lasting recognition for their achievement.
Last year’s results were especially strong, with standout performances in English classes. “We looked at last year’s numbers and reports and it was truly crazy. It was a really good year with Mrs. Hogue and the English score,” DeToro.
By celebrating both excellence and improvement, the school is reinforcing a culture where effort is just as important as results. For many student’s, seeing their peers recognized for growth, not just perfection, can be incredibly motivating.
As a Bulldog, it’s exciting to see our school continuing to find new ways to support and inspire students. The “Big Dog Award” board isn’t just a display, it’s a reminder that progress matters, hard work pays off, and every student has the potential to succeed.
