NSHSS Student Council 2005-06

We are pleased to introduce our Student Council members for the 2005-06 academic year. These outstanding college-bound students give advice based on their own experiences and offer information on Society programs, scholarships, and activities throughout the upcoming year. Membership on the Student Council provides an important leadership opportunity beyond high school. Members graduating from high school in 2006 will be eligible to apply for next year's Council.  To contact a student council member, click here and enter the council member's name in the subject line of the message:  studentcouncil@nshss.org
 

Ewurafua Addo-Atuah
Central High School,
Memphis, Tennessee
University of Buckingham 2007 (accelerated program)
Buckingham, England

Ewurafua is a native of Ghana in West Africa, who has demonstrated her leadership skills by representing Tennessee at the Student Congressional Leadership Conference, at the Junior Statesman Summer School, and speaking at her Baccalaureate program.  She can provide valuable insights as our first Council member attending a university overseas and as a student enrolled in an accelerated graduation program.

Brandy Bandaruk
San Clemente High School
San Clemente, California
California State University. Long Beach 2009

Brandy is a 2005 NSHSS scholarship recipient, who served as president of her school’s National Honor Society chapter, as well as being named a Scholar Athlete.  In addition, she was a state finalist in the National American Miss California Teen Scholarship pageant.  A dedicator mentor to underclassmen, Brandy asked to serve on the Student Council because she believes that NSHSS has become more to her than just ”just an academic organization-- it’s become  a family.” 

Garrett Bruer
The Blake School (Minneapolis)
Medina, Minnesota
University of Pennsylvania 2009

Garrett is active in tennis, math club, and theater.  He sees the Student Council as a “great opportunity to discover new people from around the nation.”   He characterizes himself as a “people person” who loves to share his experiences with others.

Gary Crosby
Walker High School
Jasper, Alabama
Birmingham Southern College 2009

Gary has served as Key Club President as well as a host of other club and class offices.  He is a Coca-Cola Scholars Program semi-finalist and received his high school’s Student Council Outstanding Member award. He believes that “leadership is action, not position" and ultimately has his sights set on becoming a U.S. Senator.
 

Jason Ferguson
Dallas, Texas
Ferguson Home School
Duke University 2009

Jason received a Claes Nobel Academic Scholarship in 2005 as well as being a National Merit Scholarship winner.  He is an A.B. Duke Scholar, Reischauer Scholar, and Eagle Scout with a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.  Jason wants to provide valuable information for college-bound students, especially those who are home schooled.  He also has a deep wish to help spread and understanding of mathematics among younger students.

Jessica Ho
Parsippany, New Jersey
Parsippany High School
The College of New Jersey 2009

Jessica is a National Scholar Award recipient who has served as a Big Brothers/Big Sisters mentor, president of The National Honor Society and received the Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarship.  Jessica writes, “I have benefited immensely from NSHSS and its publications and I hope to share what I will learn to next year’s NSHSS members.  I want to share my insight on the college experience so high school students can have a jumpstart on getting ready for college and prevent them from making the same mistakes I might make."

Kathryn Koerten
Sevierville, Tennesse
Sevier County High School
University of Georgia 2009

Student Government President, Servier County Teen Board Communications Director, and Student-Athlete Award of Merit, Kathryn  was accepted into  the highly-competitive Honors Program at the University of Georgia.  She is eager to share her experiences about the college-decision process with NSHSS members. She is able to provide a practical perspective on the challenges and benefits of enrolling in a college honors program.
 

Kinbo James Lee
Woodcrest Christian School
Moreno Valley, California
University of California, Los Angeles 2008
 
Kinbo is continuing as a council member at UCLA and has been active in attending member events in California and speaking to students. Of Korean descent, Kinbo is the first in his family to attend a university.  He has won awards not only in academics, but also in chess and in golf. He was also selected for a Distinguished Christian High School Student Award and received a Student Council award for outstanding service.  He says, "I wished to join the NSHSS Student Council in order to more effectively voice my opinions and further improve the quality and services offered by this prestigious organization." 

Mary Liu
Hilliard Davidson High School
Hilliard, Ohio
Harvard University 2009

Mary is a 2005 National Scholar Award recipient who joins continuing Council member Katherine Van Schaik at Harvard.  Ranked first in her class, she also received an outstanding attorney award in district competition.  She writes that she feels the Student Council position is more than simply a leadership position, but a mentoring position as well and is excited about sharing her experiences with members.

