Morgan Go, a junior at Stony Point High School in Round Rock, TX, is the winner of the first-ever sticker design contest for National Student Leadership Week (NSLW) held in April. Go is the secretary of her school’s NHS chapter and will serve as vice president next school year. Here, she talks about the contest and her interest in graphic design.
What was your reaction when you found out that yours was the winning sketch?
Go: I was screaming! When it comes to design, art is so subjective. Anytime someone else says, “Hey, this design looks really great,” I take it to heart. The fact that my sticker design was even considered a finalist, that already meant the world to me. The fact that it won and that people in my chapter were saying it was such a great design made me incredibly happy. It encourages me to work harder on my other design projects.
How did you come up with the idea for the winning sketch?
Go: I actually had too many ideas. When our sponsors sent out the contest information, I drew a bunch of sketches. I probably had 30 total, and I emailed them to my sponsors to see which ones they liked. Besides the two I ended up submitting, we’re going to use some of the other ones for our school and our chapter. The winning one was my second choice, but one of the sponsors really liked the design because it embodied what people immediately think of with NHS, like the torch and the hand and the fire. I also did more of a floral thing, which was a complete 180 from the winning design, in case they wanted to go in a totally different direction.

How do your artwork and NHS fit into your school experience?
Go: I really enjoy drawing and art in general, especially digital art. At my school, we have a lot of opportunity to contribute our work. For example, I’ve been able to do shirt designs for some clubs. The NSLW contest was perfect because I was looking for opportunities outside of our school to keep improving my skills. I also think NHS is the best club ever. So, this contest happened to be the perfect mix of everything I enjoy doing.
Are you thinking of studying graphic design in college or as a career?
Go: I’m mainly thinking about 3D animation and game design for my major in college. Graphic design is a passion of mine, but 3D animation is something I especially enjoy, and I want to be able to apply it to lots of different things. We have a 3D animation program, and it’s been my favorite class.
Learn more about NHS here.
Sample Schedule
8:00–8:45 a.m. |
Registration and Continental Breakfast |
8:55–9:35 a.m. |
Opening Session |
9:50–11:10 a.m. |
Student Workshop I: Leadership Competencies |
10:10–10:55 a.m. |
Adviser Workshop I |
11:20–12:20 p.m. |
Student Workshop II: State-based Issues and Initiatives |
11:30–12:15 p.m. |
Adviser Workshop II |
12:20–1:10 p.m. |
Luncheon |
1:10–2:40 p.m. |
Collaborative Work: Student Caucus Groups |
1:45–2:25 p.m. |
Adviser Workshop III |
2:45–3:30 p.m. |
Presentations: Student Caucus Groups |
3:30–3:45 p.m. |
Reflective Remarks and Closing |
Presenters
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Andy CostanzoAndy Costanzo is a veteran educator and student activity adviser. He holds undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. An advocate for leadership education for more than 35 years, he has been recognized nationally as Student Council Adviser of the Year as well as Workshop Director of the Year. As a speaker, presenter, and trainer in more than 35 states and China, Costanzo works with students and activity advisers to make a difference in their schools and communities. |
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Bertrand Perdomo-UclesBertrand Perdomo-Ucles is passionate about developing poverty-fighting solutions. As an educator, organizer, and manager, he has taught students across different grade levels, built capacity for education and public safety programs, and trained teams to improve family engagement initiatives. As a board member for the California School Based Health Alliance, he oversees the nonprofit’s strategies to support 257 school-based health centers. Perdomo-Ucles was re-elected as delegate for California’s Democratic Party and is founder of the South Los Angeles Democratic Club. Bertrand is from Los Angeles, a graduate of University of Southern California’s School of Public Policy, studied abroad in Greece and served in Honduras through Global Water Brigades. |
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Brandon Lee StuartBrandon Lee Stuart is the founder of ideaLogic LLc, a think-tank style start-up company that operates as an incubator and curator of compelling interdisciplinary ideas intended to yield innovative strategies, technologies, systems, products and practices. He has served in the Episcopal Service Corps in Los Angeles and helped to pilot the Collegiate Identity and Participation Model (CIPM), a college-readiness initiative created to address the educational needs of local underserved charter schools, which solidified his passion for educating students on the power of self-authorship. Brandon holds a Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Biology and East Asian Studies from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Liberal Arts for intellectual freedom from the University of Chicago. |
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Felix Yerace, PhDFelix Yerace, PhD, is a student government co-adviser, interact co-adviser, link crew co-coordinator, and graduation project coordinator at South Fayette High School in Pennsylvania. Among the courses he teaches is a College in High School (CHS) class on leadership, and he is a graduate of the International Leadership Association Leadership Education Academy. Yerace is also the assistant executive director and Advanced Gold Summer Camp co-director for the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils. He previously served on the NASSP Student Leadership Advisory Committee. He also serves on the Board of Directors of The Global Switchboard and Pennsylvania ASCD and is an adjunct faculty member of Jesuit Worldwide Learning—Higher Education at the Margins. He is a proud alum of the University of Pittsburgh, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, and Gonzaga University. |
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Keesha L. ColemanKeesha L. Coleman is a project manager at Georgia State University where she manages high-level initiatives centered around the university’s strategic plan as well as special projects for the office of the provost. Her current role allows her to engage with several of the university’s key working groups and programs, including the Council for the Progress of Cities; Entrepreneurship and Innovation; and Women Lead, an undergraduate leadership program. Keesha is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all through public service and social engagement and considers herself a champion of bridging the gap. Hear from Keesha as she breaks down some of the points she covered in her competency presentation. |
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Leonel A. Diaz, Jr.Leonel A. Diaz Jr. is a research coordinator at The University of New Mexico’s Center for Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and Addictions. His academic and professional background is interdisciplinary: fine arts, digital arts, social media, academic advisement, student leadership, academic support, marketing, organizational development, and social justice. Diaz Jr. enjoys learning several disciplines to find ways to merge ideas, bridge gaps, problem-solve, and develop new perspectives. He began his career as a photographer and digital media artist, only to follow his interest in helping mentor and support college students. |
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Nhi TruongNhi Truong is currently a 9th grade advisor at MetWest High School, a small district school in Oakland, California. Additionally, she teaches a college course to English teachers at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, CA. She is an Advisory Board Member for AYPAL, a leadership development, community organizing and coalition building organization seeking to empower Oakland’s low-income, immigrant and refugee families to be leaders for school reform and neighborhood change. She is also a member of H.E.L.L.A., a collective that centers intersectional healing praxis in order to sustain critical organizers and educators of color throughout the Bay Area. Hear from Nhi as she breaks down some of the points she covered in her competency presentation. |
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Quinton LampkinQuinton Lampkin is the founder and CEO of a capacity-building education consulting firm that works with K–12 schools, community-based organizations, and postsecondary institutions to help students complete critical milestones on their journey towards college and career success. Lampkin holds a Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts in business administration specializing in international business from the American University; a Master of Arts in sociology and education from Columbia University’s Teachers College; and a Master of Philosophy in politics, development, democratic education from University of Cambridge. |
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Tom HeethuisTom Heethuis has been involved in advising student activities for more than 40 years. He has been a student council adviser, activity director, leadership camp director, and building principal. Heethuis is an award-winning adviser and adviser trainer and has presented at conferences and workshops across the United States and Canada. He has served on the executive boards of four national student leadership and adviser organizations. Through his workshops, attendees discover hands-on, practical leadership activities they can take back to their schools and use with their fellow student leaders as soon as they return. |