HOLIDAY MESSAGE NSHSS wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season. 2005 has been a year of both challenges and hope for our nation and the world, and we believe that young people embody our greatest hope for the future. Our goal is to encourage you and help you reach your potential as you grow into becoming the leaders of the 21st century. Scholarship Deadlines Projects Abroad December 31, 2005 - Deadline to apply for free Projects Abroad program scholarship. Projects Abroad and The National Society of High School Scholars have teamed up to offer a scholarship for up to a three month placement in any of Projects Abroad's 16 destination countries, including but not limited to Russia, Peru, South Africa, China, and Thailand. The scholarship is open to any member of the NSHSS--for more information and NSHSS member comments click here: www.nshss.org/partners/projects_abroad.htm February 1, 2006 - Robert P. Sheppard Leadership Award ($1,000): Application May 1, 2006 - NSHSS Academic Paper Awards ($250 each): Application Please visit FastWeb to search for more scholarships. The members-only site of the NSHSS also has other scholarship resources. NSHSS holds several member events throughout the academic year. These are a celebration of academic achievement and are open to all members and their immediate family at no charge. Mr. Nobel participates in the events as a featured speaker, and also meets and greets members. Advisory board members are invited to attend (participation depends on their individual schedules). Events include speakers on college-related topics; this year members have had the opportunity to hear from and meet the Deans of Admission from Harvard, SMU, and Johns Hopkins, and the Dean of the Honors College at the University of Oklahoma. Events also typically include scholarship presentations, student council speakers, and teacher recognition. In 2005, NSHSS hosted member gatherings at Harvard University in Boston; on the Hornblower Yacht in San Diego; at Southwest Airlines Headquarters in Dallas; U.S. Congress Cannon Room in Washington, D.C., and the Oklahoma City Petroleum Club. In the spring of 2006 we are planning events in Chicago, at Temple University in Philadelphia, Scholar's Day in Washington, D.C., and a summer event in Los Angeles. We will be posting information as available. Visit our member events section of the website at http://www.nshss.org/RSVP/events.asp. Connect with other members in the NHSSS forums. Chat with members from around the globe. Visit the Member Connection Section. If you would like to be considered for the monthly Member Showcase, please click here. Ashley Marie Bremerman Silver Spring, Maryland James Hubert Blake High School Accept people for what they are--always give them the benefit of a doubt. Don't always believe in first impressions. Cathryn Chen Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hills High School "I admire those who seek to find their purpose in life and who are brave enough to live according to their beliefs. I wish to become one of them." --Albert Einstein Steven Zed Davies Frenchglen, Oregon Crane Union High School "All sports interest me, all sciences interest me, and I love being part of service clubs and helping people." Joseph William Miller Mt. Airy, North Carolina North Surry High School "To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the talent." - Steve Prefontaine Kayla Morse Apopka High School Apopka, Florida "You have to be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi Visit the NSHSS Scholar's store and check out our selection of great recognition items like honor cords and lapel pins, available only to members. Shop in the member section of the web site or print out an order form. Check out NSHSS partners For more information on NSHSS partners and member benefits they provide please visit our Partners Page at http://www.nshss.org/partners. New Partnership - NU DELTA ALPHA Dance Education Honor Society NSHSS welcomes its new educational partner, Nu Delta Alpha, a national dance honor society, which is designed for dance education students, dance educators, and professional dancers to express their devotion to the art form by sharing, recognizing, and promoting dance education within schools and communities. Chapters are designated for middle through high school, college through professional levels, private studios, and preparatory and home schools. By promoting Nu Delta Alpha, the National Dance Association recognizes outstanding students and professionals internationally. An important mission of NDA is to expand the student vision of dance from self to the world by encouraging community service through activities such as the Dance for Health! Project and other programs that offer dance to students with disabilities, disadvantaged youth, and people of all ages. For more information visit the NDA National Dance Honor Society website  or contact: nda@aahperd.org. Get Ready for College! Go Online for College Information Now (www.mycollegeguide.org/request)! The National Society of High School Scholars is happy to provide you with an online resource full of college information. My College Guide, published annually and now available online, has information on almost 100 colleges! To access My College Guide online, go to www.mycollegeguide.org/nshss. The new 2006 issue has articles on how to reduce stress when applying to colleges, studying abroad, and taking the guesswork out of college admissions. Also, you'll find out why engineering is such a hot major now. Best of all, you can request college information