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Lake Lure Classical Academy celebrates the achievements of its students who earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Program. The program, available on BigFuture®, helps students stand out on college and scholarship applications. Every year, talented students claim an award based on their achievement on College Board assessments, including the PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™ 10, and AP® Exams. The 2025 National Recognition Program awarded over 280,000 high-performing students to help them stand out to colleges.
In 2025, the program offered three awards to students of all backgrounds and across schools nationwide: First Generation Recognition Award, Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award, and for the first time, the School Recognition Award, to honor top-performing students in every high school, including lesser-known schools.
This year, four students at LLCA were awarded:
• Jackson Bell - Class of 2026 - Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award and School Recognition Award. Jackson is the son of Nicholas and Natalie Bell of Rutherfordton.
• Judson Bragdon - Class of 2026 - School Recognition Award. Judson is the son of Daniel and Kelli Bragdon of Lake Lure.
• Abigail Sias - Class of 2026 - School Recognition Award. Abby is the daughter of Warren and Corrie Sias of Rutherfordton.
• Riley Gallagher - Class of 2027 - Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award and School Recognition Award. Riley is the daughter of Michael and Tracey Gallagher of Tryon.
"We're incredibly proud of our students and to see them recognized for their dedication and excellence," said Barbara Cohen, LLCA Executive Director. "This honor reinforces their exceptional achievements in high school and will support them in their pursuit of a big future."
Students verify their eligibility during their sophomore or junior year by meeting the following criteria:
• Take the PSAT/NMSQT (10th, 11th), PSAT 10 (10th), and/or AP Exams (by the end of 10th).
• Earn a cumulative GPA of B+ or higher (at least 3.3 or 87%-89%) by the time of submission.
• Be one of the top 10% of test takers in their high school, among first-generation college students in their state, and/or among rural and small-town students in their state, OR earn a 3+ on 2 or more distinct AP Exams in the 8th, 9th, and/or 10th grade.
The recognition serves as a signal for colleges eager to recruit awardees and as an opportunity for communities to celebrate students as they start a new school year. Thousands of nonprofit colleges and scholarship organizations using the College Board Student Search Service™ can connect with awardees during the recruitment process to share more about their postsecondary programs.
"We are deeply committed to clearing a path for each and every student to take ownership of their future. We are excited that this program recognizes achievements of students across the country," said Amy Reitz, senior vice president of BigFuture at College Board. "With the highest participation in the program's history this year, we are proud to support these students on their future paths."
Lake Lure Classical Academy is a K-12 public charter school that serves students from Rutherford, Polk, Henderson and surrounding counties. The school's mission is to offer a classical, knowledge-based education that fosters critical thinking, civic responsibilities, and virtue for all.
