Lauren Blanton The United States Achievement Academy has announced that Lauren Blanton of Gaffney has been named a United States National Award Winner in mathematics.

This award is a prestigious honor very few students can ever hope to attain. The Academy recognizes fewer than 10 percent of all American high school students.

Miss Blanton attends Ewing Middle School and was nominated for this national award by Nancy McConnell, a teacher at the school. She will appear in the United States Achievement Academy official yearbook, which is published nationally.

“Recognizing and supporting our youths is more important than ever before in America’s history. Certainly, the United States Achievement Academy winners should be congratulated and appreciated for their dedication to excellence and achievement,” said Dr. George Stevens, executive director of the USAA.

The Academy selects USAA winners upon the exclusive recommendation of teachers, coaches, counselors and other qualified sponsors and upon the Standards of Selection set forth by the Academy. The criteria for selection are a students’ academic performance, interest and aptitude, leadership qualities, responsibility, enthusiasm, motivation to learn and improve, citizenship, attitude and cooperative spirit, dependability, and recommendation from a teacher of director.

Miss Blanton is the daughter of Janice and Tony Blanton of Gaffney. Her grandparents are Rosie and William Blanton and James and Louise Wyatt, all of Gaffney.