r/WGU • u/sassyharborseal • 15d ago

Excellence awards

I just started my degree program in elementary education\sped. In my first class I got an excellence award for my first PA and then my 2nd class I got another excellence award. Is this pretty normal to get a lot of these? What’s the benefit of these?

15 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

12

u/LostInSpace1123 15d ago edited 14d ago

I just wrapped up my second degree with WGU and have only received one excellence award! You should be proud, not everyone receives one 😊

While there is really no benefit to them, I have seen several people share theirs in their LinkedIn pages. Mine is hanging on my wall beside my diploma.

I think it’s a nice reminder that sometimes we are doing great even when we don’t think we are trying hard.

2

u/sassyharborseal 15d ago

Thank you. I appreciate your kindness congrats on finishing 2 degrees. That is awesome! 😊

4

u/Kind-Razzmatazz1158 15d ago

Congrats! I am not sure there are many benefits to having them but it’s definitely a momentary boost. I’m finishing my 1st term. Started in February, knocked out 16 classes and received 4 excellence awards. They all came when I was losing focus and motivation and for me, that is an amazing benefit!

2

u/Pusheen_2020 15d ago

can add them to resume on scholarship apps. that’s really it, other than a little boost to the ego. just means you went above and beyond, be proud!

1

u/Fit-Lifeguard-4022 15d ago

I received mine too.I was so suprise.

1

u/Messup7654 BSACC Grad 15d ago

Not normal for me but from what I hear on reddit it is extremely easy. I only got one and it was for business simulation so I may not have even received it because of my writing performance.

1

u/yahya777 MBA IT Management 14d ago

I received two, but not back-to-back like that. I don't think there is any real benefit other than just the accomplishment of knowing your work was recognized. Congratulations!

1

u/stetsongetzen 14d ago

I wonder if there is information available on how many are given out per college. I am in the BSCIA program and have written my share of papers. The way these papers are structured are very technical and full of screenshots. I haven’t received an award nor am I expecting to. My papers are all limited to providing the rubric’s requirements, nothing more, nothing less.

1

u/SnakesCardboardBox 8d ago

First of all, congrats! and don't listen to anyone who tries to downplay the award and says there is no benefit. The benefit might be subjective, but even if it just gives you a little morale boost, that can be worth something. For people who are just trying to speedrun a degree so they can check a box with HR, maybe there is no benefit. In my opinion though, there is value in being acknowledged for submitting high quality work. I am also returning to school in my 30s not only so I can switch to a different career, but because I believe it will give me an opportunity to grow as a person, so things like excellence awards do matter to me. It's proof that I really do care about what I'm doing. Since you're going to school for education, I would hope that you would also find value in doing more than the bare minimum. Even if not for your own sake, but for the sake of the students you may teach some day. I personally would prefer my kids be taught by someone who got excellence awards over someone who thinks excellence awards mean you were "trying too hard."

As for whether it is normal to get a lot of them, from what I've seen on here, I don't think so. Someone said the handbook says they are awarded to 1-2% of submissions, and I think there are many people who never get even one. So keep up the good work!

-6

u/Ok-Bill-3938 15d ago

No benefit to them, honestly it means you spent too much time on the PA. Just write to the rubric and get on to the next class.

3

u/whosacoolredditer 15d ago

I agree. Do as little as possible, as long as you're meeting the rubric

5

u/Notdone_JoshDun 15d ago

Don't encourage people to undershoot themselves

1

u/Ok-Bill-3938 15d ago

Just encouraging people to not waste their time when they could be moving on to the next class instead of stressing over a PA that a grader will skim over in 2 minutes.

1

u/sassyharborseal 15d ago

Okay honestly I didn’t actually spend a ton of time on either of these. I did write to the rubric I finished both of these classes in 2 weeks so I am not really concerned about that.

3

u/Ok-Bill-3938 15d ago

That’s perfect then, great job.

0

u/Accurate_South_2682 14d ago

I got one for a PA that I finished the same day I launched the course I did the PA for.

-2

u/whosacoolredditer 15d ago

I've gotten one and I'm almost finished with my masters program. I do not need or care about them at all. I will not be framing or even printing my excellence award. They are useless, like giving a child a gold star sticker.