One Region 8 high school received an award for helping to close the opportunity gap for their students.

Cross County High School in Cherry Valley received the Chad P. Wick Award for Social Justice at the New Tech Network Annual Conference in Orlando, according to a release on prweb.com.

The award was given to Cross County High School because they showed the success of a school closing the opportunity gap for students that are underserved.

“Cross County High School is inspiring students to graduate knowing that college is a reality, not just an aspiration, regardless of background or economic challenges,” Chad Wick said. “I am so proud of their commitment to that vision.”

Cross County High School’s College and Career Access program mitigates challenges that student’s face that will be first generation college students or that live in poverty.

The release said that the decision to turn the school into a New Tech school was a commitment from the school district. It said the district realized their students did not have a knowledge of the world around them.

The New Tech Network is a non-profit organization and leading design partner for comprehensive school change.