Scholar's Day Atlanta 2025

Guests scanned their tickets and built their name badges!

Members met with and explored opportunities alongside corporate, educational, and government leaders representing renowned organizations and universities worldwide.

Scholar’s Day Atlanta 2025 kicked off with welcome messages from Tony Betton Jr., our NSHSS Fellows Emcee, and NSHSS President and Co-Founder Mr. James Lewis, followed by event announcements and more!

Attendees experienced the projects, prototypes, and nonprofits selected to compete live before a panel of judges in the shark-tank-style NSHSS Be More Fund Competition for a chance to win one of five $10,000 grants or one of five $1,000 grants! Afterwards, they heard the closing remarks before splitting off to the member party and parent session for the remainder of the evening.

Students concluded the night and let loose with fellow members at a party just for them! Music and games came together to create a great opportunity for them to make new friends from all over the country!

Parents had the opportunity to get to know one another through fun meet-and-greet activities. They then sat back and learned more about how they could better support their students during the parent-only session hosted by NSHSS partner HelloCollege.

Registration reopened for any Saturday arrivals to pick up their name badges!

Attendees woke up with coffee, enjoyed a continental breakfast, and had the chance to network with other NSHSS families and CCF exhibitors!

Attendees met representatives from outstanding universities and explored opportunities with corporate, educational, and government leaders of renowned organizations from around the globe.

Our emcee welcomed attendees back for day 2 of Scholar's Day with some opening remarks and announcements.

Families had questions about the college admissions process ahead of them - and CollegeAdvisor.com had the answers! 
As a top admissions consulting company, they drew on their experience working with more than 8,000 families to share their best tips and guidance for navigating the increasingly competitive undergraduate admissions process.

Attendees participated in the U.S. Army ROTC Educational Session, where representatives shared insights about the ROTC program, scholarship opportunities, and the leadership skills developed through military training and education.

Attendees heard from NSHSS Scholarship Winners, Collegiate Council, and Fellow Members as they shared tips on standing out in the college admissions process and finding scholarships that fit their goals. The session also featured a live Q&A.

Attendees joined Usher’s New Look for a powerful youth-led discussion highlighting transformation, creativity, and leadership. URIV Spark Lab youth and an Entertainment Industry Club graduate reflected on their pathways to purpose by sharing their experiences navigating high school, building professional confidence, and expanding their networks. Through personal narratives and polished elevator pitches, they demonstrated how receiving the 5 Capitals prepared them to be leaders in any room.

In this session, Piper Coffey, LCSW, of Skyland Trail, discussed the complex relationship between stress and mental health—unpacking how validation, acknowledgment, moderation, and balance shape our emotional well-being. Participants gained insight into reframing stress as a natural part of the mental health journey.

Families enjoyed lunch at a variety of nearby local restaurants, taking the opportunity to relax and connect. During the break, attendees also visited the College & Career Fair, exploring resources and opportunities to support their academic and career goals.

Highly esteemed professionals shared advice and experiences from their personal lives and professional careers about how they view fulfillment and what they have done to achieve it. Panelists included representatives from Delta Air Lines, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Encoura, Rounds.so, and U.S. Army. Moderated by the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC).

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital celebrated the achievements of NSHSS members and shared how innovation, compassion, and service can transform lives. St. Jude spoke about how together, we can build a brighter future one discovery, one act of kindness, and one dream at a time.

Scholarships, Educator Grants, and the Claes Nobel World Betterment Award were presented, and Be More Fund Competition winners were announced!

All members were invited on stage to receive an honor medallion for their academic achievements!