Introduction to Academic Varisty Letters

Should all schools implement an academic varsity letter in conjugation with the standardly accepted varsity letters that are offered for competitive sport such as soccer and football? This is the question I pose to you.

I realize that not everyone is aware of what an academic varsity letter or AVL is.
Please look at the following pages for more information, and my personal thoughts on the matter.

What Do Varsity Lettters Look Like?

Some schools allow for the individual clubs an/or organizations that issue the Academic Letters to choose the design of the letters themselves. Other schools merely issue the same letter that they would due to regular varsity letters.

Pictured are various letters for different sports and activities for which a varsity letter can be awarded. The two text links have their pictures embedded within the page they are linked to.

Benefits to Implementing AVL's

I feel that Academic Varsity Letters should be implemented for a few reasons. Many academic teams teach students the value of responsibility and trust. These letters also allow for students to participate at the level they wish. If a student on the team wants to obtain a letter, they will strive to do more and become more actively involved in the team.
According to one parent, at a school of 1200, approximately 1 percent, or 12 students of the student population, upon graduation, will receive a varsity letter

As another parent states, "My Prospective: There are many not as physically blessed, perhaps even physically challenged, but contribute to the overall team success as much if not more than any individual player. I believe that HS sports programs (as opposed to summer competitive teams) have many purposes not the least of which is developing team work, self dedication and discipline, balancing one's time and effort, etc."

The Process

My high school implemented AVL's after the Robotics team formally requested that the school created an Academic Varsity letter.

Many other FRC Robotics teams also have these letters.

According to the Michigan High School Athletic Association, the following are the requirements for a scholar athlete award. This is a term that is occasionally used to refer to AVL, but it also can designate a high achieving athlete who is also high achieving in academics.
Enrollment - Student must be enrolled and participating in interscholastic athletics at an MHSAA member school.
2. Senior Status - Student must be a senior graduating during the 2016-17 school year.
3. Varsity Letter - Student must have prior to senior year won a varsity letter in a sport in which the MHSAA sponsors a post-season tournament. The list of sponsored sports include: baseball, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls bowling, girls competitive cheer, boys and girls cross country, football, boys and girls golf, girls gymnastics, ice hockey, boys and girls lacrosse, boys and girls soccer, softball, boys and girls skiing, boys and girls swimming and diving, boys and girls tennis, boys and girls track and field, girls volleyball, and wrestling.
4. 3.50 GPA - Student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. You may not round up a 3.4x grade point average for the purposes of qualifying.
Most schools list the requirements on their websites, though it may require a little bit of searching.
The majority of the requirements for AVL's include a GPA, usually around a 3 or 3.5 if the school uses a 4.0 scale. Some require that the students be involved in a scholastic sport, but not all. The schools also at times mandate that the students in consideration be a graduating senor, or a junior.

The following forum is a dedicated forum for robotics students across the world. One of the threads showcases the various requirements that must be met in order to obtain a letter. A good example of this is:
Pioneer High School / FRC 1076 Pi Hi Samurai gives out varsity letters. They are relatively rigorous to attain though (only about 10 of the 48 students on the team will qualify), involving excellent attendance in build sessions, competitions, and volunteering.
FIRST Robotics encourages community outreach and service, in addition to the standard robot build and fundraising activities that are the norm.

The process can be somewhat time consuming, as it will require multiple appeals, unless the board of education is very favorable toward the letters.

Being awarded a varsity letter can be different. I was not awarded my letter in the standard way. As robotics was at the time the only activity that awarded letters for academics, the advisers and mentors were free to dispense the letters in the format they see fit. I was awarded mine just recently, over the homecoming weekend, even though my graduation was 4 months prior.  

Other Examples

Other organizations give varsity letters for service to the community and the public. Granted, these are not necessarily school based ,but they are granted in conjunction with the school. They do give members of the community the chance to letter in an activity that they enjoy doing. Most schools do not have a club devoted to serving the community, unlike what can be found routinely at colleges.

Possible Problems with AVL's

There are a number of problems that could result from the awarding of an Academic Varsity Letter, many of which stem from my personal experience with the awarding of the letters.

1. There must be explicit guidelines otherwise, students and or parents who think that they or their child deserved a letter due to the sole fact that they are counted as a member.

2. Tension between two or more members could result if one was awarded a letter and the other(s) were not, or visa versa. These tensions could result in lack of membership, loss of friendships, and possible cult like responses.

Some minor problems that could result include

1. Bickering between the student body over who was awarded a letter, regardless of the club they are in.

2. Awarding of letters could result in cliques of those who received or will receive a letter.

My Personal Thoughts

Academic Varsity Letters are great for those students, like me who are physically unable to play a sport, or prefer to explore academic interests over the pursuit of physically involved activities.

I am a strong believer in the words of FIRST founder Dean Kamen;

"FIRST is more than robots. The robots are a vehicle for students to learn important life skills. Kids often come in not knowing what to expect- of the program nor of themselves. They leave, even after the first season, with a vision, with confidence, and with a sense that they can create their own future".

This same principle applies to Academic Varsity Letters. They are a method to allow students to find who they are and what they want to do, all while earning something for it. In psychology, we learn about the concept of reinforcements for behavior. These are things that strengthen the behavior. The letter could be seen in this same vein. It reinforces the behavior and acts a reward for fulfilling guidelines set forth, typically in a handbook.