Lantern Cups have been presented at graduation to Pendleton High
School seniors since at least 1917.  The Lantern Cup is the highest honor given to a graduating senior at PHS.  Recipients, in the opinion of the Pendleton High School faculty, have shown significant personal development, have maintained a high standard of scholarship, and contributed in a marked way to the success of their class.

Originally, this prestigious honor was given to one student per term from the graduating class.  The actual cups were paid for from the profits of “The Lantern” student newspaper, which was at that time, sold to students for a nominal fee.  The name of the award was thus derived from the name of Pendleton High School’s original student newspaper, The Lantern.  This cup, in its earliest days, was then put on display in Pendleton’s Royal M. Sawtelle’s jewelry store window in downtown Pendleton.

Over time, the distribution of the award has changed.  Initially, a boy and a girl from the senior class were selected.  Today four (on rare occasion five) students are awarded the Lantern Cup, regardless of gender. These cups and the names of the recipients are on display in the main lobby of Pendleton High School.  The names are also displayed on Pendleton High School’s website under historic awards.

Pendleton High School faculty that have been on staff a minimum of three years, vote annually for the recipients of the Lantern Cup Award.

This award is the oldest and considered to be the most prestigious award at PHS.

We need your help!

The Leadership class at Pendleton High School has researched past Lantern Cup Recipients in the last few years.   We have encountered some problems finding all of the past winners (either principals did not turn in their notes or the information was NOT in the EO/Yearbook) – as they were announced at graduation. We have need for any information regarding ANY FORMER Lantern Cup Recipients that are NOT identified. Please email Stu Clem if you know  any information that would help us.

Lantern Cup Recipients (PDF’s)

Download the complete list here. (Updated August 25, 2021)

• 1914-1919
• 1920-1925*
• 1926-1931
• 1932-1937*
• 1938-1943*
• 1944-1949*
• 1950-1955
• 1956-1961*
• 1962-1968
• 1969-1974
• 1975-1980
• 1981-1986
• 1987-1992
• 1993-1998
• 1999-2004
• 2005-2010
• 2011-2016
• 2017-2022

*We do not have any other records of Lantern Cup Award recipients during these years, if you know of any recipients, please email sclem@pendletonsd.org

If you would like to see the original Citizenship Cup Awards and the current lists of Lantern Cup Winners, please visit the PHS main lobby, where they are proudly recognized!