Distinguished Christian High School Student Award

Association of Christian Schools International / Student Leadership & Learning / Distinguished Christian High School Student Award

The ACSI Distinguished Christian High School Student Award (DCHSS) is an opportunity to honor deserving high school students from ACSI member schools. The DCHSS program recognizes select sophomores, juniors, and seniors for their achievements in Academics, Leadership, Performing and Fine Arts, Athletics, and Christian Service.

In addition, DCHSS provides schools with potential communication from ACSI member colleges and universities about their programs, scholarship packages, and other financial support to help equip students to fulfill God’s calling in their lives.

Student Nomination Process

Option 1: DCHSS Toolkit
New for 2025/26

Schools will receive materials to prepare their own certificates, allowing them to choose when and how to issue them. The toolkit includes a customizable certificate template, a congratulatory letter for students, a letter for college or career portfolios, and press releases. Schools must still submit DCHSS award names to ACSI to maintain program integrity. The toolkit for the 2025-26 academic year is available until July 1, 2026.

Toolkit Advantages:

Certificates can be issued later in the school year, which removes the February 1 deadline and gives schools more time to submit student nominations.
Schools can make corrections as needed.
Schools can decide whether to give students one certificate listing multiple awards or individual certificates for each award.

Nomination Form Opens 9/2/2025

Option 2: Traditional DCHSS Format

Choose the traditional process to receive a spreadsheet for submitting student names and award categories. Submit the completed spreadsheet by the first of each month. Certificates (one per award category) will then be issued, along with a link to print congratulatory letters, college or career portfolio letters, and certificates.

This option is available until February 1, 2026, and certificates will be sent by March 31, 2026. If there are any new submissions or changes after this date, the school will receive a toolkit for in-house issuance.

Nomination Form Opens 9/2/2025

International and Global Schools

Due to the unique school timeline of our International and Global schools, DCHSS will be available year-round to accommodate the diverse needs of our schools and students. Recognizing that traditional academic calendars may not align with the global nature of our student body, we are committed to providing continuous support and resources throughout the entire year.

To effectively meet the varied demands of our different divisions, the policies and procedures associated with DCHSS will be tailored to each division's specific needs. Global schools will still choose between the two following options:

Option 1 – The DCHSS Toolkit: Schools will receive materials to prepare their own certificates, allowing them to choose when and how to issue them. The toolkit includes a customizable certificate template, a congratulatory letter for students, a letter for college or career portfolios, and press releases. Schools must still submit DCHSS award names to ACSI to maintain program integrity.

Toolkit Advantages:

Schools can make corrections as needed.
Schools can decide whether to give students one certificate listing multiple awards or individual certificates for each award.

Option 2- Traditional DCHSS Format: Choose the traditional process to receive a spreadsheet for submitting student names and award categories. Submit the completed spreadsheet by the first of each month. Certificates (one per award category) will then be issued, along with a link to print congratulatory letters, college or career portfolio letters, and certificates.

Nomination Form Opens 9/2/2025

Award Categories

Academics

Academics

The student must be maintaining a 3.0 GPA or higher and meeting the school’s graduation requirements.

Leadership

Leadership

The student must be actively involved in some type of community service. You do not need to list the student’s service activity on the form.

Performing & Fine Arts

Performing & Fine Arts

The student must actively participate in school activities such as band, choir, drama, music, and art.

Athletics

Athletics

The student must be actively participating in school team/individual sports and/or intramural sports.

Christian Service

Christian Service

The student must have a clear Christian service record and Christian testimony and be actively involved in a ministry-related activity. However, you do not need to list the student’s ministry activity on the form.

Additional Criteria:

A school may nominate up to a total of 20% of the students from each of their Sophomore, Junior, and Senior classes (10th, 11th, and 12th grades). If a school has less than fifty (50) students in a class, they may nominate up to ten (10) students from each class for the category (or categories) for which they meet the criteria. Each student may be nominated for all applicable categories.

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