2022-23
The CIAC proudly announces a list of 29 Connecticut High Schools being honored with a 2022-2023 Michaels Jewelers Achievement Cup Award. The 29 schools mark a record number in the history of the award.
Academy of Aerospace & Engineering, Academy of Computer Science & Engineering, Academy of International Studies, Academy of Science & Innovation, Brookfield High School, Bunnell High School, Cheshire High School, Danbury High School, Daniel Hand High School, East Catholic High School, Ellis Technical High School, Granby Memorial High School, Joel Barlow High School, Lauralton Hall High School, Ledyard High School, Lyme-Old Lyme High School, New Fairfield High School, New Milford High School, Newington High School, Newtown High School, Oliver Wolcott Technical High School, Shepaug Valley High School, Simsbury High School, St. Paul Catholic High School, Stamford High School, The Morgan School, Valley Regional High School, Westbrook High School, and Weston High School.
The Michaels Jewelers Cup Committee recognized these exemplary athletics programs for their willingness to subscribe to the Class Act Sportsmanship standards, empowering students to take an active role in their school climate and their continued support for community service. These 29 schools have made sportsmanship a priority in their district. They will be formally recognized during the CIAC’s 17th annual Sportsmanship Conference on October 3.
2021-22
The CIAC proudly announces a list of 21 Connecticut High Schools being honored with a 2021-2022 Michaels Achievement Cup Award. Schools that are part of the CIAC’s Class Act program can be considered for the Michaels Cup Award.
Academy of Aerospace and Engineering, Academy of Computer Science and Engineering, Academy of International Studies, Academy of Science and Innovation, Bloomfield High School, Brookfield High School, Cheshire High School, Derby High School, Joel Barlow High School, Joseph A. Foran High School, Lyme-Old Lyme High School, Masuk High School, New Milford High School, Newtown High School, Oliver Wolcott Technical High School, Shelton High School, Simsbury High School, Stamford High School, Waterford High School, Westbrook High School, Weston High School
The Michaels Cup Committee recognized these exemplary athletics programs for their willingness to subscribe to the Class Act Sportsmanship standards, empowering students to take an active role in their school climate, and their continued support for community service. These 21 schools have made sportsmanship a priority in their district. They will be formally recognized during the CIAC’s 16h Annual Sportsmanship Conference on November 17.
2020-21
The CIAC proudly announces a list of 22 Connecticut High Schools being honored with a Michaels Achievement Cup Award for the 2020-2021 academic year. Schools that are part of the CIAC’s Class Act program can be considered for the Michaels Cup Award.
Academy of Aerospace and Engineering, Academy of Science and Innovation, Amity Regional High School, Bethel High School, Bloomfield High School, Brookfield High School, Cheshire High School, Civic Leadership High School, Granby Memorial High School, Joel Barlow High School, Ledyard High School, Masuk High School, Metropolitan Learning Center, Lyme-Old Lyme High School, Newtown High School, Oliver Wolcott Technical High School, Simsbury High School, Stamford High School, The Woodstock Academy, Westbrook High School, Weston High School, Wilton High School.
The Michaels Cup Committee recognized these exemplary athletics programs for their willingness to subscribe to the Class Act Sportsmanship standards, empowering students to take an active role in their school climate and their continued support for community service. These 22 schools have made sportsmanship a priority in their district. They will be formally recognized during the CIAC’s virtual Sportsmanship Conference on January 28.
2019-20
The CIAC proudly announces a list of 16 Connecticut High Schools being honored with a Michaels Achievement Cup Award for the 2019-2020 academic year. Schools that are part of the CIAC’s Class Act program can be considered for the Michaels Cup Award.
Amity Regional High School, Bethel High School, Bloomfield High School, Brookfield High School, Granby Memorial High School, Joel Barlow High School, Ledyard High School, Lyme-Old Lyme High School, Norwalk High School, Oliver Wolcott Technical High School, Simsbury High School, Stamford High School, Suffield High School, The Woodstock Academy, Westbrook High School and Weston High School.
The Michaels Cup Committee recognized these exemplary athletics programs for their willingness to subscribe to the Class Act Sportsmanship standards, empowering students to take an active role in their school climate and their continued support for community service. These 16 schools have made sportsmanship a priority in their district. They will be formally recognized during the CIAC’s virtual Sportsmanship Conference on February 10th.
2018-19
Twenty high school athletic programs have been selected as CIAC Michaels Achievement Cup exemplary programs recognizing their achievements for the 2018-19 academic year.
