The Virginia High School League has named 24 high schools to receive the 2017-18 Claudia Dodson VHSL Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award by the Virginia High School League.

The award recognizes member schools that have established policies and procedures that make sportsmanship a priority and an expectation within the school and school community.

“I consider this to be the Virginia High School League’s most prestigious award,” said VHSL assistant director Chris Robinson.  “It’s the only award that the entire school is graded on.”

There is no limit on the number of schools that might be recognized in a given year.  The selection process includes a self-assessment and a peer review.

The school self-assessment includes 50 one-point areas. Schools with no ejections must meet an 80 percent threshold. Schools with one ejection must meet a 90 percent threshold and schools with more than one ejection are not eligible for the award in that year.

Each school must solicit and have submitted directly to VHSL Assistant Director for Compliance Tom Dolan three peer review recommendations from schools which they participate with on a regular basis. Recommendations for schools with no ejections must meet the 80 percent threshold. Recommendations for schools with one ejection must meet the 90 percent threshold and schools whose program(s) are on warning are not eligible for the Claudia Dodson Award.

The award was renamed in 2007 to honor the memory of Claudia Dodson, a VHSL Assistant Director from 1971-2002 and a 2003 National High School Fame inductee, who passed away in 2007.

Schools who were honored this year include Appomattox County(1^st recognition), Auburn(3rd recognition), Blacksburg(3rd recognition), Central-Woodstock(5^th recognition), Chilhowie (6^th recognition), Dominion(4^th recognition), Eastern Montgomery(8^th recognition), First Colonial(14^th recognition), Fluvanna County(1^st recognition), Grafton(7^th recognition), Granby(5^th recognition), Holston(5^th recognition), James River-Buchanan(1^st recognition), Landstown(12^th recognition), Madison County(3^rd recognition), Marion Senior(5^th recognition), Maury(8^th recognition), Monticello(1^st recognition), Northwood(2^nd recognition), Ocean Lakes(19^th recognition)l, Radford(8^th recognition), Salem-Va. Beach(11^th recognition), Smithfield(2^nd recognition) and Woodrow Wilson(1^st recognition).