MAS Senior Kia Matt Receives Academic Honors from College Board

Minnewaska Area Schools would like to proudly announce that Kia Matt has been awarded Academic Honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs

These National Recognition Programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications and connect students with universities across the country, helping them meaningfully connect to colleges and stand out during the admissions process. Colleges and scholarship programs identify students awarded National African American, Hispanic, Indigenous, and/or Rural/Small Town Recognition through the College Board’s Student Search Service.

Kia Matt, the daughter of Bobbi Jo Matt and Tony Matt, is set to embark on her academic journey at Northeastern University in Boston. Having already successfully completed 8 college courses at Minnewaska Area Schools, Kia is now actively engaged in an additional 4 courses for the second semester of the 2023-2024 school year.

Beyond her academic achievements, Kia’s commitment to excellence is further exemplified through her participation in various extracurricular activities. She holds distinguished positions, serves as the class president, and is a proud member of the National Honor Society. Kia’s passions extend to the arts, where she contributes her talents to the Jazz Choir and Dance Team. Additionally, she holds a significant role as part of the Waterama Royalty.

Jennifer Ring, the high school counselor, expressed her excitement by stating, “We’re delighted to acknowledge Kia Matt for earning this recognition. We take immense pride in her accomplishments both in the classroom and on College Board assessment.”

Students who may be eligible have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have excelled on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10, or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP Exams, and are African American or Black, Hispanic-American or Latinx, Indigenous, and/or attend school in a rural area or small town.

Eligible students will be invited to apply during their sophomore or junior year and will be awarded at the beginning of the next school year. Students will receive their awards in time to be included in their college and scholarship applications.

“We want to honor the hard work of these students through the College Board National Recognition Programs. This program creates a way for colleges and scholarship programs to connect directly with underrepresented students whom they are hoping to reach,” said Tarlin Ray, College Board senior vice president of BigFuture. “We hope the award winners and their families celebrate this prestigious honor, and it helps them plan for their big future.”