Monthly Update


	Best wishes for the New Year and may 2004 bring you good news and good times. We are ushering in the new year with a new look for the NSHSS Monthly Update. Exciting new content has been added to the update, and members will now receive it in HTML format. Feel free to print a copy and share it with family and friends. Later this winter we will also debut a new look for The Scholar's Journal, which features articles written by NSHSS student members.

	The NSHSS Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the fall 2003 scholarship recipients. The competition for these awards was quite strong. The recipients were selected on the basis of academic record, leadership activities, community service, faculty recommendations, and personal statement. Our scholarship recipients will be honored on May 1st at the first annual NSHSS Scholar's Day to be held in Washington, D.C. Congratulations to our winners. These members are truly exceptional scholars. Make certain you apply for one of the spring 2004 scholarships. Complete your scholarship application online by Feb. 1st, 2004, in order to be considered. The application is in the Member Section of the website. For more information and details on scholarships, other competitions, and past recipients, go to: www.nshss.org/scholarships or contact Dr. Susan Thurman at susan.thurman@nshss.org

	Many of our members have participated in Presidential Classroom and recommend it highly. The Washington D.C. program is often a turning point in a student's life, offering exposure to Washington leaders, media, and students from all over the globe. Through our partnership with Presidential Classroom, all NSHSS members are eligible for a $100 discount on PC programs, a program tuition scholarship competition, and a college tuition scholarship competition. NSHSS members who attend any Presidential Classroom program are eligible to apply for this unique college scholarship. The application is online at http://www.nshss.org/scholarships/PCscholarshipapp.pdf. The deadline is August 1, 2004. For more information on Presidential Classroom, visit www.presidentialclassroom.org. "During that cold February week of my junior year my passion for American history and politics was roused, as I became certain that I wanted to devote my life to public service. In retrospect, I can honestly say that participating in Presidential Classroom changed my life forever." NSHSS Member Jessica Adkins, Columbia Station, OH Columbia High School '03

	Now is the time when high school seniors are camping out at the mailbox waiting for those fat acceptance envelopes. Do you have exciting news to share with your fellow NSHSS members? If so, please click here to announce your college acceptance. NSHSS will be highlighting student member acceptances in the next few editions of the Monthly Update.

	Jennifer Holcomb, University of North Alabama '07 - NSHSS Student Council My advice for 2004 high school seniors is to travel and visit several colleges before making your final choice. While I knew the program I wanted to study, my college choice changed as I visited campuses and learned more about the programs at each school and what their competitors said about them! Also, my program choice fell under different colleges (College of Business or College of Arts & Sciences) at the colleges I visited. Check that out as it does affect the type of "other" courses you will be required to take for your degree. Also, research your college choices on the Web, but be sure to make site visits to your final choices to get the real "feel" of the campus. Above all, enjoy your senior year of high school! Good luck with your college and scholarship applications. Watch your time frames for submission and have a wonderful 2004! Congratulations to Jennifer for making the Dean's List this year in her first semester at college.


Claes Nobel Academic Scholarship Joshua Sommerfeld The Benjamin School North Palm Beach, FL
"I view every step that I take in life as a chance to make a difference in the world."

Claes Nobel Academic Scholarship Arun Storrs South Eugene High School Eugene, OR
"My Nepali heritage and the educational opportunities of my American upbringing have inspired in me a deep obligation to and passion for humanitarian work in our globalizing world."

National Scholar Awards:

Daliha Aqbal Robinson High School Fairfax, VA "I feel that because I was fortunate enough to live in America, I have the moral obligation to help those that did not have the ability to relocate. Being an immigrant from Afghanistan, I can empathize with the innocent people who lost their opportunity to live in a country where the statutes of freedom and opportunity illuminate every aspect of life."

Michael Barberio Vestavia Hills High School Vestavia Hills, AL "As a cancer survivor, I know that you must not take life for granted and should always live your life to the fullest by contributing what you can to make it better."

Eileene Braxton Southern Alamance High School Graham, NC "I am optimistic and push forward with every inch of my being, and will not stop until I have truly extinguished the fire that was lit within me years ago to be better than my background, better than the labels and tags society places upon people."

Jessica Bruce Lakewood High School Lakewood, CO "My continued interest in other cultures and viewpoints will aid me in understanding international politics and relations, so that I might help forge a more unified global community and facilitate cooperation among our world neighbors."

Alhaji Cherif Parkdale High School Riverdale, MD "I am a firm believer that one is educated both for one's own sake and for that of the whole community."

Ashley Crump Dunbar High School Ft. Worth, TX "One of my many goals in life is to guide young people in the same way that I have been guided."

Adolfo Flores Coronado High School El Paso, TX "Making a difference in the world begins by making a difference in someone's life."

Keerthi Prabhala Woodbridge High School Irvine, CA "If the adage 'curiosity killed the cat' is true, then I should've been dead many times over. My passion is to use my interest in biology and technology to help the disabled integrate seamlessly into society."

Napatong Todjersin New Iberia High School New Iberia, LA "I want to be an advocate to help children who live in difficult circumstances."


	Is your school too cool? Each month NSHSS will feature a high school with an exceptional track record in academics and/or community service. You can nominate your school for consideration by e-mailing Dr. Susan Thurman with a brief 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.

	Visit the NSHSS Scholar's Store featuring great recognition items, such as honor cords and lapel pins, available only to members. Click here to shop or log into the Member Section of the website Check out this month's feature item, the NSHSS Member Patch. This high quality embroidered crest of NSHSS looks great affixed to a sweater or jacket. Just $7.


	The next NSHSS Member Event will be held in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday, February 28, 2004, where NSHSS will be participating in The National Association of Secondary School Principals Annual Conference. This event will offer members a great opportunity to hear important speakers, to network with other members, and to meet NSHSS Chair Claes Nobel. A scholarship presentation will also be made. NSHSS members and their parents from Florida and the surrounding areas will be invited. More details will be posted on our website.