Junior Reporter Meets Claes Nobel
by Nathaly Hewawasam, Junior Reporter

Just as the great Alfred Nobel, through his desire to recognize human ingenuity, created the Nobel Prizes based on a fund of about $9 million from the profits of his explosive career, a distinguished organization has emerged through the work of Mr. Claes Nobel, a senior member of the Nobel family and the grandnephew of Alfred Nobel, to “encourage and recognize the youth of the world,” as Mr. Claes Nobel said. He has continued his family’s legacy of recognizing and rewarding outstanding achievement by founding the National Society of High School Scholars.

The NSHSS was founded in 2002, but as of March 1^st, 2006, it has already awarded over $100,000 to internationally high-achieving students!  

Unlike other nationally well-known student recognition organizations, the National Society of High School Scholars provides its student members with more than just recognition. The Society’s international constituents are granted permission to participate in national member events, prestigious academic competitions, and service and leadership opportunities.

Deeply respected by all of the NSHSS members, Mr. Nobel himself has put forth an immense effort to save our planet in this time of environmental erosion. Holding dual citizenship in the U.S. and Sweden, he is an active advocate of humanitarian and environmental causes, including drafting “The Nobel Laureates Declaration on the Survival of Mankind” (signed by 78 Nobel Laureates supporting environmental protection and humanitarian leadership) and writing the “Global Declaration of Earth Ethics” as the basis for United Earth, the renowned, nonprofit organization he founded, to remind the citizens of the world of current environmental issues through the esteemed Earth Prize Awards.

Recently, I attended the NSHSS Annual Scholar’s Day, which was held in the Dirksen Senate Building in Washington, D.C. Over 300 members of the NSHSS nationwide were present that day, by invitation. Exactly nine students were from Florida. This event, where dreams really do “take root”, provided overflowing inspiration for each of the attendees, as Mr. Nobel himself attended and delivered a truly motivating speech.

CELEBRATION NEWS - July 2006

Celebration, Florida

 He was greeted by cordially genuine, deafening applause. He is a truly caring person, and the encouragement he expressed to all of us radiated to each student and parent who, seated, listened to him attentively.Various representatives from international organizations also spoke for us, including the President of the Society, the Honorable Mickey Edwards, a representative from Brown University, the Executive Director of the National Honors Convocation, the Director of Admissions of the national Outdoor Leadership School, and the Director of North American Recruitment for the World Scholar-Athlete Games. Six exceptional students received scholarships, and fourteen “Educators of Distinction” were recognized for “nurturing the brightest.”

After the NSHSS President, Mr. James Lewis, delivered the closing remarks, a reception was held, in which we had a fantastic opportunity to meet Mr. Nobel.

I was extremely happy that my parents and I had come to this annual meeting of encouragement, and was very excited to be able to meet Mr. Nobel. With everything he has done and continues to do for the world, I knew he would appreciate the international charity work I am doing, so I gave him my book, Waldo, which I published to provide relief for the tsunami victims of South Asia.

 It was amazing to see someone who cared about each and every one of his student-members’ efforts to improve the planet. He was truly interested in the effort, and appreciative to receive the book. I was extremely honored.

Everyone that attended received various gifts, including a golden, Olympic-size medallion recognizing membership to the NSHSS, an official NSHSS bag, NSHSS notepads, and other items.

It was a wonderful experience, and I am very glad that, following the example set by Alfred Nobel, his grandnephew has created such a prestigious organization to inspire and motivate its members to achieve to their fullest potential, just as “the greatest scientists, poets, statesmen, and philosophers among us” are recognized annually on December 10^th (the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death) in Stockholm, Sweden.