Newtown High School is among 17 high school athletics programs to be selected as Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) Michaels Achievement Cup exemplary programs, recognizing outstanding achievement as overall athletics programs for the 2013-14 academic year.

The 17 schools represent all six classifications and are selected based on achievement in seven distinct areas: sportsmanship, participation, athletic scholarship, athletic personnel, equity, chemical-free initiatives, and athletic achievement.

“Having a well-rounded athletics program that demonstrates success on the field and demonstrates actions consistent with the mission of the CIAC in all areas is no easy feat, but these 17 schools have done exactly that,” said Connecticut Association of Schools-CIAC Executive Director Karissa Niehoff. “A tremendous number of schools have made great commitments to administering education-based athletics programs and it gets harder and harder each year to choose the honorees. These schools are serving as a model for how beneficial a comprehensive athletics program can be for students and the community, and we hope schools continue striving to reach this level.”

All CIAC member schools are asked to submit information via a survey for consideration for recognition, and a mathematical formula is used to analyze the data. The CIAC Michaels Achievement Cup Committee reviews the statistical data and discusses the merits of each potential award recipient based on a comparison of its written criteria and CIAC compliance.

The 17 schools will be honored at the CIAC Sportsmanship Conference at the AquaTurf in Southington on November 20. The Michaels Achievement Cup program was created in the 1980s as the brainchild of Roy Michaels, the owner of Michaels Jewelry.