Make-A-Wish Week
The Rangeview High School Student Leadership organization in Aurora, CO, hosted its second annual Make-A-Wish Week in February. Make-A-Wish is a nonprofit organization that grants the wishes of children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions. Rangeview Student Leadership raised funds for a 4-year-old girl named Sloane, who is fighting acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Sloane’s wish was to go on a Disney Cruise with her family. Several efforts, including a pie-to-the-face competition, T-shirt sales, and outreach to local business owners and community members, resulted in more than $2,000 in donations for Sloane. Rangeview is a 2016 National Council of Excellence winner.
I Pink I Can
Hononegah Community High School student council in Rockton, IL, hosted its annual I Pink I Can 5K Run/Walk event, which benefits the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer fund. The student council publicized the event via promotional fliers around the community and by emailing all students in the school to register for the event or have their parents register. Student council members were stationed all along the route to cheer on participants, who numbered more than 200. Other council members helped with T-shirt distribution, registration materials, taking numbers at the finish line, and more. The council also involved the school’s Baking Club, which donated dozens of treats to participants. More than $4,000 was raised for the cause! Hononegah is a 2016 National Council of Excellence winner.
Raise Your Voice
The principal and student council members at Lake City High School (LCHS) in Coeur d’Alene, ID, host a student forum to share student concerns, opinions, and ideas on a monthly basis. The principal comes in with a set agenda to discuss issues such as bullying or dress code violations. Student council members report on upcoming school events. After the presentations, there is a Q-and-A session. Student council then discusses the issues and attempts to resolve them or answer the questions before the next meeting. The council also provides opportunities for the student body to submit their ideas by placing information in the school newsletter, online, and in the announcements each day. LCHS is a 2016 National Council of Excellence winner.
Sample the Local Flavor
Every year before the homecoming game, the student council at Chantilly High School (CHS) in Chantilly, VA, puts on Taste of Chantilly—an event at which local restaurants sell premade food and make donations to the school, while student council hosts fundraisers for future events. In addition, there are activities such as cornhole, pie tosses, a bouncy castle, and face painting. CHS is a 2016 National Council of Excellence winner.
Movie Premiere
The NJHS chapter at the American School of El Salvador in San Salvador organized a project known as the “Movie Premiere.” The purpose of this project is to benefit the community and people in the local area by selling movie tickets in coordination with their local theater. With the money raised, NJHS helps provide beans for families in a rural area, catheters for a cancer center, and rehabilitation materials for a cerebral palsy center. With the help of sponsors, the event was a huge success; more than 700 people attended, and more than $7,000 was collected. The American School of El Salvador is a 2016 Outstanding Service Project winner.
Shoe Drive for Soles4Souls
The NJHS chapter at All Saints Academy in Parsippany, NJ, organized an incredibly successful shoe drive benefiting the Soles4Souls organization, which recycles used shoes for people in need. Students created fliers requesting donations, and as the shoes arrived, members sorted, bagged, and stored thousands of shoes. With the generous support of the school and the community, the chapter’s small goal of 500 pairs of shoes was surpassed, and more than 4,000 pairs of shoes were collected. All Saints Academy is a 2016 Outstanding Service Project winner.
Volunteer-based Tutoring Service
The Indian Hills High School NHS chapter in Oakland, NJ, participates in a year-round, student-run peer tutoring program. All members take part in the service project, offering free tutoring services for 25,000 to 50,000 individuals within three towns. Students or parents send an email to the NHS chapter’s account requesting tutoring for a specific class. Their request is met by one of 40 tutors available in all subjects. With more than 536 hours of tutoring in 2015, the tutoring service has allowed NHS members to be active, contributing members within their school, their district, and their community. Indian Hills High School is a 2016 Outstanding Service Project winner.