As the school year winds down, the number of achievements in area schools always seem to increase.

Over the past two weekends in our Lifestyles section, the OBSERVER – with assistance from the schools, area clubs and family members – have highlighted more than 115 student honors from the students of the month to local scholarship award winners. By early July, those numbers will have grown.

These achievements, we must note, come from the classroom and from volunteer participation. While we chronicle most of the success of our high school athletes, our Lifestyles section headed by Diane Chodan, takes pride in the academic accomplishments as well.

They, like the athletes, deserve a round of applause.