Kern High School District students have continued the District’s “Tradition of Excellence” in regional, state and national levels of various academic competitions thanks in large part to the KHSD Educational Foundation.

Donations to the KHSD Educational Foundation have provided funding for District students to compete at the state and national levels in such programs as Academic Decathlon, FFA, History Day, Mock Trial, Virtual Enterprise, and “We, The People.” Donation sources are many and include the Harry & Ethel West Foundation, the Ben H. & Gladys Arkelian Foundation, Chevron, Aera Energy and the Jim Burke Educational Foundation.

Project BEST (Black Excellence in Scholarship and Teaching) was created to encourage black male students to complete a college prep course of study, graduate from high school and succeed in college.

Project BEST fosters academic success through such efforts as tutoring, counseling, college and university visits, and assistance preparing colcollege and scholarship applications. Project BEST scholarships are based on a variety of criteria including GPA, school and Project BEST involvement, financial need and references.

Project BEST scholarship awards have increased in recent years due to support from sources such as the College Access Foundation of California and Chevron.

The KHSD Superintendent’s First In Class Awards are presented to those students with the highest grade point average in their school’s graduating class.

Forty-four of the KHSD’s Class of 2009 graduates from 16 comprehensive campuses received the award. Some schools have more than one winner because of ties.

The Class of 2009 First In Class Award winners received a $1,000 scholarship and plaques for themselves and their parents. More than 90 percent of all First In Class Award winners earned the highest possible grade point average (GPA) of 4.50.

The KHSD Educational Foundation has helped sponsor for almost two decades the District’s annual Principal Partners’ Day (PPD).

Principal Partners’ Day is a half-day event that includes visits to school sites.

Participants in PPD have the chance to observe classes and programs as well as visit with students and staff. PPD annually attracts more than 400 participants.

The success of KHSD athletes and athletic programs can be credited in part to the strong community support provided through the KHSD Educational Foundation.

Foundation donations have been instrumental in construction of a variety of athletic facilities. Scoreboards, lighting systems and other facets of numerous KHSD athletic facilities can be traced to Foundation sources.

Numerous KHSD academic programs benefit from ongoing support from the KHSD Educational Foundation.

Foothill High’s International Baccalaureate Program, South High’s Math and Science Academy, and District AVID programs have all benefitted from Foundation support. The District’s Career and Technical Education programs have also benefitted significantly from Foundation efforts.

Band, choral, drama and other programs at KHSD campuses have benefitted significantly from support made available through the KHSD Educational Foundation.

Donations from companies such as Aera Energy and Chevron have provided a wide array of fine arts resources including musical instruments and funding for travel expenses required to participate in out of area competitions.