NASSP is proud to congratulate the students awarded the 2024 National Junior Honor Society Outstanding Achievement Award!
“This award means so much more to me than just money for college. To me this award is a sign of determination, perseverance, and commitment. It means that I have the potential to do great things in my life if I set my mind to it, and that if I try hard enough anything is possible. It’s such a great honor to be selected,” said Varsha Ganesan, an eighth grader in Round Rock, TX, and an NJHS OAA Winner.
This marks the ninth year that 500 NJHS students from across the country were selected to receive $500 awards this month in the form of 529 accounts with The Education Plan. To date, $2.25 million in scholarships have been awarded to 4,500 middle school students around the country.
“For nearly a decade, NASSP and The Education Plan continue a shared commitment to helping students realize their education goals and ease the burden of student loan debt,” said Natalie Cordova, executive director of The Education Trust Board of New Mexico, which administers The Education Plan. She added, “Together we celebrate this year’s well-deserved students around the country.”
NASSP sponsors NJHS for middle school students and is the creator of the Outstanding Achievement Award. The award recognizes middle school students who have demonstrated their commitment to the five pillars of NJHS: scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship.
“From teaching coding fundamentals to rural students in India to crocheting bucket hats for teenagers battling cancer, these Outstanding Achievement Award winners have shown remarkable compassion, creativity, and commitment to making a difference,” said NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe. “We hope this recognition and investment in their future reminds them of the power they have to change the world.”
“When I first saw the congratulatory email, I was in disbelief. It simply did not seem possible! But now, especially after winning this prestigious award, I feel like I am capable of anything, even when circumstances make success seem unlikely,” said OAA winner Daphne Tredwell from Williston, ND. “I am so grateful for everyone who has supported me and showed me all the different ways I could give back to my community. I’m very proud that I was able to achieve this tremendous feat, and this recognition of my service motivates me to do even more in the future.”