More than 50 clubs and sports teams are available to students at SHS. We encourage all students to be active and involved. Please check the clubs/organizations tab on the left side of the SHS main page for information.

• Calculus AB

• Calculus BC (College Credit Only)

• German

• Statistics

• Music Theory

• Art History

• Studio Art: 2-D Design Studio Art: 3-D Design Studio Art: Drawing

• Chemistry

• Biology

• Physics

• Human Geography

• United States History

• U.S. Government and Politics

• English Literature and Composition

The school year is divided into two 18-week semesters. Unless otherwise indicated, each semester course receives .50 Carnegie Units. Twenty-six Carnegie Units are required for graduation.

One Carnegie Unit equals 36 weeks per year, 5 periods per week, and 51 minutes per day. The District 186 policy is a 10 point grading scale used in all classes. For example, 90 - 100 is an A.

At Springfield High School all courses are weighted to reflect course difficulty for the purpose of establishing an equitable and fair class rank. A course weight of 2,3,4,5,6, or 7 is assigned to each course. For example, a weight of "2" is applied to special education classes, "4" represents courses of average difficulty, and "7" indicates college-level/Advanced Placement Classes. Assignment of a weight (W) to a course, the first factor in the class rank is determined by the school administration
and the district curriculum council. The second factor in the class rank formula is the letter grade (G) which carries a numerical value: A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, F=0. The third factor in the class rank formula is the number of (A) attempted weighted classes.
Class rank, computed at the end of each semester for each student, is based on the individual's cumulative grade point average (GPA). The formula for this average is the sum of the courses' Weight times Grade divided by Attempts: W X G ÷ Α . Τhe student with the highest GPA ranks number one in the class.

RECOGNITION AWARDS

Election to the Eda Nelsch Chapter of the National Honor Society is the highest honor the faculty can bestow upon a student. Each year those students from the Junior and Senior Classes with a twenty or better cumulative grade point-average are nominated for consideration on the basis of their scholarship. The entire faculty ranks all nominated students who are eligible for consideration in regard to leadership, character, and service. Students must qualify in all four categories.

The Senator Scholar Award was developed by a faculty committee in 1962. The award is presented to graduating seniors for excellence in performance within a specific department of Springfield High School. Members of each department select the outstanding scholars. In addition to having received exceptionally high grades, a recipient shall have provided evidence of intellectual curiosity, sought to find new relationships while not merely memorizing old facts, demonstrated his/her ability to do independent study, learned to apply principles to the solution of new problems, developed skills in critical thinking and evaluation, and set worthwhile goals for him/herself with his/her talents. Also, students must have met criteria established by each department before being considered as a Senator Scholar.

The Superintendent’s Award recognizes the capable student who is an outstanding representative of a specific subject area. One student from each of sixteen different curricular areas will be chosen by members of the faculty. The student will be eligible to wear the Honors Pin which denotes honor, reputation, praise, and distinction. He/she will be considered responsible, dependable, and highly respected by his/her peers and by the faculty.

Illinois State Scholars are determined by Illinois Standard Test Scores and Illinois Standard Rank Scores.

ART AWARDS

The Harriet M. Cantrall Award in Art, established in 1984 by the estate of Evans E. Cantrall (deceased brother of Miss Cantrall), is presented annually in memory of his sister to a graduating senior who is outstanding in the classes of art at Springfield High School. Miss Cantrall was a 1894 graduate of Springfield High School, a graduate of Pratt Institute, and was later supervisor of drawing in the public schools.

The Lisa Sharp “Changing the World Through Art” Award was established in 2011 by family and friends in memory of Lisa Sharp, class of 1994. Lisa Sharp embraced life with a passion that most of us can't even visualize. She brought her love of art to SHS, and Mr. Edwards and Mr. Hodge encouraged her talent, and gave her a strong foundation to take with her. While she was at SIU, she was among a small group of students who created LOAD (League of Art and Design), a student art organization which continues today. She was an art educator who devoted her too-short life to sharing her love of art with her world.

