The Ripon Tribe Award will be about those special relationships forged between student and certified or classified staff.
The plan of honoring Ripon High students – ninth graders through 12th – was approved Monday by the Ripon Unified school board.
“High school was more than just academics,” recalled RHS counselor Dawn Goudeau. “It was also about that strong bond or connection you had with that teacher or staff member.”
She along with RHS Principal Keith Rangel and activities director Jill Mortensen are among those working on the prestigious Ripon Tribe Award designed to celebrate the special nature of the student / teacher / staff relationship.
The Ripon Tribe Award will be a medallion presented to select students during an awards ceremony planned for April.
In a letter to all RHS certificated and classified staff, Rangel and his team said: “I realize it is difficult to select one student from all of those you have contact with during the year. This is a very important award, one of the most that you will bestow on a student during your career.”
As for the criteria, the teacher or staff would look at the following:
uAcademic achievement. This could be the highest performing student or the one who improved the most during the year.
uParticipation. This would be the student who a joy to have in class.
uEagerness to learn.
uSubjective judgment (teacher or staff could have the option of using a special criteria).
uCharacter education. This could be the student who demonstrates one or more of the character education traits to such an extent that would deem him or her worthy for the award.
uSportsmanship. A coach can select that special player who exhibits victory with honor.
Rangel envisions about 30 to 40 students at the school receiving this honor during this first year.
“Our goal is to honor as many students as possible – one student for each teacher and classified,” he said.
The selection process also makes it difficult for any one student to receive multiple Ripon Tribe Awards, added Rangel and Goudeau.

To contact reporter Vince Rembulat, e-mail vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com.