Claymont students earn national HMH awards

Students in Claymont High School ELA and math classes celebrated their academic success with a catered lunch from Texas Roadhouse of New Philadelphia sponsored by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

The students are in Jessica Klingler’s and Nicole Sankey’s ELA classes and David White’s and Tammy Reynolds’ math classes.

Kullin Akers, Max Enold, Ellington Haynes, Lilly Knepper and Peyton Peters won Read 180 awards, and Davetta Hidey won the Math 180 Award.

“Winning the award made me proud of myself, and it made me full of excitement because I didn't expect to win it,” Haynes said.

“Whenever I received this award, it meant that I accomplished my goal. When I got it, I felt happy and excited,” Knepper said.

Students were selected by HMH as the top-performing Read 180 and Math 180 students in the nation. Winners are chosen based on academic achievement, growth mindset and personal growth.

“The students have demonstrated outstanding dedication and perseverance in their reading and math journey. Their consistent effort, active engagement and commitment to growth have led to meaningful gains in reading and math skills and confidence,” Superintendent Brian Rentsch said.

“The commitment to learning from our award winners is truly remarkable. They have shown incredible determination in developing reading and writing abilities. Their positive attitudes and hard work have made a big difference in their academic progress. They have inspired other students by demonstrating how continuous effort and a growth mindset can lead to success,” Klingler said.

Read 180 instructor Sankey said, “These award-winning students have shown dedication and persistence working through their online HMH programs. I am so happy for these students and the impact Read 180 has made. Watching their confidence grow has been inspiring.”

“Davetta has shown remarkable growth this year, transforming from a student who was hesitant to try new math skills into one who eagerly embraces challenges and applies what she learns with confidence. Through her work in Math 180, she has developed a genuine enthusiasm for learning that is evident every day. It has been incredibly rewarding to watch her confidence and excitement for math continue to grow,” White said.

The students’ hard work and success earned a catered lunch from Texas Roadhouse for themselves and their families.

When asked to give advice to other students, Peters said, “No matter how hard you think it is and how much you think about giving up, don't do it because the progress and knowledge are worth it in the end.”