May is such a busy month in the lives of families, especially those that have kids in the local school systems and community education programs.I don’t have kids in those areas, but my job at the paper keeps me involved in many of those activities. My May calendar is full, with events during the days, the evenings and often in my dreams as well.I have had to choose, based on space available in the paper, which events I would cover, which would get photos and stories and which might only be mentioned in the community calendar.I would imagine that families go through a similar process. If they watch the high school concert, do they skip the elementary – or do they have to do both? If they attend graduation, must they also be at baccalaureate?During the School Board meeting last week it was mentioned that the H-BC Awards Banquet attendance has fallen drastically over time, to the point that few of the award recipients even show up.This kind of broke my heart. I know that schedules are tight, but this banquet is a celebration of the hard work and dedication that the students, both in athletics and academics, have put in over the past year. We are very lucky to live in a community where the student body is excited to participate – we as a community should be even more excited to celebrate their accomplishments.Not just when they are winning and losing the games or performing, but always.During the award banquet athletic letter winners are named, teams are recognized, academic achievements and scholarships are awarded.In life, the process is always more fun than the reward – but it is the reward that we strive for, thus making the process necessary.It is not fair to think the students would show up excited for this event if the parents and community members aren’t excited. Teenagers learn from example. If mom and dad don’t think this evening is important enough to put on the calendar, chances are the kids don’t think so either. This, in my opinion, is a mini-tragedy at the end of a successful school year.This evening should be the inspiration for younger students. Those not getting an award should still be there, so that they can set goals for next year. If done correctly and with honor, the evening should encourage the entire student body to strive to achieve greater things in the years to come.I can remember my first awards banquet at Madison High School. I was a freshman getting a track letterman’s award. It was a three-hour event with dinner and LOTS of awards. I watched my teammates and upperclassmen get scholarships, plaques and honors I didn’t even know existed. That night I went home with a goal – next year I wanted to be a three sport letter winner.As I watched the winners get their plaques for excelling in three sports, I saw the pride on the faces of everyone in the building. The community, the parents, the coaches, the administration were all proud of these students for their commitment to athletics at our school.The athletes had worked hard to perform well in three sports and more than likely had spent more hours in the gym and on the field than they had at home. They deserved to be honored.Next Wednesday when I show up at the gym to take photos of the brightest and strongest Patriots, I hope to see every chair full. I want to hear the cheers these students deserve. Story ideas or comments can be emailed to Lexi Moore at lexim@star-herald.com or called in at 962-3561.