Features: A Message from Claes Nobel A Message from Outgoing Student Council Advisory Board Highlights New Student Council College-Bound Advice The Value of Taking AP Classes Begin College Applications Now My Take on the SAT Getting a Head Start Never Hurt Anybody Spotlight on Service -- From your own Backyard to a Nicaragua Village The Power of Committed Citizens -- Helping the Poor in Nicaragua J.M.H. Academy Volunteer Effort -- Cordele, Georgia, Health and Rehabilitation Center Giving Back to Your Local Community Special Opportunities -- Students Take Advantage of Exciting Programs AFS Exchange Program -- Living in Brazil Summer Business Institute -- LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) Summer in Switzerland for Natasa Kovasevic Food for Thought For the Devout Carb-Quitters: New Bread that is Literally Nothing Living Successfully We are pleased to highlight a terrific role model for our members--NSHSS Advisory Board Member Colleen Barrett, President & Chief Operating Officer of Southwest Airlines. Colleen is not only a powerhouse in the business world, but a gracious hostess as well, treating NSHSS members to a melt-in-your-mouth pot roast luncheon in Dallas on March 12 at the Southwest Airlines Headquarters. Informally known as the "Chairman of Fun," Ms. Barrett has been instrumental in leading Southwest to become known as one of the best places to work and the quintessential role model for service leadership -- all while maintaining profitability in an extremely competitive and volatile industry. Named one of the country's 50 most powerful women in business by FORTUNE magazine, Barrett's unique, laid-back management style has led Southwest to achieve the best Customer Service Satisfaction rating from the Department of Transportation for the last 13 consecutive years. Year after year, Southwest is recognized by FORTUNE as one of the world's most admired companies for its positive culture and unwavering leadership in service delivery. NSHSS is also honored to feature Advisory Board member Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, an aerospace company which is developing a family of launch vehicles intended to reduce the cost and increase the reliability of access to space. SpaceX anticipates the first launch of the rocket Falcon I, carrying a US Defense Department communications satellite, in mid 2004 from the SpaceX complex at Vandenberg Air Force Base. SpaceX is also capable of launching from Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg, Alaska, Virginia, and the Marshall Islands. Elon's early experience extends across a spectrum of advanced technology industries, from high energy density ultra-capacitors at Pinnacle Research to software development at Rocket Science and Microsoft. He has a physics degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a business degree from Wharton. Elon also co-founded PayPal and remains a director and the largest shareholder of the world's foremost electronic financial services company. He has established a foundation (http://www.muskfoundation.org/) to support philanthropic objectives in education, clean and renewable energy, and medical research. We salute Elon Musk for his ability to combine his passions of rocket science and business with his desire for world betterment. << Back to Journal Home page