PUPOSE OF THE CHRISTIAN SERVICE AWARD
The purpose o the Christian Service Award is to recognize the Holy Spirit High School student who through their actions toward themselves, others, the community, and the church have demonstrated themselves to be of outstanding character and a role model in their effort to live in the difficult way of Christ. The award teaches all the students the Human Virtues in terms of their everyday life, to see the Human Virtues in others and the role of the Human Virtues in leading a morally good life.
BACKGROUND OF THE CHRISTIAN SERVICE AWARD
Becoming a Christian is a life long process. The Knights in our council feel that developing a Christian life is something we as individuals choose to do. In this multimedia technological age we are pulled in all directions with out really being aware of it. The commercials, TV shows, movies, news media, and the everyday experiences pull us away from the values taught by our Church and Order. With out making a conscious effort to develop a Christian life, we are easily influenced toward the secular. This is especially true of the high school youth, as they experience the emotional and responsibility changes of becoming adults.
The Christian Service Award is based on the teachings of the Catechism for the Catholic Church. The Theological Virtues – faith, hope and charity – motivate us to live in relationship with the Holy Spirit. The Human Virtues – prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance – make possible ease, self-mastery and join in leading a morally good life. Each year the Knights ask the High School faculty to discuss the Human Virtues with the students in conjunction with the opening of the nominations for the award. Justice – respect the rights of others and promote harmony and equity in relationships (i.e. not treating other students as outcasts). Fortitude – resolve to resist temptations and firmness in difficulties in pursuit of good. Temperance – moderates attractions for pleasure and balances use of material goods. We learn and develop Human Virtues in three ways: by hearing stories that inspire virtuous behavior, by seeing living models of virtues in others, and by repeatedly engaging in acts that develop good habits or virtue.
The Christian Service Award is one that gives both recognition and teaches. The recognition is given to the student that wins the award and the nomination process teaches the students about the virtues in terms of their everyday lives.
THE AWARD
The presentation of the Christian Service Award is and annual event. The award is considered to be the highest non-academic award to be received by a High School student. Through a nomination process one student is selected who has made an outstanding effort to develop and practice Human Virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. Through their actions toward themselves, others, the community, and the church they have demonstrated themselves to be of outstanding character and a role model in their effort to live in the difficult way of Christ. All the students in the 9th through the 12th grade, who have not won the award in a previous year, are eligible to receive the award.
The award process was designed not only to recognize a particular student for their effort, but also to be a teaching tool for all the students in the High School. The students learn about the Human Virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance and the role they play in leading a morally good life. The award is presented at the High School awards ceremony at the end of the school year. The nominations are held two weeks prior to the presentation. The nomination process begins with a discussion in the classrooms about the meaning of the Human Virtues in terms of the students’ lives. Written nominations for a student are accepted from students, faculty, and staff. The nominations are reviewed by a committee of 5 members: the Grand Knight, a Knight delegate, the Principal of the High School, the High School Chaplain and the President of the Student Council. The selection of the winner is not a popularity contest. The person is not selected because they receive the most nominations. The selection is based on what is written about the person in the nomination. It is based on how well the person develops and practices the Human Virtues.
The winner of the award is held in confidence until the presentation at the High School awards ceremony. The Grand Knight makes the presentation of the individual plaque to the winner. In addition, the individual’s name is placed on a plaque that is maintained in the lobby of the High School. The plaque contains the name of each year’s winner. The Knights publish a picture of the winner being presented the plaque in the Diocese newspaper. The student and the family of the student who wins the award are invited as guests to the council’s award banquet in June.
