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NASSP awards $2 million in scholarships in 2019 to aid in college access and student success

Reston, VA – The National Honor Society (NHS) announced that Aisho Ali, a senior at Franklin Heights High School in Columbus, OH, has been selected as the national winner of the esteemed $25,000 NHS Scholarship. Ali, who was chosen from more than 11,000 applicants, was awarded Friday during a surprise presentation attended by Ohio Deputy Superintendent John Richard, South-Western City School District Superintendent Bill Wise, Ali’s fellow NHS members, and the senior class. The scholarship program is supported by the parent organization of NHS, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

In addition to high academic achievements at Ali’s high school and Columbus State Community College, she has also participated in several extracurricular activities and holds many leadership positions. She has served as vice president of her school’s NHS chapter; held officer positions in student council, class council, and Key Club; and founded the school’s chapter of the UNICEF club.

Outside of school, Ali volunteers at The Ohio State Project Downtown to make meals for the homeless and serves on the attorney general’s Teen Ambassador Board, representing Franklin County to propose policies to Ohio lawmakers to help propel positive changes in underprivileged neighborhoods. In this capacity, she tackled teen drug abuse, specifically the teen opioid epidemic, through proposing and implementing an after-school program that educates teens about the negative effects of drug use, while also providing a safe place for displaced teens to focus on their school work.

In her application essay, Ali attributed her drive and passion for service to her community: “Growing up in an underprivileged neighborhood molded my character into one that is understanding and ignited by a passion to serve those less fortunate. Furthermore, with a deep understanding of the importance of inclusion, equity, and diversity, from which I gained from my neighborhood, I was able to contribute a unique enhancement to my leadership skills.”

Ali plans to attend The Ohio State University in fall 2019, where she will study neuroscience.
“While Aisho’s academic success is surely impressive, she also stands out as someone who embodies everything NHS represents because of her commitment to making an immediate impact right in her own backyard,” said NASSP Executive Director JoAnn Bartoletti. “The NHS Scholarship program was developed to empower students like Aisho, as well as all 600 scholarship semifinalists and finalists, to invest in their futures and lay the groundwork for lifelong success by helping to offset the cost of higher education. Aisho is a perfect representation of the scholarship attributes. We are pleased to celebrate this impressive young woman’s current accomplishments and future success.”
In the 2018–19 application year, NHS awarded $2 million in scholarships to 600 students. Of these 600 students, 575 semifinalists received a $3,200 scholarship award and 24 finalists received a total award of $5,625. Since 1946, more than $15 million in scholarships has been awarded to outstanding NHS member high school seniors.

“NASSP extends our congratulations to all semifinalists and finalists. We are pleased to recognize their hard work and dedication to their education and their communities,” said Bartoletti.

For nearly 100 years, NHS members have been making a difference in their schools and communities, and the NHS Scholarship is NASSP’s way of recognizing the most exceptional of these student leaders. Senior NHS members in good standing are eligible to apply in the fall. Each year, recipients are chosen based on their demonstrated work to support the four pillars of NHS membership: scholarship, service, leadership, and character.

For more information about NHS and the scholarship, visit www.nhs.us/scholarship.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student’s potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council.