Leading the Way
Student leaders and advisers gathered virtually on Nov. 5–6 for the annual fall LEAD Conference, which gave participants the opportunity to sharpen their skills, engage in meaningful collaboration, and share innovative ideas about serving their school and community—all with the aim of enhancing leadership. Workshop highlights included presentations on NASSP’s National Initiative in partnership with No Kid Hungry, as well as My School Votes, an action-oriented civics program. Keynote speakers included Deborah Gilboa, a medical doctor and expert on resilience who works with families, organizations, and businesses to help turn stress into an advantage, and Matt Matkovich and Phil Januszewski from M&P Presentations, a nationally known motivational speaking duo who shared messages of positivity and confidence with student leaders.
Get Your Student Council the Recognition It Deserves
For student councils looking to affirm the value of their programs, it’s not too early to apply for a National Council of Excellence (NCOE) award. The award recognizes and celebrates middle level and high schools that support and demonstrate effective student councils that meet high standards and show evidence of student service, leadership, voice, and engagement. Student councils that receive the recognition show their school, the surrounding community, and stakeholders the value that school leaders place on student voice. Applications for the 2022 NCOE award, representing council activities and projects from Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2021, are currently open. The application deadline is Feb. 15, 2022. For more information, visit natstuco.org/council-recognition/national-councils-of-excellence.
Dates to Remember
December 2021
1 NHS Scholarship applications close
2 Adviser Webinar: “Cultivating a Service Mindset vs. Collecting Service Hours”
January 2022
12 NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award applications open
13 Adviser Webinar: “Assessing Equity in Your Student Activities”
February 2022
9 Adviser Webinar: “College and Career Readiness in Rural Settings”
15 National Council of Excellence applications close
March 2022
Middle Level Education Month
1 NHS Founder’s Day (NHS founded in 1921)
15 Adviser Webinar: “Celebrating Student Leaders: Ideas and Impact”
16 NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award applications close
NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award Boosts Students’ College Savings
The National Junior Honor Society’s annual Outstanding Achievement Award (OAA) recognizes 500 exceptional NJHS students from around the country with $500. The monetary awards, which are designed to give middle school students a head start on their road to higher education, are placed in a 529 college savings plan managed by Ascensus as part of the New Mexico Education Trust Board. The 2022 NJHS OAA application process will open in January 2022. Eligible NJHS members should create a student account at njhs.us/studentaccount. All applicants must have a verified account to apply for the award.