Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Businessmen Recognize Honor Cards

Local merchants are showing their support for education by participating in the Honor Card Program.

Mary Godwin, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce, said this program was kicked off Thursday, March 25, with an assembly at Prescott Middle School at 8:15 a.m. and another at Prescott High School at 9:15a.m.

The program, she said, is for students with A and B averages. Grade point averages will not be considered. However, citizenship grades are. Along with an A or B average, students in PHS must have an A or B in citizenship, while PMS students must have an S.

The idea, Godwin said, is to promote the importance of students getting good grades and behavior, while teaching them the importance and value of shopping locally. A total of 46 local merchants have entered into the agreement to make special deals for Honor Card students.

But, the cards are good for one semester only, with the first set of cards expiring May 31, 1999. The second set of cards will be presented at an assembly in August.

Additionally, the cards can only be used by those who earned them and not by friends or family members. The cards will be different colors each semester as well.

The cards, Godwin said, are the size of business cards, have the name of the student who should be in possession of it along with an expiration date.

A total of 188 students in PMS and PHS have qualified for the first series of honor cards. Of these, 106 are in PMS, with 82 in PHS.

Students transferring into the Prescott district, under the program's rules, must qualify in their first grading period. Transfer grades will not be accepted.

Should the card be lost or stolen, the student it is issued to should report it to their principal. But, lost cards will not be replaced until the next grading period.

The principal will report the lost card to the Chamber, with the Chamber having the option of notifying participating businesses of the loss.

The loaning of cards to others, or making purchases for others, is a violation of program rules and will result in permanent ineligibility.

Participating merchants can ask for identification should they have questions about the student with the card. The businesses will be furnished with lists of who cards have been presented to.

The cards must also be presented to the merchants before any item is rung up on the register.

Participating businesses include auto parts stores, clothing stores, discount stores, convenience stores, florist, restaurants, hair and beauty services, jewelry stores, pharmacies, movie rentals and tanning salons.

"We're happy and excited about the program," Godwin said.

Information on the program will be sent home with students at a later date. Those with questions concerning Honor Cards can call Godwin at the Chamber at 887-2101.