SUMMIT

AWARDS CEREMONY

At the end of the academic year, ACA has an awards ceremony for the Logic and Rhetoric schools called “Summit,” a word that conveys both the highest level of attainment and the highest point of a mountain. Medals are given to students for distinguished work in academics, arts, and athletics – all named after prominent figures in the great tradition. We also recognize students for notable service and character. The Elbert Cup is awarded to the House that has earned the most points throughout the academic year. 

Calvin Prize for Biblical & Theological Studies – John Calvin (1509-64) was a French theologian and pastor in Geneva during the Protestant Reformation. His Institutes of the Christian Religion was the first systematic account of reformed Christian doctrine.  

Austen Prize for Literature – Jane Austen (1775-1817) was an English novelist who wrote stories about the landed gentry during the Regency era.  

Plutarch Prize for History – Plutarch (c. 46 - c. 120) was an ancient Greek biographer and philosopher, chiefly known for Parallel Lives, a collection of biographies of prominent Greeks and Romans. 

Pascal Prize for Mathematics – Blaise Pascal (1623-62) was a mathematician, physicist, and Catholic philosopher of the French Classical Period. He worked on conic sections, projective geometry, and laid the foundations for the modern theory of probabilities. 

Galileo Prize for Natural Sciences – Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was an Italian astronomer, physicist, and engineer who has been called the father of observational astronomy, modern physics, and the scientific method. 

Virgil Prize for Latin – Publius Vergilius Maro (70-19 BC) was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period who wrote three works, the Eclogues, the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid. 

St. Chrysostom Prize for Oratory – John Chrysostom (c. 347-407) was an early Church Father and bishop of Constantinople who earned the epithet “golden-mouthed” for his eloquent preaching.

Bach Prize for Music — Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was a German composer of the Baroque era and celebrated for his masterpieces of church and instrumental music, including the Brandenburg Concertos, the Mass in B Minor, and St. Matthew Passion. 

Giotto Prize for Art – Giotto di Bondone (c. 1267-1337) was an Italian painter of the late Middle Ages whose work points to the innovations of the later Renaissance style. He is regarded as the father of European painting and the first of the great Italian masters.  

Leonidas Prize for Athletics – Leonidas of Rhodes (188 BC- n.d.) was an ancient Greek athlete and famed runner who won twelve Olympic victory wreaths. 

Awards given by the administration:

St. Mary Prize for Service – At the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel informed Mary (c. 18 BC - c. 33 AD) that she would conceive and bear a son through a virgin birth. The mother of Jesus responded to this miraculous news with a posture of humble and obedient service: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). This prize is awarded to the student who notably serves our school community. 

St. Augustine Prize for Character – Augustine of Hippo (354-430) was a late Classical doctor of the Church, bishop of Hippo in North Africa, and author of works such as Confessions, The City of God, and On Christian Doctrine. All of Western theology may be regarded as a footnote to Augustine. This prize is awarded to the student who notably exemplifies the portrait of an ACA graduate.

 Elbert Cup – The Elbert Cup is awarded to the House that has earned the most points throughout the year. This prize is named after Mount Elbert, the highest summit of the Rocky Mountains, the highest point in Colorado, and the second-highest summit in the contiguous United States.