Student Council named National Gold Council of Excellence
April 27, 2021
Student Council named National Gold Council of Excellence
“Winning the National Gold Council of Excellence Award is testament to the highest standards of quality that your council consistently demonstrates in its operation, and its projects and activities,” said Nara Lee, National Association of Secondary School Principals director of student leadership. “NatStuCo Gold Councils of Excellence are the models of quality for which other student councils should strive to become.”
Upper St. Clair is one of only nine Pennsylvania high schools recognized as 2021 National Council of Excellence Award Winners. Nationwide, 251 high schools earned this achievement.
“The honor of being one of the nine schools in Pennsylvania to achieve 2021 NGCOE status illustrates our commitment to our community. It truly shows Student Council’s value in fusing academic learning with leadership representation,” sophomore Kayla Lumish said. “USC strives to have a strong positive impact, and with the NGCOE, our community impression strengthens.”
To meet the requirements for the National Council of Excellence Award, a student council must meet a variety of criteria. In addition to basic requirements such as a written constitution, regular meetings, a democratic election process, the councils have demonstrated successful sponsorship and participation in activities such as leadership development and service to the school and community. Councils awarded the gold level of the award have successfully demonstrated the highest levels of leadership.
“Achieving NCOE status gives our Student Council a goal to work toward during the year and provides a link to councils across the country through the National Student Council organization,” sophomore Colin Eccher said. “Compared to the regular status, Gold requires about twice as many indicators our Student Council is providing service to the high school and the Upper St. Clair community.”
This is the second consecutive year that Upper St. Clair High School Student Council has been named a National Council of Excellence.
“Attaining the NCOE is important to USCHS because, as members of our community, we strive to help all those around us. No matter how big or small, each action of service can impact people in our community and create change,” sophomore Ashvita Saxena said. “Additionally, competing while trying to obtain the NCOE motivates us even further to accomplish as much as we can and help as many as we can.”
Upper St. Clair High School Student Council is supported by Brooke Tarcson, activities coordinator, who was named Pennsylvania Association of Student Council’s Region B High School Advisor of the Year last spring.
NatStuCo provides and promotes professional development and leadership training to student council advisers who, in turn, teach leadership skills to student council members. NatStuCo is dedicated to preparing and empowering student leaders to better serve their schools and communities. For more information, visit www.NatStuCo.org.