right online by going to: www.mycollegeguide.org/request. You'll also then be automatically entered to win either an iPod mini or an Olympus digital camera. My College Guide is a great place to start your college search! NSHSS Student Council members are eager to share their experiences and wisdom with other members. You can meet the Council members at http://www.nshss.org/council/studentcouncil05.asp, and if you have questions for a council member, email studentcouncil@nshss.org with the Council's member's name in the subject line of the email. Making Your Mark On Campus Andrew Thompson Northwestern University 2005-2006 NSHSS Student Council Making the transition to college life is one of the most important adjustments for an incoming freshman: I hope my advice will be helpful to the NSHSS members who desire to make the most of their first semester of college life. For me, the first semester at Northwestern University has been a time of individual growth and a lesson in leadership. To begin with, it is vital to maintain a steady focus on academics, while still leaving time for a healthy social life. Particularly during the first few weeks of the school year, it is mportant to branch out socially and to find your niche on campus. Leading up to my first week of classes, I engaged in a leadership program named CATalyst that prepared me well for hitting my stride on campus. The program also helped me to develop a social network of friends that made the transition to the college environment much smoother... From serving on my residence hall's student government to covering sports for a business magazine, a diverse set of experiences is helping me prepare for the numberless opportunities to make my mark on campus. Keeping your options open to new experiences, people, and places will make for a much fuller college experience. So take the initiative and pursue activities that interest you. Through it all, remember to keep the proper perspective and, perhaps most importantly, be sure to get some sleep. College Tips - Financial Aid Filling out the FAFSA (the Free Application for Federal Student Aid) According to the College Board's latest figures, the average cost of a year's tuition, room and board, and fees at public universities is now $12,127, and $29,026 at a private university. To help with these soaring costs, most colleges offer financial aid packages including grants, scholarships, loans, and work study opportunities. The first step in applying for available financial aid is completing the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. To apply for federal student financial aid, and to apply for many state student aid programs, students must complete this form, either online or through the mail. The information provided on the FAFSA determines if a student is eligible for financial aid. Additionally, you must renew your FAFSA application each year in college that you apply for financial aid. The FAFSA is used to calculate the amount of money that the family is expected to be responsible for, referred to as Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The calculation is based on a number of factors, including how many siblings will be in college at the same time, how near parents are to retirement, as well as income. The form is available January 1 of each year and you can find it on the FAFSA website. You will need your income tax information for 2005, and if it is not yet available when you fill out the FAFSA, you can base it on 2004 and amend the form later if necessary. You submit one form only and it is sent to all of the schools you indicate. However, different schools have different deadlines for the FAFSA, so it is critical to keep on top of those by contacting each college's financial aid office. Review the FAFSA website carefully before beginning so that you have all the documents on hand and are not blind-sided by any of the questions. You can also call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) with any questions about the form. Scholarship Searching 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 check into NSHSS scholarships: www.nshss.org/scholarships. Claes Nobel School of Distinction Award Congratulations to Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Florida, nominated as a school of excellence by member Jodi-Kaye Wade. The home of the Mighty Tigers was selected for its innovative approach to public education. Blanche Ely is a Pre-Medical/Engineering/Nursing Magnet program with a diverse student body: the school's mission statement is posted on its website in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Portuguese. In 2002, Blanche Ely High School received a Smaller Learning Communities Federal Grant, allowing Blanche Ely to restructure the school into smaller learning communities and to create seven schools of advanced learning. At the end of ninth grade, students select a School of Advanced Learning based upon their career interests. Generally, each school includes at least a two to three-year sequence of elective courses centered on a specific career pathway including a career education plan, a variety of work related experiences, and career mentoring. Through career advisement, students learn what career paths are available to them, including college preparation, technical center studies, and real world apprenticeships. Additionally, Blanche Ely High Magnet Students have received over $2,000,000 in scholarship money over the past five years. To nominate your school for consideration, please email 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.