The late nights of studying and long classes will finally pay off for many students who will be recognized next week during 30th annual Scholastic Honors Week from April 22-28.

“The purpose of the week is to honor students while they are currently enrolled and to remind them, the university and the community that this is the heart of what the university is about,” said Bob Shaw, associate dean of students and coordinator of Honors Week.

The week will finish with an honors banquet at 5:30 p.m. onÿ Saturday in the Spruce and Tamarack Rooms in Davies Center with awards and entertainment, including a performance by the Singing Statesmen.

One of the students to be honored will be former Student Senate president junior Andy Oettinger, who will be awarded the $5,500 Piercy Scholarship at Saturday’s banquet. The scholarship was awarded to Oettinger after he was nominated by the political science department.

“I’m very appreciative of it, both the university and the donors that made the scholarship possible,” Oettinger said. “I think it’s because of my department that I’ve been able to beÿas involved as I have been and as successful as Iÿhave been.”

Throughout the week, students also will be inducted into honor societies on campus, said Diane Bilderback, program assistant.

Of the 33 honor societies at UW-Eau Claire, each has a different focus such as language competency and involvement with community and campus, Shaw said.

Membership into the honor societies is determined by each individual organization, however they all consider academic achievement as an essential criteria.

Students in these societies demonstrated superior dedication academically combined with various leadership activities, Shaw said.

“(The honor societies) encourage people to continue their achievement,” he said. “(Members) get to know each other, find ways to serve the community, tutor other students and offer valuable services and help for Eau Claire.”

Also included in the week’s events are students in the Honors Program. Selected by their grade point average, approximately 1,500 students are involved, Shaw said.

There are many advantages in achieving membership in the program, he said, including registering early.

“The University has recognized you for your scholastic achievements. Because of that, students are going to have an increased potential for the best jobs, interviews and graduate schools,” Shaw said. “It leads to a fuller life for people. They need to express and use these gifts to benefit society.”