OUR COMMITMENT TO
SUPPORT EDUCATORS

"Our Art Club is incredibly grateful to have been selected as a recipient of the NSHSS Club Cash Grant. This grant has been instrumental in allowing us to kick off our year with an exciting and ambitious creative project. To start, we are working on a collaborative short film, where our students will have the opportunity to experience every aspect of the filmmaking process, from writing the script to producing, acting, filming, editing, and even composing the soundtrack. This project allows our members to dive into the world of visual storytelling and explore their creativity in ways that build confidence and hone new skills. Following the short film, our students will channel their artistic talents into creating either a graphic novel or a short story, giving them the freedom to express their individual artistic voice while collaborating with their peers. Throughout the remainder of the year, students will continue to explore various fine art mediums, expanding their understanding and appreciation of different techniques and styles. Thanks to the NSHSS Club Cash Grant, we have the resources to offer a dynamic and enriching program that fosters both artistic growth and community collaboration. Thank you, NSHSS, for empowering our students to engage in these unique opportunities and to deepen their passion for the arts!"

"This is the first time I've heard about NSHSS and my first time applying for a grant. At first, I was unsure about it, but I decided to go for it and fill out the application form. I even asked our principal for a recommendation letter. I was so happy and grateful at the same time when I got an email from NSHSS saying my entry was chosen. I didn't expect it, so I'm really happy about it. These funds will be a big help to our club and will make our experience even more meaningful. It's great to know that there are organizations like NSHSS that support student groups like ours."

"I am truly honored and grateful to receive the grant from the National Society of High School Scholars. This support goes beyond financial assistance; it is a heartfelt affirmation of our commitment to promoting social-emotional learning and wellness for our campus community. Your grant will enable us to provide students with crucial counseling resources that address their emotional and mental health needs. It allows us to further expand our social-emotional learning initiatives with a unique focus on mindfulness as a complement to their educational journey. Thank you for believing in the mission of school counselors and for investing in the future of our students. Your support helps us create a culture of wellness within our campus community."

"I am deeply honored and grateful to have been selected for the $1,000 STEAM Educator Grant. This award greatly boosts my efforts to foster a love for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics among my students. Your recognition and support affirm the importance of our work in education and inspire me to continue pushing boundaries in STEAM learning. The grant will greatly enhance my ability to implement innovative projects and provide valuable resources for my classroom. I am excited to channel this funding into initiatives that will engage and inspire the next generation of innovators. Thank you for believing in my work's impact and investing in the future of education. Your generosity will make a significant difference in my students’ learning experiences. I look forward to sharing the positive outcomes and successes that arise from this grant. Once again, thank you for your support and for making this opportunity possible."

"Receiving the NSHSS School Supplies Grant (Wave 2) in 2023 was a transformative experience for both my students and me. The grant provided essential learning materials that significantly enhanced the classroom environment, making learning more engaging and accessible. With these resources, my students expanded their knowledge, actively participated in lessons, and truly enjoyed their time at school. Seeing their excitement and motivation grow reaffirmed my belief in the power of education and the importance of having the right tools to support student success. I am deeply grateful to NSHSS for their commitment to empowering educators and students alike. Thank You Message for the School Club Cash Grant I am honored to receive the NSHSS School Club Cash Grant, which will greatly enhance the extracurricular opportunities available to my students. This funding will help expand the Model United Nations (MUN) Club, Creative Writing Society, and Community Service Outreach Group, providing students with leadership experiences, creative outlets, and opportunities to make a meaningful impact in their communities. NSHSS’s support reaffirms the importance of extracurricular activities in shaping well rounded, confident, and engaged students. Thank you, NSHSS, for believing in the power of education and student leadership I am excited to see my students grow and thrive because of this incredible opportunity!"

"I have witnessed amazing collaborations and projects across the curriculum in my time here, and none of them would be possible without the use of the resources and materials I offer to students and staff. In these stressful and turbulent times, my Fab Lab is a haven to so many, who want to create amazing projects and express themselves creatively. It is a “no-judgement zone”, and a safe space in which all students feel comfortable being themselves and learning and growing in their own way as they travel down their individual paths in life. I provide solace and a chance for my patrons to search for and find new hobbies, and pursue their goals and dreams. I have helped several students who have started their own businesses make merchandise and promotional items to advertise and gain more clientele. I have provided teachers options to assess student learning by offering them unconventional methods to create and show their understanding and mastery of skills. I open my library to our feeder high schools’ Special Education departments in which students who do not qualify to take higher-level classes here in our Center for Advanced Studies to utilize these wonderful resources. I have worked one-on-one with several of these students to help them create projects with resources they normally would not have access to in their programs. The funds this grant would provide would allow me to buy so much to keep the Fab Lab functioning as a free resource for all who wish to utilize it."

"I would like to thank NSHSS for the generous grant that will enable me to purchase lab materials for my students. This support is invaluable, as it allows me to transform theoretical concepts into hands-on, inquiry investigations. With these new resources, my students will have the opportunity to explore, experiment and engage with STEM in a way that makes learning both dynamic and meaningful. Your contribution will not only enhances their classroom experiences but also empower them to develop essential skills, where they think and act like true scientists. Thank you for investing in their future and for helping me create an environment where curiosity and discovery thrive. I am excited about the significant impact this will have on their educational journey and future endeavors."

"The importance of offering AP classes has been well documented-study after study reveals that students who are challenged with college level classes have more persistence, better study habits, and greater financial flexibility if they pass the rigorous exams. An AP course structured with a bedrock in the inquiry arc allows students to experience learning at a collegiate level long before they enroll in an undergraduate institution. However, it is the underlying impact that offering college level classes has on an entire school community, whether enrolled in AP classes or not, that makes advanced placement a necessity for any high school. I have been teaching AP World History for four years to mostly freshman students in the south side of Chicago. Preparing students for a high stakes exam was not the reason I got into teaching. My teaching philosophy is rooted in the importance of inquiry and student choice, which allows students to see themselves in the history of the world. When I first began this journey of teaching AP World it seemed impossible to get the majority of my students to pass the exam for college credit, and at the same time fall in love with history as I had long ago. My passion for learning stems from asking tough questions about the hard truths of world history, and then searching for my own answers with the research skills I learned from my professors or teachers. I also knew that passing an AP exam for many of my students is a game changer in a higher education system where costs have skyrocketed for families. With the grant from NSHSS I will be able to better serve the needs of my students by curating a robust research library and bypass frustrating paywalls of the elite research databases. Thank you NSHSS for providing that rigor for my students!"

"There will always be a new idea that teachers have that can make the classroom a more meaningful and exciting place for students. There is not always district funding. NSHSS has provided my classroom with funds more than once over the course of my entire teaching career. Whether it's an expanded film library or more production equipment, my students have had more opportunities to do college level work and feel like professionals because of NSHSS grants. Thank you, NSHSS! Please keep supporting teachers! Teachers, if you have an exciting idea and need support—apply!"