Bloomfield High School, Brookfield High School, Canton High School, Cheshire High School, East Catholic High School, Foran High School, Glastonbury High School, Joel Barlow High School, Jonathan Law High School, Ledyard High School, Lyme-Old Lyme High School, New Milford High School, Oliver Wolcott Technical, Simsbury High School, Shepaug Valley High School, St. Paul Catholic High School, Stonington High School, Suffield High School, Westbrook High School, and Weston High School were selected for the honor.
2017-18
Nineteen high school athletic programs have been selected as CIAC Michaels Achievement Cup exemplary programs recognizing their achievements for the 2017-18 academic year.
Amity High School, Berlin High School, Bloomfield High School, Bunnell High School, Canton High School, Cheshire High School, Coginchaug Regional High School, Derby High School, East Catholic High School, Glastonbury High School, Haddam-Killingworth High School, Lyman Memorial High School, Oliver Wolcott Technical, Shelton High School, Shepaug High School, Simsbury High School, Suffield High School, The Gilbert School, and Westbrook High School were selected for the honor.
2016-17
Fifteen high school athletic programs have been selected as CIAC Michaels Achievement Cup exemplary programs recognizing their achievements for the 2016-17 academic year.
Amity High School, Berlin High School, Bloomfield High School, Brookfield High School, Cheshire High School, Glastonbury High School, Killingly High School, New Milford High School, Oliver Wolcott Technical, Shepaug Valley High School, Simsbury High School, Suffield High School, The Gilbert School, Wilton and Westbrook High school were selected for the honor.
2015-16
Fifteen high school athletic programs have been selected as CIAC Michaels Achievement Cup exemplary programs recognizing their outstanding achievement as overall athletics programs for the 2015-16 academic year.
Amity, Brookfield, Canton, Cheshire, East Catholic, East Lyme, Haddam-Killingworth, Immaculate, Joel Barlow, Lauralton Hall, Ledyard, Lewis Mills, Lyman Memorial, Staples, and Valley Regional are the schools honored as exemplary athletic programs.
2014-15
Twenty high school athletic programs have been selected as CIAC Michaels Achievement Cup exemplary programs recognizing their outstanding achievement as overall athletics programs for the 2014-15 academic year.
Branford, Canton, Coventry, East Catholic, East Hampton, Fairfield Ludlowe, Fitch, Joel Barlow, Ledyard, Lewis Mills, Lyman Memorial, Lyme-Old Lyme, North Branford, Northwest Catholic, Northwestern, Simsbury, Staples, St. Paul Catholic, Weston, and Wilton are the schools honored as exemplary athletic programs.
2013-14
Seventeen high school athletic programs have been selected as CIAC Michaels Achievement Cup honorees for the 2013-2014 academic year. The award recognizes the outstanding achievement of these exemplary programs.
Berlin, Bloomfield, Bunnell, Cheshire, East Catholic, Fairfield Ludlowe, The Gilbert School, Haddam-Killingworth, Joel Barlow, Ledyard, Lyman Memorial, Lyme-Old Lyme, Newtown, Simsbury, Staples, Weston and Wilton received recognition.
2012-13
Seventeen high school athletic programs have been selected as CIAC Michael’s Achievement Cup exemplary programs recognizing their outstanding achievement as overall athletics programs for the 2012-13 academic year.
Bloomfield, Brookfield, Bunnell, Cheshire, Daniel Hand, East Catholic, East Hampton, Fairfield Ludlowe, Gilbert, Haddam-Killingworth, Ledyard, Lyman Memorial, Northwestern, Notre Dame-Fairfield, Sacred Heart, Shepaug Valley, and Weston were the programs that received recognition as exemplary programs.
The 17 schools represent all six classifications and are selected based on achievement in seven distinct areas which are sportsmanship, participation, athletic scholarship, athletic personnel, equity, chemical free initiatives and athletic achievement.
“CAS-CIAC is thrilled to recognize the efforts of these 17 schools in providing an outstanding education-based athletics program with selection as Michael’s Achievement Cup exemplary programs,” said CAS-CIAC Executive Director Karissa Niehoff. “These schools have demonstrated consistent dedication to offering a well-rounded athletics program consistent with the mission of the CIAC and they should be lauded for their exhaustive efforts and dedication to bringing a positive athletics experience to their students and communities.”
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 Michael’s 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. All programs that surpass a specific statistical threshold are recognized as exemplary athletic programs within their CIAC class. The highest finisher for each class has been asked to submit additional information which the committee will consider to select the overall Michael’s Achievement Cup recipient, which will be announced November 21.
The 17 schools will be honored at the CIAC Sportsmanship Conference at the AquaTurf in Southington on November 21, and the overall Michael’s Achievement Cup recipient will be announced. The Michael’s Achievement Cup was created in the early 1980s as the brainchild of Roy Michaels, the owner of Michaels Jewelry, in an effort to recognize outstanding athletic programs. The program recognized yearly winners since that time, and then in 2008 transitioned directly to CIAC oversight of the program.
