Important Dates - Scholarship Deadlines November 30, 2004 (date extended from October 1) - apply online in the member log in area of the website for Claes Nobel Academic Scholarships and National Scholar Awards. February 1, 2005 - Robert P. Sheppard Leadership Award for outstanding initiative in community service activities - application May 1, 2005 - Academic Paper Awards submission deadline - application Los Angeles, California - UCLA "NSHSS has a great cohort of students who are the go-getters, who take the initiative, and are leaders!" Pablo Mejia, UCLA admissions counselor UCLA admissions counselor Pablo Mejia answers questions from NSHSS members and parents after the program. Hundreds of NSHSS students and their families participated in a member event on the UCLA campus Grand Horizon Ballroom on August 10th. The event opened with harpist Kathleen Moon and a rousing version of the national anthem performed by NSHSS member Julie Morgentaler. Advisory Board Chair Claes Nobel was the keynote speaker discussing the power of youth. Other speakers included Pablo Mejia, UCLA admissions officer, who spoke about the college admissions process and met with interested families after the program. Members also heard useful advice from two UCLA students - outgoing student council member Anthony Eskander and incoming student council member Kinbo Lee. Don Banks, community leader and father of NSHSS advisory board member Tyra Banks, talked with members about his daughter's rise to success, encouraged all members to pursue their dreams, and reinforced the idea that any one person has the capability to make a difference in the world. Member Nick Malone, of Newport Beach, California, won a raffle for an autographed copy of Advisory Board Member Senator John McCain's book "Why Courage Matters." The event ended with refreshments and time for students and families to meet and interact with each other, Mr. Nobel, and the other distinguished speakers. NSHSS extends a big thank you to everyone who participated and especially to NSHSS member Lexie Smith, of Irvine, California, who volunteered her time to help at the registration table. We look forward to seeing more of our members at future events. Our new events schedule will be posted on the website soon. Click here to view the UCLA event photo gallery Now is the time for graduating seniors to begin searching for scholarship opportunities. Here are some ideas: Visit the member resources section in the member area of the NSHSS website. Register with FastWeb, a free online scholarship search: FastWeb Carefully review the websites of the colleges you are considering. Most colleges offer their own scholarships; review the different departments and alumni area as well. Don't forget to look into possible scholarships intended for specific groups: ethnic background, religious affiliation, parents' employers, children of veterans, career interests, organizations you belong to. There are also a number of off-beat scholarships you might not be aware of, like the annual duct-tape prom dress scholarship or scholarships for twins.  FastWeb will keep you posted on these. Additionally, you should do your own online searches for scholarships in specific academic, athletic, and performing arts subjects. Enter "scholarships for (keyword)" in your search engine. State scholarships. Be sure to search under "scholarships for (state name) students." Make sure you are aware of the qualifications, requirements, and deadlines for state-funded scholarships. Visit your school college counselor for advice. Don't forget to apply for NSHSS scholarships, online in the member log in area and those at www.nshss.org/scholarships. Exchange Programs Sponsored by the Rotary Club Britanny Wingate Pineview High School St. George, Utah I live in St. George, Utah; I am 16 and in a few days I will be leaving to live in Sassenhausen, Germany, as an exchange student sponsored by the Rotary Club of St. George. Being an exchange student through the Rotary Club has many benefits. First of all you learn to live outside your own world. You learn to speak a language other than English and get an education that is different from the standards we have here in the USA. It also prepares you for life and expands your outlook on the world. There are opportunities that you can take advantage of during high school and in college as well. In fact, the Rotary Club offers $25,000.00 scholarships for students who participate in the exchange during college. I'm sure that my experience will change me, and am eager to find out in what ways. For more information go to the Rotary International website at http://www.rotary.org/programs/youth_ex/. We are excited about our new program of forums and chat designed to help our members connect with each other. Members are already getting to know each other in the forums. Whether you are looking for someone attending the same college, or with the same career interests, or just want to chat and make new friends around the world, visit the Member Connection Section. The new 2004-05 Student Council members were announced in the July edition of The Scholar's Journal. If you haven't checked it out, click here to meet your new student council. They have not rested on their laurels over the summer; here are some of the things that our new council members have been doing over the summer with a little advice for members on how to spend that last summer before college. Brence Pernell Duke University I actually spent this summer working at Camp Burnt Gin, a summer-long camp (with alternating sessions) for children, teens, and young adults with special needs and disabilities. It was a very fulfilling and eye-opening experience. I got to interact strongly with the most amazing children, I learned a lot - through first-hand experiences - about pediatric healthcare, and most importantly, I gained a stronger sense of the value of life. Katherine Van Schaik Harvard University I worked as an intern at the State Museum of South Carolina, which houses a variety of artifacts ranging from art, to science, to anthropology, to history. I worked as an assistant to the overall Museum Director, and the Director of Marketing. I also pursued another internship for the month of August to work in one of the labs at the University of South Carolina. Additionally, I'm still creating Multimedia Marketing Presentations for my high school and its Magnet Programs. Folsade Odeniyi Harvard University If there is one thing that I could relay to NSHSS members it would to be active during the summer. Though at times I feel like I would rather stay at home and sleep all day, there is nothing that could replace the experiences that I have faced. I feel that my transition from high school to college will be easier because of my summer experiences. Read more. Anna Rasulova Brown University There is a new end to every chapter... And now it is all over. Now that I have graduated from Tashkent International School, Uzbekistan, my life does not seem real any more. I had been waiting for this day to come for 12 years, and now that the day came, I seem to live in some kind of vacuum. I can now understand a drastic change people who retire go through: I no longer have to wake up to go to school, or attend homeroom every morning. It is all gone. I am sure that all juniors cannot wait for that day to come: but make sure to enjoy every moment in school now because you will never have such an experience again! Read more. Visit the NSHSS Scholar's Store and check out a selection of great recognition items, such as honor cords and lapel pins, available only to members. We are offering a number of new items in the store, including six new t-shirts, with several new styles for ladies. Click here to shop or log into the Member Section of the website. Presidential Classroom Academic Scholarship for NSHSS members - The recipient of this $750.00 scholarship will be announced next month. The Member Showcase - Be sure to submit your information and photo for the Member Showcase, which will resume next month. To be considered, click here: http://www.nshss.org/showcase/memshowfrm.htm The High School Highlight - Claes Nobel School of Distinction - We will be recognizing one school per month. You can nominate your school for consideration by e-mailing Dr. Susan Thurman at susan.thurman@nshss.org with an explanation of why your school deserves this recognition. Be sure to include your name and contact information, the school's name and city, and a link to the school's website. We will feature our next selected school in September. Scholar's Think Tank - The Voice of Youth will return in the September update. Mr. Nobel is challenging NSHSS members to voice their opinions on important issues in our new program called Scholar's Think Tank - The Voice of Youth. This program focuses on your hopes, concerns, suggestions and solutions for world betterment. In preparation for this new initiative, we are surveying members on issues important to young people. Stay tuned next month for our September survey question.