National Award Recipients
A national selection committee composed of respected leaders in education and workforce development evaluated state nominations and selected one national award recipient for each of the four categories.
Sheree Gremillion of Alabama (Student Readiness Award) is a senior at Rogers High School in Florence, Alabama. She earned a 3.98 grade point average and an ACT® college readiness assessment score of 33 while participating in extracurricular activities and overcoming many hardships in her life.
- Watch Sheree's story
Rufus King International School of Wisconsin (College and Career Transition Award) has created a “college-bound atmosphere” for its diverse body of students, many of whom will be first-generation college students. Its rigorous courses, quarterly student growth assessments, college and career exploration, and community service requirements have earned the school national honors and top rankings.
Edgecombe Community College of North Carolina (Career Preparedness Award) is located in a county facing a significant unemployment rate. Edgecombe is improving graduates’ employability by awarding them certificates demonstrating their career readiness in addition to their academic degrees. It also partners with area companies to ensure that its graduates are ready to join the local workforce.
Sargento Foods, Inc., of Wisconsin (Workplace Success Award), a pillar of Wisconsin’s dairy industry for the past 60 years, has been collaborating with area schools to equip students with the skills they need in the workforce. The company also is profiling the majority of its job positions and uses the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate™ in its hiring practices.
- Watch Sargento Foods' story
“It really helps us feel better about our future. When we look at the program that ACT has put in place, it allows us the opportunity to make sure that we can continue to have a strong workforce.”
—Louie Gentine, President, Sargento Foods, Inc.