NSHSS announces Native Scholar awards

ATLANTA – The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS), an international honor society dedicated to highlighting the accomplishments of students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, scholarship and community commitment, announces today the recipients of the 2016 NSHSS Native American Scholar Awards. Three $1,000 scholarships are awarded to outstanding NSHSS high school junior and senior members who are Native American or Alaska Natives.

The winners of the 2016 NSHSS Native American Scholar Awards are:

Joseph Little, Oglala Sioux Tribe

Palm Springs High School, Palm Springs, California

After his undergraduate studies, Little plans to attend law school and specialize in Native American Law to serve federally recognized Native American Tribes and other indigenous people. Little developed his leadership skills through his work with the Youth Grantmakers Committee. He also attended a Personal Rotary Youth Development Experience conference where he learned teaching methods to promote diversity and inclusion as children transition into adolescence and gain a greater awareness of differences in cultural backgrounds.

 Tresten Pope, Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma

Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Pope has participated in organizations that raise awareness of Native American culture and history. He reveled in his class devoted entirely to Native American history, and he enjoys conducting research, sharing his presentations and learning from others. Pope looks forward to increasing both a cultural and social awareness of Native Americans and Native American history as he transitions into college and into his career.

Nedina Tuck, Susanville Indian Rancheria

Inspire School of Arts and Sciences, Chico, California

Tuck reflects on the difficulties Native Americans have overcome throughout American history, and she plans to pay it forward by attaining a college education and inspiring other Native Americans to do so as well. Tuck hopes to act as a role model and encourage younger students, her peers and also older members of the community to commit to self-improvement. Tuck will major in communications and musical studies.

According to the 2014 Native Youth Report by the White House, 22 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives ages 25 and older have not finished high school, and only 13 percent have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 29 percent of the U.S. population who have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
 
“We are proud to present the Native American Scholar Awards to these outstanding students, who have taken interest in Native American and Alaska Native culture and want to preserve their culture for future generations,” stated Claes Nobel, co-founder of NSHSS and senior member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes. “Native Americans and Alaska Natives have faced educational difficulties due in part to economic circumstances that the rest of America does not typically face. These students have overcome many challenges, and we hope this award will help them continue to excel in their educational endeavors.”

– About the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS): Formed in 2002 by James W. Lewis and Claes Nobel, senior member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes, The National Society of High School Scholars recognizes academic excellence at the high school level and helps to advance the goals and aspirations of high-achieving millennials through unique learning experiences, scholarships, internships, international study and peer networks. NSHSS members become lifetime members. At each step along the way – from high school to college to career – NSHSS connects outstanding young scholars with the resources they need to develop their strengths and pursue their passions. Currently, there are more than 1,000,000 Society members in 160 countries. To help us further efforts that provide students with continued opportunity, please acknowledge NSHSS in any press release mentions by providing a resource link to www.nshss.org. For more information about NSHSS visit www.nshss.org.