“AVID is more than a class, it is a school family, a support system, and a way of life for students.”
Those are the words from a letter sent to the 2021 Orange County AVID Senior Standouts and scholarship recipients.
For more than 20 years, OCDE has been celebrating high school seniors through the OC AVID Senior Recognition Program. And although a live celebration was forced to be held virtually for the second year in a row, that didn’t stop the department’s AVID team from producing this website and slideshow to virtually recognize local students who received awards and scholarships:
2021 Orange County AVID senior recognition
“We are excited to celebrate this year’s AVID standouts and scholarship recipients,” said OCDE AVID Coordinator Denise Harshman. “These students have persevered through challenging times and have proven they will be a force to be reckoned with in college next year.”
To be honored with the title of Senior Standout, students must dedicate three to six years to the AVID family.
“One student is selected to represent AVID at their school, and that Senior Standout epitomizes what it means to be an AVID scholar,” Harshman said. “The standout serves as a powerful representative of the resiliency and tenacity that comprises the character of AVID students.”
What is AVID?
AVID — which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination — is offered as an elective course that meets regularly. Each week, students receive two hours of instruction, two hours in tutor-led study groups and one hour in motivational activities and academic survival skills, including critical reading and writing skills. AVID students are encouraged to take college prep courses and move into honors/advanced placement courses in high school.
The AVID Senior Recognition Program was established to help finance higher education for young people who might not otherwise attend college. AVID students are typically from underserved populations and have average grades but show college potential.
In Orange County, the program currently serves approximately 40,000 students by providing the resources needed to close the achievement gap, thereby making the dream of college attainable for all students. For more information, visit the Orange County AVID website.