ATHLETIC AWARDS

The outstanding athlete award, the Willard Duey Award in Athletics, is presented each year to the graduating boy and girl who have earned athletic letters in one of the major or minor sports, and who have exemplified the highest type of citizenship and sportsmanship. The academic grade averages of their school work must be equal to or higher than the general average of the graduating class. First given in 1974, the award honors the memory of Willard Duey — teacher, coach, and Athletic Director at Springfield High School for many years.

The Athletic Director’s Award for Athletic Achievement is given to senior male and female varsity athletes for outstanding athletic achievement in at least two varsity sports.

The Paul Leveque Memorial Award was established in 2002 by his family and friends, to recognize a senior who displays outstanding athletic achievement in golf or hockey and academic excellence. Paul, who graduated from Springfield High School in 1978 was a member of the golf team his junior and senior years. In his senior year, Paul advanced to the Sectional Tournament and placed fourth in the Boy’s All City Tournament. After graduation, Paul played on the Lincoln Land Community College golf team. In addition, Paul played for the Springfield Kings hockey team throughout high school and with the team in 1985 when they won the Walmer Cup.

The Matt Scheffler Memorial Scholarship was established in 2022 and is awarded to student athletes who exemplify the character Matt had as a student athlete at SHS. Matt graduated from SHS in 1998 and was a varsity letter winner in football, basketball and baseball while graduating in the top 10% of his class. Coaches and classmates say he had a great sense of humor, a strong character, a love of life, a drive to succeed and enjoyed a healthy argument. Matt graduated from SIUC, where he played football on a scholarship, with a degree in Civil engineering and an MBA. The recipients of this award must be varsity letter winners and in the top 25% of their class.

COMPUTER SCIENCE AWARDS

The Levi, Ray, and Shoup Computer Science Scholarship, established in 1987, is an annual award for a computer science student at each of the District #186 high schools. Recipients of this scholarship, chosen by the Computer Science Department Faculty at each high school, are graduating seniors with a minimum of two years of computer science course work at the high school level with a pursuit of higher education. Nominees will have demonstrated high academic achievement in computer science, coupled with extensive involvement in extra curricular/computer related activities (contest, clubs, school service).

MATHEMATICS AWARDS

The Lorene E. Campbell Memorial Scholarship, first presented in 1989, is awarded to a senior mathematics student of high academic achievement who also displays those qualities of industry, initiative, and the continual striving for excellence for which Miss Campbell was known. Miss Campbell taught at Springfield High School from 1943 until her retirement in 1973 and served as head of the Mathematics Department for many years during the last of her tenure.

MUSIC AWARDS

The Louis Armstrong Jazz Award is presented annually to an outstanding jazz musician at Springfield High School. This award recognizes the student’s talent, achievement, and dedication in the jazz program.

For over thirty years, thousands of high schools in the United States have chosen the John Philip Sousa Band Award to honor their most deserving band students. The Sousa Award recognizes superior musicianship, leadership, dependability, loyalty, and cooperation and for displaying those high qualities of conduct that the school instrumental program strives to impart.

The Morning Etude Club presents the Clara B. Robinson Award in Music to honor Miss Robinson’s interest in young people who show marked ability in the field of music. To be eligible for the award, a student must have a major in music, outstanding talent and musicianship, cooperative involvement in community projects and school activities, and a high scholastic average for four years of high school.

The Margaret Rourke Award in Drama was established by the Repertory Guild Theatre Group which presented plays from 1935 to 1942. It memorializes the name and the inspiring work of Miss Rourke, a teacher for many years at Springfield High School, to encourage students to strive for excellence in the field of drama.

The Daniel R. Spreckelmeyer Choral Music Award, first presented in 1990, is given in memory of Springfield High School’s Music Department Chairman, Daniel R. Spreckelmeyer, who was Director of Choral Music at Springfield High School from September, 1957 until his death on October 28, 1989. The award is to be presented annually at the Springfield High School Recognition Assembly to a graduating senior, who through participation, talent, and attitude is judged to have contributed the most positive qualities to the Springfield High School Choral Music Program.

