Craig — Students and parents filled the auditorium in Moffat County High School Tuesday night to honor 135 students for a wide variety of academic and extracurricular accomplishments.

The ceremony began with the National Honor Society induction. After seniors were called on stage to collect their NHS cords for graduation, they filled the dark auditorium with candlelight in preparation for the induction.

In a long line in the front of the auditorium, outgoing senior NHS members lit the candles of the incoming members, taking a pledge to maintain high standards in academics, build character and leadership and perform service for the school and community.

“I think it’s just neat to see other people who follow in our path, who have the same goals of trying to be their best with leadership, character, service and trying our hardest to keep a good grade point average,” said graduating NHS member Calden Scranton.

Special individual awards followed the induction, including:

• University of Colorado at Boulder Outstanding Junior Award to Allie Dilldine for academic excellence, leadership and school and community service. The award comes with a $4,000 scholarship to CU Boulder should Dilldine choose to attend.

• Colorado School of Mines Outstanding achievement in Math and Science to junior Sheyenne Rambo-Cromer for demonstrating the skills necessary to succeed in the areas of mathematics, engineering and applied science at the college level. Rambo-Cromer will receive a $1,000 scholarship to the School of Mines should she choose to attend.

• Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizens Award to Aubrey Campbell for dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. The award came with a check for $100.

• Army Enlisted Recognition to Trenci Towner and Jodi Hough, who each received a check for $61,812, reflecting the education incentives they receive under the Montgomery GI Bill to be used at any level of post-secondary education at an institution of their choosing.

The final installment of the academic awards night recognized a long list of students for awards such as letters in academics, Key Club or speech and debate, honor cords in areas such as math, English and extracurriculars, and a wide variety of other recognitions.

“I always enjoy academic awards night,” said MCHS counselor Paula Duzik. “It’s so good to be able to recognize our students’ hard work, dedication, and involvement within the community and the classroom.”

For the graduating seniors, the evening held an air of celebration and unification.

“I’ve liked watching myself and my peers grow. Just looking back at freshman year, how immature we were, how much we didn’t know, it’s been really awesome to see how much everyone has grown,” said graduating senior Treann Quick. “Not just me and my friends but all of the senior class has grown and that’s been really cool to experience… It’s awesome to see how people change and how people discover themselves.”

Contact Lauren Blair at 970-875-1794 or lblair@CraigDailyPress.com or follow her on Twitter @CDP_Education.