Spotlight on Projects of Excellence

Service ideas, NCOE awards, and more!


Spotlight on Projects of Excellence

The National Student Project Database features over 3,700 projects, many of which include related links, photos, and documents that act as resources for councils that want to replicate the projects at their own schools. The projects below highlight service activities that student councils sponsored to raise awareness and address needs within their communities.

Canned Food Drive

North Allegheny Senior High School,Wexford, PA

Council members started their food drive with a bang—collecting food from their neighborhoods and displaying it in front of the main office to motivate the rest of the student body. The result was a donation of more cans and money than the previous year. READ MORE

The Seeing Eye Dress Down Days

Hilltop Country Day School, Sparta, NJ

To raise money for a nonprofit that trains guide dogs for the visually impaired, Hilltop council members worked with their principal to hold two “dress down” days per month. Students and staff could participate by paying a fee, which was donated to the charity. READ MORE


News and Resources

National Council of Excellence Awards: Project Submission Requirements

Councils planning to apply for the National Council of Excellence Awards must submit three or four projects into the National Student Project Database. Acceptable project descriptions must be at least 200 words in length and cannot be copied from a previous project entry. Be sure to review all of the award criteria for the award level for which your council is applying. You can view the criteria on the first page of the online application.

Warren E. Shull Adviser of the Year Awards Deadline:December 1

NASC advisers who are applying for the Shull Adviser of the Year Awards are reminded that December 1, 2015 is the deadline to submit your online application. The award honors Warren E. Shull, whose vision and efforts resulted in the creation of NASC.

NASC National Conference: Book Your Hotel

Join student council leaders and advisers from around the country at Century High School in Portland, OR, to Explore Your Leadership Potential at the 2016 NASC National Conference this June 24–26. The conference hotels are accepting reservations, so start planning now to be a part of this unparalleled conference!

Registration Open for LEAD D.C. and Chicago

Don’t wait to secure your spot at one of the Spring 2016 LEAD Conferences. Registration is now open for both Washington, D.C., and Chicago. Make sure to grab the Early Bird discount by registering soon!LEARN MORE

Student Council Service Hours by the Numbers

The 2015 NASSP Student Programs Service Report is now available! Each year, NASC advisers are asked to complete an annual survey to gather a variety of information on council activities such as charitable giving, the number of service hours performed per council, etc. The national office compiles this data and makes it available to the public to show the tremendous impact of NASC members’ service contributions.

If you’re not already doing so, please keep track of council and individual service hours as well as anything that can be calculated, such as the estimated number of pounds of food collected, estimated number of pints of blood, pounds of clothing or number of books donated, etc.

College and Career Planning With ACT Profile

Encourage your students to plan smarter with ACT Profile, a free college and career planning tool. Students can make sure they’re ready for the next step in their journey to college or their career by using ACT Profile to help them determine what their options are after high school, what they’re interested in studying, and what schools they should consider. Self-assessment quizzes provide personalized results to help students pinpoint their unique interests, values, and skills. Click here to learn more and help your students get started today!


Student Council Tips and Tools

4 Keys to Make Your National Student Project Database Entry Stand Out

As the National Student Project Database continues to grow, remember these four key things to make your project entry shine:

  • Write a clear project summary that is filled with details and clearly explains what the project was about, how it was planned and run, the number of students who were involved, and the totals or outcomes of the project.
  • Include your council’s goals for the project and any challenges faced in planning or doing the project.
  • Upload photos or video links that show the project in action.
  • Upload essential forms or flyers that helped make the project successful.

Discount on NASC Gear

Shop the NASC Adviser Store this holiday season and receive 15 percent off until January 15, 2016! Enter code HOL15A to receive the discount. Questions regarding sales orders can be directed to [email protected] or 866-647-7253.


Dates & Deadlines

December

1: Shull Adviser of the Year Awards pplication deadline

18: LEAD Washington, D.C., early bird registration deadline

January

15: LEAD Conference deadlines—early bird for Chicago and regular for D.C.

29: LEAD Conference Chicago registration deadline

29-31: LEAD Conference in Washington, D.C.

February

12-14: LEAD Conference in Chicago, IL


In This Month’s Advise

Jonathan Cohen encourages students to help improve the school culture by fostering diversity and inclusion in the Standing Up for Each Other section of this month’s edition. Read more, including the full edition, here.

Share your experience and knowledge as a student program leader with peers by writing an article for Advise! Get submission details, including deadlines, here.


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