How do students describe the effects of the Jostens Renaissance rewards and recognition program on their academic experience?

Intrigued by anecdotal evidence of the success of Jostens Renaissance_, a program offering resources and tools to assist school administrators and teachers in motivating students, the author posed the following research question, how do students describe the effects of the Jostens Renaissance rewards and recognition program on their academic experience? To reveal student perspectives, fifty-five high school juniors completed a qualitative survey consisting of 31 questions regarding their views of the program and its effect on their and their classmates\u27 academic habits and achievement. Four key findings emerged from the student data: 1) students demonstrated a thorough understanding of the program\u27s goals and criteria 2) they reported that the program improves school culture 3) they stated that earning a reward or recognition through the program was motivational and 4) they valued recognition from teachers and peers as much as, or even more than, the rewards