Recognition Ceremony
What is the Belin-Blank Center Recognition Ceremony?
The Belin-Blank Center Recognition Ceremony is held annually and is an opportunity
to acknowledge those students (grades 4–12) who either, 1) earned scores in the
top 1% of the Belin-Blank Exceptional Student Talent Search (BESTS), 2) were selected
to one of our scholarship programs, or 3) received special recognition in a Belin-Blank
Center program.
Who is recognized?
Students
Select students (grades 4–12) who either, 1) earned scores in the top 1% of the
Belin-Blank Exceptional Student Talent Search (BESTS), 2) were selected to one of
our scholarship programs, or 3) received special recognition in a Belin-Blank Center
program.
Teachers
Each honored student is given the opportunity to select an educator who has had
a profound impact on that student. The teacher is invited to attend the Belin-Blank
Center Recognition Ceremony, to cross the stage with his/her student, and to receive
an award.
Top 25 Schools of Iowa AP Index
Also honored at the Belin-Blank Center Recognition Ceremony are the top 25 high
schools in Iowa according to the Iowa AP® Index. This index was developed at the
Belin-Blank Center and recognizes schools in Iowa for offering Advanced Placement®
(AP®) opportunities and for their students willing to step up to the challenge of
an AP exam.
How many students and teachers are honored?
Over 600 students and 400 teachers from throughout Iowa and the country are invited
to participate in the annual Belin-Blank Center Recognition Ceremony.
When and where IS the Recognition Ceremony?
The Belin-Blank Center Recognition Ceremony will be held Sunday, October 9, 2011,
in the Main Lounge of the University of Iowa’s Memorial Union.
Have the letters of invitation been sent?
The vast majority of students who are to be recognized will have been sent their
letters of invitation by July 20, 2011.
What are the deadlines?
Students: So that we will have enough time to send invitations
to invited teachers, the RSVP deadline for students is Monday, August 8, 2011.
Teachers: So that we will have enough time to get your name printed
in the program, the RSVP deadline for teachers is Monday, September 12, 2011.
How do we respond to the invitation?
You are encouraged to respond online. In order to successfully
complete the registration process students and teachers will both need the registration
URL and the student’s unique ID number, which are included in the letter of invitation.
What if I cannot find my letter of invitation?
You may contact Rachelle Rich at the
Belin-Blank Center and you will be provided the information you will need to respond
online.
If I'm not able to attend do I need to register anyway?
Please. Students may invite teachers to be honored at the Belin-Blank Center Recognition
Ceremony even if the student is not able to attend.
Should I contact the teacher I want to invite?
We heartily encourage you to contact the teacher you wish to honor. If the student
wishes to make plans to attend the Recognition Ceremony with the honored teacher
or to travel together, making these arrangements will be up to the student’s family
and the teacher.
If I’m not able to attend, do I need to respond to the invitation anyway?
Yes, please. Students may invite teachers to be honored at the Belin-Blank Center
Recognition Ceremony even if the student is not able to attend.
What if I am not able to attend the Belin-Blank Center Recognition Ceremony?
Invited students and teachers who are unable to attend the Recognition Ceremony
will be sent a personalized certificate of recognition and a copy of the Recognition
Ceremony Program after the event.
Will the newspapers receive information about my having been invited to the Belin-Blank
Center Recognition Ceremony?
As part of the registration process you will be asked if you wish to have a press
release submitted to your local paper. If you do, then you are to provide the name
of the newspaper to which the press release is to be sent. Please note that press
releases will NOT be sent if the student registers “No” or does not provide a response
to the question when registering.
From where are the students coming?
The Belin-Blank Center serves students and teachers from across the nation. The
majority of the students will be from Iowa primarily because several of the scholarship
and merit programs are available just to Iowa students. However, we have students
and teachers travel to Iowa from north, south, east and west!
Who else may attend the Belin-Blank Center Recognition Ceremony?
Seating in the Iowa Memorial Union is limited; therefore each honored student may
invite two guests (i.e., parents), and each honored teacher may invite one guest
to also attend. Guest passes will be sent in September to those students and teachers
who have responded saying they will attend the Belin-Blank Center Recognition Ceremony.
Individuals holding guest passes are seated first.
Are there other activities associated with the Belin-Blank Center Recognition Ceremony?
Please click here (pdf) to see the scheduled
activities for this year's Recognition Ceremony.