Excellence in Academics Program

Recognition

The Excellence in Academics recognition was originally established and recognized students who completed the school year in the top 15% of their class based on annual GPA. Beginning with the Class of 2029, the recognition will shift to match the high school’s Latin honors system. Seniors who complete their senior year earning Summa Cum Laude honors (4.0) will receive the Excellence in Academics Scholarship and can designate a program for the Bill Mills Leaving a Legacy Grant. Underclassmen will be honored when they initially earn Cum Laude status (3.5) with a physical letter award.

Encouraging Excellence in Academics Scholarships

Seniors who earn the Excellence in Academics recognition all four years at Harrisonville High School receive a scholarship from the Foundation.  

Supporting Excellence in Academics

• $100 Subscriber – Recognized in program, at ceremonies, and in newspaper; Invitation to both events; Subscriber perpetual plaque or year plate for plaque
• $500 Scholarship Subscriber – Same as Subscriber and in addition, the opportunity to personally congratulate senior Excellence in Academics recipients
• $1,000 Corporate Subscriber – Same as Subscriber and in addition, on-stage recognition at both events

Donations should be sent to the Harrisonville Public School Foundation, 503 S. Lexington, Harrisonville, MO 64701. If you have any questions, please contact the Foundation at foundation@harrisonvilleschools.org or (816) 380-2727.

Leaving a Legacy Program

Through the Leaving a Legacy program established in 2020, each four-year Excellence in Academics recipient has the opportunity to choose a school-sponsored program, department or extracurricular activity to receive a $250 mini grant from the Foundation. The program creates an opportunity for four-year Excellence in Academics recipients to pay it forward within the school district.

Leaving a Legacy aligns with the Foundation’s goal to enhance, supplement, support and expand student- and school-based learning activities and initiatives. The Foundation created this initiative in honor of Mr. Mills because of his desire to invest in Harrisonville Schools programs and activities that benefit students throughout the district and to provide a small thank you for all he’s given to the Foundation over the years.

Mr. Mills served on the Foundation board for more than 25 years and retired from the board last June. He is a past president and a Founding Donor at the Platinum Level. He is a 1972 graduate of Harrisonville High School and a 2014 inductee into the Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame.