No more valedictorians in Canfield

CANFIELD

With many students vying to earn valedictorian status among their peers, Canfield schools administrators looked to a different system to ease pressure on students — but also reward more youth.

Canfield School District administrators said this is the first year the cum-laude scale will be used for graduates Sunday.

District officials gave many reasons why they began to research the change years ago. Canfield’s board of education approved the change two years ago, when current graduating class members were sophomores.

Guidance counselor Becky Heikkinen said those students were hesitant at first, but began to like it over time.

“It’s what everyone is used to after this class,” Superintendent Alex Geordan pointed out.

Officials from the Mahoning County Education Service Center said that Canfield is the only school district in Mahoning County with the cum-laude system. Mike Moldovan, assistant principal of Canfield High School, said they have fielded calls from area schools inquiring about the system.

Read more about the innovative program in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.