Advertising minority achievement: Good or Bad?

There was an article in last year’s Orange County Register about eight black high school students scoring high on the PSAT:

“Eight Orange County high school students have been named National Achievement semifinalists in this year’s National Merit Scholarship competition, a designation awarded to black students for their high PSAT test scores.”

and

“They are selected from among the highest-scoring black test-takers in a particular geographic area.”

and

“Hispanic students are honored each year for their high PSAT scores through the National Hispanic Recognition Program, run by the New York-based College Board.”

from

http://www.ocregister.com/news/high-319432-national-year.html

My question is, is publicizing/advertising/announcing minority achievement helping or hurting race relations? On one hand, I can see these kids being looked at as role models (for both minority and non minority kids) but on the other hand it seems like an unnecessary “big deal” is being made out of these kids’ success – as if they weren’t supposed to achieve like this in the first place – perhaps possibly producing negative reinforcement.

Also, does this irritate non minorities (“Why don’t they make special announcements on white kids’ achievements?”).