What is the NCOE Award?
The National Council of Excellence is a national award program created by NASC to recognize student councils that maintain strong year-round programs and work to improve their schools and communities through their leadership activities. The award is founded on the four tenets of NASC: Leadership, Service, Engagement, and Student Voice. Unlike scholarships and other recognitions that have limited numbers of winners, all councils meeting the determined criteria in this application will receive the appropriate award.
Why Step Into the Spotlight?
Recognition: Celebrate your council’s hard work and leadership by earning a nationally respected distinction.
Engagement: Show off how your council embraces NASC’s core values in everything you do.
Collaboration: Demonstrate your commitment to working together to create meaningful programs and initiatives.
Impact: Highlight the positive difference your council makes in your school and community through service and leadership.
3 Steps to Becoming a National Council of Excellence
Step 1
Review Award Criteria and Build NCOE Portfolio
Step 2
Meet with Principal to Present Finished Portfolio
Step 3
Complete and Submit the Online Application
Application Guides
Timeline
- September 8, 2025: Application opens
- Feb. 13, 2026: Submission deadline
- April 2026: Applicants receive notifications
National Council of Excellence Award recipients receive:
- Official National Council of Excellence certificate
- Customizable press release for local news media
- School name in the winners’ list published on the NASC website
- Eligibility to purchase special NCOE items
- A special National Council of Excellence seal for school websites and electronic or print communications
“The National Council of Excellence gives advisers like me a blueprint for what our councils should be doing, for how our students should be leaders in our communities and for meeting common standards of excellence in leadership.”
Susan Waldrep
NASC Adviser, Texas High School
Texarkana, TX
