For my graduation (non-American country btw), the top like 30 students in school got awards. I was at place 21 or 22 and got like the equivalent of $100. The girl who got #1 (and she had like perfect grades all around, with a shitload of extracurriculars etc) won some fancy language trip across Europe or some shit, said to be worth like $4000.

Prior to the graduation ceremony I had no idea they were even giving out prizes lol, best I ever got before that was a book

[–] MF_COOM@hexbear.net 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Like cash though? Grants and scholarships for grads is one thing but cash for best grade in class just sounds like made-up bullshit

[–] meeshen@vegantheoryclub.org 2 points 1 year ago

The "minor prizes" like the one I got were checks to be cashed in, the perfect score girl prize was more like a grant though.

And yeah I too was surprised and while I was happy at the time (which kid wouldn't, right), it does feel weird now lol. My guess is that they fucked up their budget for the year and needed to burn the money for tax reasons?

[–] Wakmrow@hexbear.net 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I hate the US

[–] meeshen@vegantheoryclub.org 2 points 1 year ago

same, same

[–] MF_COOM@hexbear.net 1 points 1 year ago

Naw this is very bad practice. Grades trend with family income so with some exceptions this is basically just giving extra money to the richest kids in school.

[–] kristina@hexbear.net 16 points 1 year ago

yeah wtf

[–] Lerios@hexbear.net 7 points 1 year ago

idk about best grade, but in my university people performing "significantly over expectation" in the first year got 1000€. i think it was to stop the nerds realising that we were actually way overqualified for the school we were in and transferring out. it was directly wired into our banks though, not cash - honestly i didn't know about it at first and called my bank incase i was being scammed lol. it might have been a STEM only thing?