On Oct. 6, prior to Dillon’s Homecoming football game between the top-ranked Hamilton Broncs and the second-ranked Dillon Beavers, Montana High School Association Director Kip Ryan presented the students involved in activities at BCHS the Northwestern Energy Academic Excellence Award. The award, established in 1989, averages the grade point averages of students participating in athletics, music, cheerleading and speech and drama to come up with a number. BCHS ranked first in cumulative grade point average in activities with an average 3.605 to win the award. According to BCHS Superintendent Megan Conrow, it is the first time BCHS has won the award. “It really is a big deal and of course we always take a lot of pride in teh academic success that we have had over the years and we’ve had a lot, along with the activity success that we’ve had,” said Conrow. “To be able to merge activities and academics and to be able to celebrate our student athletes in this way in front of the community like that was very special.” Terri Haverfield photo.