Poll: Who should be the next Delaware Student of the Week?

The academic year is winding down. And many standout students deserve recognition, filling the halls of Delaware schools.

Like our long-running athlete-of-the-week feature that honors athletic achievement alongside reader voting, Delaware Online/The News Journal is honoring a "Delaware Student of the Week" across high schools. The award looks to highlight academic excellence, extracurricular activities, volunteerism, perseverance and more attributes that make up the lives of young scholars.

School principals and other educators send in nominations — while you, dear reader, keep handling the rest.

Here are the next four nominations for the next Delaware Student of the Week:

Nathalia Mohammed, Freire Charter School: Mohammed may have only recently joined Student Government — but her nominator already celebrated her impact. The senior has kept regular meetings scheduled during the school year, while specifically taking the lead on making sure prom got meticulously planned. She even volunteered her lunch time to sell prom tickets everyday for the past two weeks, hoping to ensure the experience for her senior class.

Hayden Taylor, Odessa High: This senior is passionate about math. Whenever Taylor is curious about a new idea or concept, his nominator said, he will put in extra time to research it. He often comes in with more questions and concepts to ponder — on top of what's covered in class. His nominator said not only is he "especially gifted in his understanding" but also willing to help others out when they need it. He actually ran a PSAT prep session for underclassmen this year, looking to better himself and the building.

Sheldon Thompson, William Penn High: This accomplished senior maintains a strong dedication to his academics as well as extracurricular activities. Such achievements demonstrate "leadership skills and commitment to excellence," according to his nominator. This joins his commitments to JROTC, highlighting an overall drive to succeed and excel in all areas of his life.

Lillian Beverung, Saint Mark's High: Put simply, Beverung is a leader her school. The senior is secretary of the National Honor Society and a senior member of the theater department — having recently played Sandy in Grease and to play Belle in a spring production of Beauty and the Beast — according to a nominator. She has also performed on stage as a dancer for the past several years, recently the lead in the Nutcracker. She does all of this while also working as a hostess at a nearby restaurant.

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Delaware Student of the Week poll

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[Editor's note: This is a budding initiative. Did we miss your institution on our email list? Have a comment? Let us know: studentoftheweek@delawareonline.com]