The 2012-13 Michael’s Achievement Cup Exemplary Programs By Class
- LL: Cheshire, Fairfield Ludlowe
- L: Bunnell, Daniel Hand
- MM: Brookfield, Ledyard
- M: East Catholic, Haddam-Killingworth, Northwestern, Weston
- SS: Bloomfield, East Hampton, Lyman Memorial, Sacred Heart
- S: Gilbert, Notre Dame-Fairfield, Shepaug Valley
2011-12
Glastonbury High School was named the overall winner for the second straight year, pacing eighteen high school athletic programs selected as CIAC Michael’s Achievement Cup exemplary programs for the 2011-12 academic year.
Avon, Brookfield, Darien, East Hampton, Fairfield Ludlowe, Foran, Gilbert, Glastonbury, Haddam-Killingworth, Joel Barlow, Ledyard, Northwest Catholic, Notre Dame-Fairfield, Valley Regional, Wamogo, Weston, Westbrook, and Woodland, were the programs that received recognition as exemplary programs. The 18 schools represent all six classifications and are selected based on achievement in seven distinct areas which are sportsmanship, participation, athletic scholarship, athletic personnel, equity, chemical free initiatives and athletic achievement.
The 18 schools will be honored at the CIAC Sportsmanship Conference at the AquaTurf in Southington on November 15, and the overall Michael’s Achievement Cup recipient will be announced. The Michael’s Achievement Cup was created in the early 1980s as the brainchild of Roy Michaels, the owner of Michaels Jewelry, in an effort to recognize outstanding athletic programs. The program recognized yearly winners since that time, and then in 2008 transitioned directly to CIAC oversight of the program.
The 2011-12 Michael’s Achievement Cup Exemplary Programs By Class:
- LL: Fairfield Ludlow, Glastonbury
- L: Avon, Darien
- MM: Brookfield, Foran, Joel Barlow, Ledyard
- M: Haddam-Killingworth, Weston, Woodland
- SS: East Hampton, Northwest Catholic, Valley Regional
- S: Gilbert, Notre Dame-Fairfield, Wamogo, Westbrook
2010-11
Glastonbury High School was named the winner of the Michaels Achievement Cup overall award for the 2010-11 school year, emblematic of the most outstanding athletic program in the state, at the annual CIAC Sportsmanship Conference.
Glastonbury, determined to be the top program in Class LL by a formula that computed values from seven criteria, was chosen from a pool of class recipients that also included:
- Class LL – Simsbury
- Class L – Daniel Hand, Farmington and East Lyme
- Class MM – Brookfield and Joel Barlow
- Class M – Weston and Holy Cross
- Class SS – Valley Regional, Northwest Catholic and Notre Dame-West Haven
- Class S – Shepaug Valley, East Granby, Gilbert and St. Bernard
On the field Glastonbury claimed girls state titles in soccer, gymnastics and indoor track & field, and added 15 finishes in the quarterfinals or better in other state tournaments.
2009-10
Staples High School earned the CIAC Michaels Achievement Cup for the 2009-10 year. This marked the second year of the revamped selection process under the guidance of the CIAC and Staples impressed the selection committee with its all-around success, in particular its outstanding effort in offering student-leadership seminars. Staples a Class LL program was picked among six finalists and 17 programs that were selected for recognition. Seven of the 17 programs were repeat honorees from the 2008-09 year. The other honored programs were Daniel Hand (L), Berlin (MM), Weston (M), Northwest Catholic (SS), St. Bernard (S), Glastonbury (LL), Darien (L), Branford (MM), Wolcott (M), Valley Regional (SS), Shepaug Valley (S), Ridgefield (LL), East Lyme (L), Brookfield (MM), Northwestern (M), and Sacred Heart Academy (SS).
2008-09
Weston High School was the recipient of the CIAC Michaels Achievement Cup in the first year of the revamped program. One hundred forty-two schools participated in the program designed to use a variety of measurements to recognize the most outstanding total athletic program. Weston’s athletic program mission statement, coaches handbook, and Captains Circle were all noted as examples of the program’s success. Weston from Class M was selected as the top recipient while 13 other teams were recognized as honorees. The remaining recognized programs were: Simsbury (LL), Daniel Hand (L), Avon (MM), Sacred Heart (SS), Laurelton Hall (S), Cheshire (LL), Wethersfield (L), Branford (MM), St. Joseph (M), East Hampton (SS), Gilbert (S), Ridgefield (LL), Pomperaug (L), Jonathan Law (MM), Lewis Mills (M), Northwest Catholic (SS), and Shepaug Valley (S).