Brown County High School senior Skyler Williams set a goal for his last semester: To get all As on his report card.

After being a C-average student for most his high school career, Williams finished his first senior semester on the A-B Honor Roll. Then he set his goal higher for the last semester and achieved it, during a worldwide pandemic.

That was not the only goal Williams achieved his last year at BCHS. He was also one of 15 students who were awarded a certificate from Gov. Eric Holcomb to recognize that they have the skills necessary to be successful at work or college after they graduate.

This is the first school year the certificate has been offered to students.

Other surrounding high schools also offer it, including Martinsville High School, Indian Creek High School and Bartholomew County Schools.

“I was definitely determined to get the certificate because at the end of the year, you get the gold Eagle pin and you get the certificate for your resume. I definitely wanted it,” he said.

It was not an easy task to complete, especially in a pandemic.

To earn the certificate, students have to demonstrate perseverance, a positive attitude, communication skills, their ability to be a self-starter and critical thinker, organizational skills, and the importance of punctuality.

Students also have to maintain a 2.0 grade-point average or higher and be on track with graduation requirements.

In addition, students have to maintain a 98-percent attendance rate, have one or fewer discipline referrals, and complete six hours of community service.

Eligible seniors also attended scheduled interviews with administrators and teachers, something Williams said will help him in future job interviews.

“Not only does it help me get jobs, but it shows skills and qualities that I have, and it was really nice, it was awesome. I would be able to be in the newspaper and stuff, go through all of this process. I really wanted all of that to happen,” he said.

At the May 21 school board meeting, the board recognized each student who had been awarded the certificate by showing their photos during the virtual Zoom meeting.

“We’re going to celebrate each one of these individuals who stuck with it and was able to obtain some incredibly rigorous standards,” Superintendent Laura Hammack said.

All students who received the GWEC also earned a golden Eagle pin to wear on their graduation gowns, and that tradition will continue for future seniors, Hammack said.

The school district placed a large advertisement in the newspaper recognizing the students, and there are also billboards with their photos on them on State Road 135 North and State Road 46 West.

“Congratulations to all. This has been a difficult year, and for them to be able to do that is fantastic,” board member Stephanie Kritzer said.

Hammack thanked Career Resource Center of Brown County Director Christy Wrightsman, who worked with BCHS Principal Matt Stark to offer the opportunity to seniors.

The GWEC was supported by multiple organizations and businesses in the county including the Brown County Community Foundation, the Brown County Drug Free Coalition, the Brown County Music Center, the Brown County Visitors Center, Purdue Extension, McDonald’s, Hills O’Brown Vacation Rentals, Suburban Propane and Mainstream Fiber.

The Brown County Rotary Club, Cummins Foundation, Creekside Retreat and Designscape were financial supporters.

{span}The state is asking employers to bring applicants with the governor’s Work Ethic Certificate to the top of their candidate lists.

{span}Other incentives include bonus vacation days at work, waived college orientation classes, professional seminars and development, a sign-on bonus and tuition reimbursement.

‘Made me more determined’

Williams is 19 and currently works at the Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County State Park. But his interests are more of the mechanical nature. He enjoys working on electronics and vehicles.

“I like taking a fan apart and putting it back together, or a fishing pole … working on it and refurbishing things, fixing things like new,” he said.

He has recently refurbished a 1993 Chevrolet S10 truck. “The paint still needs fixed because I can’t do anything with the paint myself. The check engine light is off and the engine sounds fine. It looks nice other than the paint,” he said.

Because he had to show up to school every day in order to get the GWEC, Williams was always worried about his vehicle breaking down, “like maybe getting a flat tire or getting ran off the road or hydroplaning,” he said.

“It definitely made me more determined to come to school on time every day.”

Because Williams had to do interviews with his teachers and principal as part of the process, he said that allowed him to build better relationships with them.

“It got me more involved with the school rather than getting involved with the students. It helped me a lot. It helped me build relationships with teachers and that helped me out finish out high school,” he said.

Despite the pandemic, Williams said he never took his eyes off the prize.

“I was like, ‘Man, even though the coronavirus is going about, and is destroying things, at least I have something to look forward to.’ It really gave me something to look forward to and be excited about,” he said.

“It makes it that greater of an achievement.”

Williams plans to attend Ivy Tech in Bloomington this fall and plans to transfer to Vincennes University. He wants to study automotive technology.

His ultimate goal? Putting his skills to work at Tesla Inc.

Being recognized on this level by the school district and in the community is something Williams has never experienced before.

“It feels great,” he said.

“Being recognized for this is kind of awesome. … Getting it is really an accomplishment. … Being recognized during the coronavirus right now makes it that much greater.”

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Governor’s Work Ethic Certificate earners” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

The inaugural Class of 2020:

Tanner Bowman

Whitney Clark

Cassidy Davis

Caleb Doss

Kaitlynn Goodwin

Bella Hobbs

Abigail Hollander

Aubrey Hollander

Desirea Nash

Nichole Prosch

Allison Stogsdill

Emma Summers

Gabriel Viray

Skyler Williams

Laura Wilson

[sc:pullout-text-end]