SCIENCE AWARDS

The John Cooler Biological Science Award is given in honor of John “Jack” Cooler who taught botany and zoology for his entire teaching career at Springfield High School. He served as an inspiration to many students who are now adults in our community. The award is given each year to a zoology or botany student who is in the upper half of the senior class, maintained at least a C average in botany or zoology or displayed great enthusiasm for the subject matter.

The Carrol C. Hall Award in Biology is given each year through a trust established by Carrol C. Hall, a former student, teacher, and head of the Science Department at Springfield High School. This award, established to promote pupil interest in the study of biological sciences, is presented to the graduating senior who exhibits the greatest proficiency in this field.

SOCIAL STUDIES AWARDS

The World War II Memorial Award is named in honor of the 76 Springfield High School graduates who lost their lives in that war. Each year one male and one female from the senior class will be chosen. Those individuals should have demonstrated good citizenship and an interest in United States History, especially the events of World War II.

The Robert D. Furry Award in History and Citizenship is given by his family in honor of the former Springfield High School guidance counselor and principal. Mr. Furry’s love was American History so this award is directed through the Social Studies Department. Specifically, the American History teachers and Social Studies chairperson are responsible for choosing the recipient. The award honors the student who demonstrates good citizenship, is considerate of others, shows pride in his/her school, community and country, and demonstrates love and respect for history.

Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) was one of the great civil rights leaders of the 20th century. Following his belief of non-violence and peaceful demonstration, Gandhi was able to successfully lead the Indian Independence Movement, and inspire other people worldwide in their struggle to achieve civil and equal rights. During Mahatma Gandhi’s lifetime, he protested against discrimination, racism, prejudice and cruelty. The values that Gandhi lived by and taught to others included truth in conduct, non-violence, equal rights for women and minorities, civil rights for everyone, respect for education, abstinence and the peaceful understanding between different cultures and religions. Dr. Babu Prasad and Dr. Sudha Prasad set up this scholarship in 2007 to honor the memory of Mahatma Gandhi and promote his teaching to the students of Springfield High School. Five seniors are chosen by the Social Studies faculty members.

SPECIAL AWARDS

Each year the Springfield High School Parent Teachers’ Organization honors a member of the graduating class who exhibits outstanding scholastic performance, leadership, and character, who plans to enter the field of teacher education. In 1975, the PTO award was renamed to honor Margaret Hausen, music teacher and counselor at Springfield High School for many years. lt is fitting that this award commemorates Miss Hausen who worked diligently as a college counselor to assist students in making post-high school education plans.

The J.D. Sinnock Leadership Scholarship, first presented in 1991, is given to a graduating senior in memory of J.D. Sinnock, a student at Springfield High School from 1979-1982. This award is to go to the student who exhibits most of the same qualities that J.D. Sinnock possessed. J.D. graduated first in his class, was a member of the National Honor Society, was elected to Homecoming and Prom courts and was voted the person most likely to succeed in his class, was Treasurer and Vice President of Student Council, was a leader in various clubs and organizations and a varsity letter winner in tennis. J.D. was a Senator Scholar in Mathematics and Physical Science and received the Louise M. Welch award in Social Science. He was a finalist in the Marine Bank Student of the Year contest. To be eligible for the award a student has to be in the top ten percent of the class, a varsity letter winner, and exhibit strong leadership in clubs and organizations either in or out of school. The winner is selected annually by a committee of five faculty members representing different departments at Springfield High School. The committee will judge the applicants based on 25% scholarship, 25% athletic prowess, 50% leadership and integrity.

The LeRoy A. and Betty J. Halberg Awards for Service and Achievement are presented each year to current graduates — a Senior Boy and Senior Girl — who have demonstrated high academic achievement, school leadership/citizenship, involvement in extra-curricular activities, and a genuine spirit of cooperation and school loyalty. Nominees are chosen by members of the SHS Guidance Staff. The awards honor the memories of Mr. Halberg (who served as Principal of Springfield High School from September of 1970 to his retirement in May of 1974), and his wife (who served as teacher, English Librarian, and Guidance Counselor at Springfield High School from 1958 to 1970). The LeRoy Halberg Award was first presented as a vocational award in 1974. Betty’s was established in May of 1988 following her death, at which time the awards were combined to become service and achievement awards.

