Bakersfield High School won two awards at the Kern High School District PEAAK award ceremony on May 14.
Driller Drama and Amelia Isaac won awards for their performance of “Hadestown.”
With approximately 40 categories for PEAAK, BHS was a finalist in a noteworthy 22 of them.
BHS students and programs were finalists in the following categories:
-”Hadestown” for “Outstanding Live Theatrical Production: Musical”
-“Turn of the Screw” for “Outstanding Live Theatrical Production: Non-Musical”
-“Parent Teacher Student Organization for “Greatest Community Supporter”
-Associated Student Body for “Best Public Event or Competition”
-Amelia Isaac for “Scholar Vocalist” and “Outstanding Performance in a Live Theatrical Production: Musical”
-Jolie Wyatt for “Outstanding Achievement in Theater” and “Kern High School District Superintendent’s Ambassador Award”
-Thomas Woods, Jr. for “Best Male Student-Athlete” and “Kern High School District Superintendent’s Ambassador Award”
-The Blue and White for “Best in Photography” and “Best Design”
-Claire Michael for “Outstanding Performance in a Live Theatrical Production: Non-Musical”
-Future Farmers of America for “Best Community Service Project”
-Forensics for “Scholastic Team of the Year”
-Mock Trial for “Scholastic Team of the Year”
-Arline Pineda for “Excellence in Writing” and “Best News Story”
-Treble choir for “Outstanding Beginning Choral Ensemble”
-Chorale for “Outstanding Advanced Choral Ensemble”
-Drill Crew for “Best Cheering Section”
-Eva Haverstock “Outstanding Leadership”
What is PEAAK?
PEAAK is an award ceremony in the Kern High School District. During March to the first 2 days of April, Teachers and Program Leaders nominate students/groups to receive a reward and acknowledgment.
How the winners are selected
For all of March, plus an additional two-day extension in 2025, the PEAAK awards begin accepting nominations. Teachers, program leaders, and other staff are invited during this time to nominate individual students and/or groups to receive an award and acknowledgement in their respective categories.
The nomination process is controlled by Stan Greene, Director School Support Services at the Kern High School District, and his team.
As the process continues, students are invited to vote on the nominations and the respective supporting evidence that comes with them. However, it is unclear what exactly is done with the results of the students’ votes.
According to Greene, his team works together to select the winners in all but one category; the category they do not choose was left unspecified. He wrote to The Blue and White that his team works together and discusses their top choices for each award until they can come to a consensus on a winner.
After that, finalists for awards and student representatives are invited to the ceremony. Each KHSD site’s Activities Director recommends several ASB students to present the awards during the ceremony.
Once a winner has been announced, the individual or group goes on stage to collect their trophy. The winners are then invited backstage to take pictures and complete interviews.
