Student Council named National Gold Council of Excellence-14001
April 28, 2023
“Exceptional student councils are a hallmark of exceptional schools,” NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe said. “Upper St. Clair High School’s Student Council has taken student leadership to the next level, creating a culture promoting scholarship and citizenship that resonates far beyond their team. I’m delighted to recognize their hard work with the National Gold Council of Excellence Award for their commitment to service, leadership and uplifting the voices of their peers.”
This marks the third year that Upper St. Clair High School Student Council has been named a National Gold Council of Excellence. The national recognition automatically qualifies the USCHS for the Pennsylvania Association for Student Councils’ Distinguished Keystone Council Award.
Upper St. Clair is one of only nine Pennsylvania high schools recognized as 2023 National Council of Excellence Award Winners. Other Allegheny County schools include Elizabeth Forward Senior High School, Montour High School, North Allegheny Senior High School and South Fayette High School. Nationwide, 336 high schools earned this achievement.
Upper St. Clair’s application process was spearheaded by Ben Seewald, sophomore class president, and Ryan LaRocco, sophomore class vice president, with help from other sophomore class senators.
Ben believes that an active and engaged student council is beneficial to the success and well-being of both students and the school as a whole.
“Having a student-run council allows for a better understanding of what our peers need to thrive,” he said. “The engaged and motivated senators and officers in the council at our school work hard to make a positive difference at Upper St. Clair High School and the surrounding community every day.”
Upper St. Clair High School Student Council is supported by Brooke Tarcson, head of student activities, who was named Pennsylvania Association of Student Council’s Region B High School Advisor of the Year in 2020.
A student council must meet a variety of criteria to earn the National Council of Excellence Award. In addition to basic requirements such as a written constitution, regular meetings and a democratic election process, the councils must have demonstrated successful sponsorship and participation in activities such as leadership development and service to the school and community.
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.
