I always tell them that the colleges do read transcripts, so they should take as tough a load as possible, especially their senior year.

These classes demonstrate to college admissions and scholarship staff that students who successfully complete them can do college-level work.

One thing that helps a little bit here is that it's kind of 'in' to be academic. We love our sports too, but here you're not looked down on if you're striving academically. I think that eases the strain, but they (the students) still put it on themselves.

Some years are smaller and some are larger. I don't have an explanation for that. They're like athletes - some classes are just a little sharper than others.

We teach them to read in kindergarten, which makes a difference.

We didn't have any champagne to toast each other. But we did have some Diet Cokes up there. We lifted the Diet Cokes.