Madison Lyleroehr
South Doyle High School
Knoxville, Tennessee
Brandeis University 2009

Madison is a 2005 Claes Nobel Academic Scholarship recipient and is attending Brandeis as a Presidential Scholar.  Following spinal fusion surgery, she wrote a booklet for teens facing the same ordeal; the booklet was published by the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and continues to be distributed to all of its spinal fusion surgery patients. A talented singer and actress, she wished to join the Student Council in order to “give back.”

Graciela Mendoza
Marathon High School 2007
Marathon, FL
Dual enrollment: Marathon High School/Florida Keys Community College

Graciela is joining the council as a “junior” member, who is a dual-enrollee in high school and college.  She brings a unique perspective and wishes to act as a mentor to other students undertaking the challenges of dual enrollment.  She has received an award as one of Florida’s “Talented Top Twenty” and a President’s Academic Award and was awarded a Congressional internship this summer.

Olutope Omosegbon
Pike High School
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis 2009

Olutope is a native of Nigeria, and has also lived in London, Canada, Illinois, and Indiana.  She is happy to serve as a liaison for NSHSS to become a link connecting students and peers to ensure a positive, interactive environment.  She is a recipient of the President’s Education Awards Program, was honored as a top high school senior by “Ebony” magazine, and has recevied numerous academic awards, including poetry and math.

Anya Rasulova
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Tashkent International School
Brown University 2008

Anya is continuing on the council and is a 2004 Claes Nobel Academic Scholarship recipient who has participated in a number of member events speaking to students. She served as Student Council President at Tashkent International School in Uzbekistan, her native country, in Central Asia. An award winning debater, Anna speaks five languages and considers herself a citizen of the world.   "I believe that I can give helpful advice and insight to high school students who are now in the tough process of planning and filling out applications. Mr. Nobel has stated that 'Encouraging young people to excel is the finest and most lasting contribution that we can make to the future' and I want to be a part of that contribution through my membership in NSHSS."

Christopher Riley
J. M. H. Academy Home School
Cordele, Georgia
Georgia Southern University 2009

Christopher is the 2005 recipient of the NSHSS/Presidential Classroom Award for Public Service.  He is the first home-schooled student to serve on the Council and welcomes the opportunity to “contribute to the growth and directions of the organization, as well as a platform to increase self-growth as a scholar and leader.”

Vanessa Rivera
Perth Amboy High School
Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Wellesley College 2009

Vanessa brings a unique perspective to the Council as a Puerto Rican female who attended a special needs district high school, which instilled in her a tremendous work ethic to achieve her goals. Class valedictorian and president of her school’s National Honor Society, she is now attending one of the premier women’s colleges in the United States and can offer insights on the experience of attending an all-female institution. 

Josh Summer
Western Guilford High School
Greensboro, North Carolina
Duke University 2009

Josh is a 2005 National Scholar Award recipient.  Josh is eager to help provide support and guidance for students in their academic pursuits.  He sees great potential in NSHSS and wants to be part of the team helping foster its growth and realize its potential.  He was honored as the 2005 North Carolina Top high School Volunteer with the Prudential Spirit of Community Award and has been an active lobbyist in support of HR 1268, which resulted in the forming of the Toxic Model and Indoor Air Pollution Congressional Caucus.

Andrew Thompson
Theodore Roosevelt High School
Des Moines, Iowa
Northwestern University 2009

Team captain of the Academic Decathlon, service award recipient from the Iowa Elks Association, and scholar athlete, Andrew believes he shares a “responsibility to inspire younger generations to lead our nation and world communities through character, compassion, and service" and is eager to purse an active dialogue to fully understand the needs and aspirations of NSHSS members.

Katherine Van Schaik
Spring Valley High School
Columbia, South Carolina
Harvard University

Katherine is a continuing Council member at Harvard and a 2004 Claes Nobel Academic Scholarship recipient.   Her environmental research was published in the 2003 edition of "STATS" Magazine.  She has worked for many summers each year along with her grandfather as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. "I wish to utilize my talent for environmental science research for the betterment of the world. In addition, I also wish to use this talent to cultivate in other students their own research abilities; I would like to advise and inspire research students in the same way that my own research teacher has advised and inspired me."

Shambrekia' Wise
Pleasant Grove High School
Texarkana, Texas
The University of Arkansas

Shambrekia' Wise is a pre-med student whose goal is to become a pediatric pulmonologist. She is continuing on the Council this year. President of her senior class, Shambrekia' was named a Gates Millennium Scholar and a Venture Scholar. She has written about her experience in the LEAD Summer Business Institute in the Summer 2004 "Scholar's Journal." "Through years of mentoring with younger children, I know I have a gift to reach out and help people... . As a member of the NSHSS Student Council, I will be able to not only enhance my mentoring and leadership skills but also have a hand in educating future leaders."