PORT ANGELES — Two students in the Port Angeles High School Class of 2023 have received the Port Angeles Education Foundation’s Academic Achievement Awards.

“Liberty Lauer and Lily Halberg persevered through COVID-19 to meet the requirements of the Academic Achievement Award,” according a foundation press release.

“Every year of their high school education was affected by the impacts to learning, activities, and social interactions. Yet they made education a priority, and the Port Angeles Education Foundation is proud to acknowledge their dedication with this award.”

The Port Angeles Education Foundation recognizes Port Angeles High School students who have achieved at least a 3.5 grade point average for three years.

The GPA requirement is not cumulative or transferable; it must be achieved each semester during the freshman through junior years at Port Angeles High School.

In addition, AAA students must have completed at least nine credits in Honors, Advanced Placement (AP), or University of Washington classes.

Prior to the current academic year, it was more typical to have 12-18 students receive the Academic Achievement Award, but the class of 2023 suffered significant attrition from AP and Honors classes due to COVID-19 restrictions, making the feat accomplished by Lauer and Halberg even more notable, according to the release.

The Port Angeles Education Foundation has provided programs since 1991.