Highlights from the New York NSHSS Member Event
On Saturday, November 7, NSHSS hosted its New York NSHSS member event at the New York Academy of Medicine. Over 300 members attendees started the day with a special workshop sponsored by NSHSS partner the Central Intelligence Agency, providing information about internships, scholarships, and career opportunities with the agency.

During the member recognition program, the audience was welcomed by Will Houghteling, the Managing Director, North America of The Minerva Schools at KGI, Mitchell Cohn, Diplomat-in-Residence for the U.S. Department of State, Rachel Sandison, Director, Recruitment and International Office at University of Glasgow, and Yin-Chu Jou, Acting Executive Director of the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation which hosts the Youth Assembly at the United Nations. NSHSS Scholarship Director Dr. Susan Thurman then recognized scholarship recipient Nicole Campbell from Franklin Square, NY, and current student at the Fashion Institute of Technology, who won first place in the Claes Nobel Visual Arts Competition. Afterwards, NSHSS Director of Educator Outreach Myrna Lubin recognized Margaret Mitchell, an Educator of Distinction of Righ High School in Basking Ridge, NJ,

Attendees also enjoyed a video by Mr. Nobel who motivated and challenged each scholar in attendance to seek excellence in character, academics, and efforts for environmental sustainability. Mr. Nobel is confident that the scholars who gathered at our New York event are the next generation of leaders who will make wise decisions to promote education, inclusion, and environmentalism throughout the world.

The day ended with the NSHSS College Fair, where members were able to receive invaluable information from the following educational institutions and organizations: AFS-USA, Bocconi University, Central Intelligence Agency, College Admission Central, Cornell University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Fisk University, George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University, King’s College London, Koç University, Macaulay Honors College at CUNY, Pace University, Semester at Sea, Summer at Syracuse University, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, The Minerva Schools at KGI, The Pennsylvania State University, The Princeton Review, University College Dublin, University of Glasgow, University of New South Wales, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Vesalius College, and Wesleyan University

Highlights from the NSHSS Center for Civil and Human Rights Student Symposium
This smaller event held at the Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, GA, on Saturday November 14th, was an opportunity for high school and college NSHSS Members to gain valuable insight into the importance of of the Nobel Prizes, and look within themselves to find their own potential to be Nobel Laureates. The day began with a docent-led tour of the meaning of the Nobel Prize exhibit at the Center's Museum. Scholars then enjoyed a luncheon where they were greeted by Nicole Moore, Manager of Interpretation and School Programs at NCCHR, and NSHSS President James W. Lewis. This was followed by a keynote address by Professor Merrick Tabor of Stockholm University who talked about the differences between the six Nobel Prize categories. He also explained the selection process for Nobel Laureates, and the significance of the prizes in today's society.

Scholars were then treated to congratulatory remarks from the honorable Shirley Franklin, former Mayor of Atlanta and Board Chair of the NCCHR. The always-inspiring Franklin shared a story from childhood, about a visit to the Free Library in Philadelphia after school that changed her life. On this particular visit at age 13, she picked up a book entitled Let My People Go, the autobiography of Albert Luthuli. instead of doing her homework that afternoon, she poured over the pages written by the South African teacher, activist and Nobel Peace Prize recipient who wrote about the challenges of apartheid in his country. When Franklin came home that evening, she was furious. She could not believe that they were not teaching students about what was happening in South Africa and felt something needed to be changed. From that moment on, she was inspired to live her life as an change agent. She congratulated scholars for attending this event, and taking this opportunity to learn how they too can be agents for change for a brighter future.

Following her inspiring speech, scholars participated in a workshop co-lead by Nicole Moore and Professor Tabor. During the workshop, scholars examined the character traits of several Nobel Laureates and compared them to their own character traits. They learned that change is difficult to initiate but essential, that optimism in the face of tragedy can spark change, and that you must not be afraid to speak up for what you believe in. They also learned that change starts will small acts, and that being a change agent means committing to incorporating these small acts into everyday life. Scholars left inspired and motivated, and encouraged to do great things.

The day ended with a recognition ceremony honoring the five scholarship recipients who won $1,000 scholarships sponsored by the TAPO institute. These scholarships were awarded to NSHSS members based on the essay submitted to attend this event. The essays were about what youth today can learn from Malala Yousafzai, co-winner of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. The 2015 NSHSS "Finding Inpiration Inside" Scholar Symposium Essay Competition winners are: Maksud Dzhabrailov, Rome, GA, Darlington School; Angelique Edwards, Johns Creek,GA, Georgia Institute of Technology; Jazmin Garrett, Fort Deposit, AL, LBW Community College; Elijah Wilde, Asheville, NC, School of Inquiry & Life Sciences
; Haley Williams, Harrisburg, NC, University of South Carolina