The Senney Honors Academy
The Senney Honors Academy:
A Lutheran West Center of Excellence
Lutheran West’s Senney Honors Academy (SHA) motivates students to reach their fullest potentials in high school while preparing them to excel in college. Through the SHA, high-performing academic students stretch themselves in the classroom, explore their educational and professional futures, and cultivate their spirit of servant leadership.
The Senney Honors Academy is one of the flagship programs of Lutheran West, which we call Centers of Excellence.
Academy Components
The Leadership Lecture Series
Influential local leaders are invited to speak to and answer questions from students in The Senney Honors Academy. The focus is upon highlighting leaders who make a difference in their local, state, and national communities.
College Tour
Each year, SHA students and their families have the opportunity to take a tour of college campuses across the United States in regions including the Northeast, Midwest, and South (visited on a rotating basis from year to year). Institutions visited have included University of Michigan, Concordia College Ann Arbor, Valparaiso University, University of Notre Dame, University of Chicago, Vanderbilt University, University of Kentucky, Centre College, and Belmont University.
Service and Internships
Each student develops an ongoing relationship with a service agency to fulfill service hour requirements and move toward internship opportunities. The service component of the SHA cultivates in each student a sense of servant leadership and investment in their own local communities. Service often becomes an important and differentiating feature of their college applications.
Standardized Test Preparation
In addition to the test preparation provided to all Lutheran West students in their junior year, SHA students are provided with professional ACT/SAT test-taking preparation starting in their freshman year. For our SHA students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses, AP exam completion is required (test fees refunded to students achieving a score of three or higher).
Enriched Academic Requirements
Additional graduation requirements include taking ten or more Honors/Advanced Placement (AP)/College Credit Plus (CCP) courses over the course of their high school career and participating in at least two extra-curricular events.
The SHA Presidential Scholarship
The SHA Presidential Scholarship is a $2,500 annually-renewable scholarship is awarded yearly to two incoming freshmen. Eligible candidates must complete the written portion of the SHA application by the deadline and participate in a Senney Honors Academy Group Interview to be considered for the Presidential Scholarship.
”SHA students have the opportunity to develop their networking skills, deepen their academic and extra-curricular pursuits, and focus on leadership, service, and college readiness.”
Mrs. Becky Slack,
Dean of the Senney Honors Academy