The Albert Plain Pride Award, honoring H. Albert Plain, Sr, a thirty-six year veteran of District #186, was established and first presented in 1988 at the time of his retirement. The award is given annually to a graduating senior who most exemplifies the Senator spirit, as a lasting remembrance of “Alby’s” pride and dedication to the students he served during his thirty-six years of service, thirty four of them at Springfield High School as teacher, coach, counselor, Assistant Principal, and friend. Candidates for the award shall have attended SHS for at least two years of their four-year secondary education, shall have carried a seventh semester rank in the upper one-half of their graduating class, shall have demonstrated ‘plain pride’ in SHS, having been involved in at least three school activities (drama/music/athletics/Student Council, etc.), having observed school rules and traditions, and having shown good character, strong leadership, and dedicated service as a Springfield High School Senator.

The Hemal H. Vakharia Memorial Scholarship (Representative Boy and Representative Girl), is named in memory of Hemal H. Vakharia, a 1992 graduate of Springfield High. While at SHS, Hemal was class president for four years, a member of the National Honor Society, chosen for Homecoming and Prom Courts, and recipient of the Plain Pride Award. He was also chosen Representative Boy for his graduating class and thus the basis for this scholarship. Every year a scholarship will be presented to the Representative Boy and Representative Girl, each exemplifying outstanding graduates who most represent the class as a whole, much the same as Hemal. Members of the senior class elect the students by secret ballot.

The Samuel and Amy Busse Smith Scholarship was established by their estate to award students from Springfield High School who are going into elementary education. Mrs. Smith began her teaching career in Missouri and was employed by Springfield District #186 in 1942. She taught 6th through 8th grades at McClernand School for 3 years and then became principal at Douglas School in 1945. In 1952 she became the principal of the West Grand School continuing there until her retirement in June of 1970.

The Caleb Bridges Humanitarian Award was established in 2008 and is given in memory of Caleb Bridges, a 2003 graduate of Springfield High School who exemplified care and concern for others much beyond the level of most young people. Caleb was devoted to public service and to helping the underdog and is remembered for his high moral standards and his mentoring to younger children. Caleb was to begin study in law enforcement at Western Illinois University when he became ill. Throughout the illness, he demonstrated great strength and courage. Sadly, Caleb lost his fight with cancer on March 2, 2006. The recipient of this award is chosen because he/she possesses many of the same characteristics as Caleb and has shown by example a humane spirit.

The Sheri Pohlman “Mother Springfield” Award is given in honor of Sheri Pohlman, a 30 year veteran of District 186, 29 years at SHS, twenty of which she served as an administrator in Guidance. The award established at the time of her retirement (2009) is given to a graduating senior who most exemplifies Sheri’s devotion to and love of Springfield High. Candidates for the award shall have attended SHS for at least two years of their four-year secondary education, shall have carried a seventh semester rank in the upper one-half of their graduating class, shall have demonstrated a devotion to Springfield High, having been involved in at least three school activities (drama/music/athletics/Student Council, etc.) having observed school rules and traditions, and having shown good character, strong leadership, and dedicated service as a Springfield High School Senator.

The Class of 1959 Technical and Vocational Scholarship was established in September 2009. Prior to the 50th Reunion of the class of 1959, Mr. Don Bolin presented a challenge to his classmates. This challenge was to “payback” Springfield High School for all of the wonderful instruction, memories and tradition from which we all benefited. The challenge was met by the generous donations of the classmates. With these funds, a scholarship was established for a student who shows motivation, desire and dedication to further their education through a vocational program.

The Outstanding Attendance Award is given to senior students who have attended SHS for four full years, had perfect attendance for at least one of those years and has not missed more than two days total for the other three years. The award is determined by May 1 of the current year.