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Honor Scroll

News of Member Accomplishments

Virginia Student Firefighter Named “Light of Hope”

Stuart Burton of Mills Godwin High School in Richmond, Virginia, is certainly a shining light in his community—not only is he an honor student, he is also volunteer firefighter and EMT who has spent over 600 hours this school year working with Company 3, in Goochland, Virginia. Firefighter, lifeguard, Eagle Scout, and camp counselor for children with incarcerated parents, Stuart reaches out to help others.
This January 20th, his high school honored him at the Martin Luther King Day Community Celebration for "community service and overall contributions to help others." Godwin High School was asked to select one student out of 2,000 for this award. Virginia students receiving this accolade are being designated as "Lights of Hope."

In addition to continually running calls—putting out fires, and saving lives for rescue duty, Stuart was recently appointed Chairman of the Membership Committee for the local Fire Department, a responsibility which requires him to recruit and interview new candidates. His enthusiasm is for Company 3 is contagious; he has recruited his own dad as a member of Company 3 as well.

After college, Stuart plans to become a professional firefighter. He has been accepted to both Longwood and Radford Universities in Virginia. Stuart says that “Volunteering and giving of yourself to others is such an easy thing to do and I am glad I am able to perform my duties.” He truly embodies the attitude and vision of NSHSS.

National Scholar Award Winner Receives Footprints Award

NSHSS Scholar Award winner Kristofer Ekdahl, of The Latin School of Chicago, has recently received another honor—for his volunteer efforts. Kris was honored at "ShakingUpChicago.com 2002" with The 11-10-02 Foundation Footsteps Award, given to high school students who best exemplify the spirit of The 11-10-02 Foundation. The Foundation is a non-profit organization that has grown from a mentoring program for Chicago school children into a nationally recognized scholarship program featured on television, as well as in a recent 60-minute film, “11-10-02.COM.”

The 11-10-02 Foundation was created by teacher Greg Forbes Siegman in order to help worthy students, who are often overlooked, get into the colleges of their choice. The spark that first ignited him in this cause began during his own college application process when a high school teacher wrote a letter to the Ivy League colleges to which he applied suggesting that Siegman wasn’t Ivy League material. Rejected by the colleges of his dreams, he became determined to help other kids make it to the colleges of their choice by leveling the playing field—a big enough challenge without the time limit he set for himself to accomplish his vision by his 30th birthday, 11-10-02. The stated mission of the organization is to “break down racial, cultural, social and generational barriers and stereotypes while also funding grants and scholarships for students who need the financial assistance and who have demonstrated a degree of character, level of maturity and sense of work ethic that strongly suggests they will seize the opportunity if it is given to them.”

As a volunteer dedicated to this mission, Kris was appointed coordinator of an internship group known as “The Latin 5,” whose fund-raising efforts included grant writing, marketing, publications, and research. Under his leadership, they became the first group of student volunteers to completely fund a $8,500 scholarship.

We applaud Kris for his dedication to helping others in his community and his Footsteps Award.

For more information on the 11-10-02 Foundation, visit:
General Information on 11-10-02

California Scholarship Finalist Excels Academically and Socially

Elizabeth So, of Mission Viejo, California, Claes Nobel Academic Scholarship finalist, has received a number of scholastic accolades. However, Elizabeth received another school honor this school year—one voted on by her peers. She was elected Homecoming Princess at Capistrano Valley High School, out of 750 seniors in a school of 3,000 students.  Not only has she achieved the pinnacle of academic success, but she is respected and liked by her peers.  And to emphasize how much that family involvement contributes to student success, Elizabeth wanted to honor her Dad—here are Elizabeth and her father the night of the homecoming game (which Capo won 28-0!).

Elizabeth’s says that her goal in life is to be a “cardiothoracic surgeon and global humanitarian.” Ultimately, she hopes to move her medical practice to Cambodia, the land of her parents, to help provide heath care for the impoverished. Elizabeth credits her success to her parents, who fled the Khmer Rouge communists to start a new life in the United States. She says that her mother and father have taught her “the importance of love, compassion, respect, and education; beautiful gifts that I would like to share with the world.”

If you have an accomplishment you would like to share, please email editor@nshss.org.