How to participate in Caller-Times Student of the Week: Honor launches Jan. 29

Starting next week, the Corpus Christi Caller-Times will launch a new award to honor the academic successes of high school students across the area, and you can help pick the winner.

Every local school in the Coastal Bend area has the opportunity to nominate one high school student a week for consideration. School leaders across the area have been asked to submit the names of their nominees, along with a bit about each student and his or her achievements.

"This feature seems like an excellent way to honor academic achievements by our area's high school students," Executive Editor John Moses said. "It's our first time putting up this kind of a poll for non-sports-related achievements. We're excited about it, and the response from schools has been great."

Those nominees will all be included in a poll where students, staff and the community can vote each week. The first poll goes live at 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 29, and voting will continue until noon Thursday, Feb. 1.

The winner will be spotlighted in a “results” article that names the Student of the Week. It goes online each Friday and will publish over the weekend in our Sunday edition.

There’ll be a new honoree each week during the school year.

"I sent out a lot of invitations last week, but if I missed a district we can add in new participants as we go," Moses said. "I'm an old dog and running an online poll is a new trick for me, but bear with me and we'll include every district that wants to join in."

Education Reporter Olivia Garrett can be reached with any questions via email at olivia.garrett@caller.com.

For years, the Caller-Times has honored student-athletes in a similar way with its Athlete of the Week program, Moses said. "We’re honored to now help shine a spotlight on academics and the exceptional students of the Coastal Bend."

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Caller-Times to launch Student of the Week honor