The National Honor Society (NHS) is excited to announce that seven Texas seniors have been selected as finalists and winners of a $5,625 NHS Scholarship. The winners from Austin, Bellaire, Corpus Christi, Carrollton, Katy, Missouri City, and Wall were chosen from nearly 10,000 applicants. The NHS Scholarship program is supported by NHS’s parent organization, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
Paridhi Latawa; Liberal Arts and Science Academy; Austin, TX
In middle school, Paridhi accompanied volunteers to lead mentorship sessions at Title I elementary schools, where she witnessed how a small amount of support beyond classroom learning could spark curiosity and a lifelong passion for STEM learning for motivated but underserved students. This realization inspired her to create SparkED, a nonprofit focused on increasing education equity and scientific literacy in underprivileged communities. Paridhi has led SparkED to equip more than 2,000 young people in 11 countries with $50,000 worth of free STEM resources. In addition to her work with SparkED, Paridhi advocates for other causes important to her, including reducing preventable diseases and advocating for gun control.
Owen Zhang; Bellaire High School; Bellaire, TX
When Owen Zhang was five years old, he lived through the 2009 Urumqi riots in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. After coming to the United States, he drew from his experience witnessing discrimination and human rights violations to create a nonprofit, Project Lights, Camera, Action, which promotes educational opportunities for Uyghur children and raises awareness about their plight. So far, the organization has donated $9,000 and more than 90 cameras to help Uyghur children document their struggles for the world to see. Owen’s activism does not stop there; he spends much of his time advocating for other causes he is passionate about. He founded a second organization, iEngage, to inspire social responsibility in young people through camps focusing on project-based learning and volunteering.
Kayla McFail; Harmony Science Academy; Carrollton, TX
As the oldest child in her single-parent household, Kayla McFail strives to set a positive example for her younger brother and sister. Early in her mother’s battle with depression, Kayla took care of her home. Although her siblings tried to emulate her behavior, she did most of the work to relieve the stress on her family. This experience inspired her to start a Dictation for Depression chapter at her school to support anyone in the community struggling with depression, including her mother and math teacher. Through this chapter, she has created a safe space for her peers to discuss the impact of depression, and she has planned assemblies and invited guest speakers to raise awareness of this illness. Kayla also serves as vice president of the Help for Humanity organization, which advocates for issues relating to people of color. She is currently collecting funds to jumpstart a community wellness cabinet stocked with free food and essentials for those in need. Kayla is the vice president of her student council, a literacy mentor, a Girl Scout Ambassador, and a volunteer at a senior community center and library.
Evan Hsiang; W. B. Ray High School; Corpus Christi, TX
Evan Hsiang gives new meaning to the phrase “well-rounded individual.” A running enthusiast, a passionate pianist, and president of the Science Club at his school, Evan is committed to leadership and service for the good of his community. In Corpus Christi, he engages in fundraising opportunities for a variety of nonprofits, plays piano for residents at a home for the elderly, volunteers at a local food bank, and still manages to find time to tutor peers in math, biology, chemistry, and physics. A top speech and debate student, Evan has shown an interest in public health and public policy. For instance, he has volunteered at the Corpus Christi Urology Group and Cancer Center, where he created a research project, “Operation Tinkle,” that incorporated sound therapy to help cancer patients having difficulty with urinary flow.
Stephanie Wang
Stephanie Wang; Seven Lakes High School; Katy, TX
Stephanie is the co-founder of Kid Teach Kid, a nonprofit organization with a mission to “build a free online learning platform that provides high-quality academic classes and learning opportunities to all students (K-12), taught by their high achieving peers.” Her interest in STEM-related subjects – with a special interest in epidemiology – has influenced most of her service and advocacy efforts, including the founding of Project Unmasked, a national public health education campaign to combat misinformation. Stephanie also co-founded the Houston chapter of INTEGIRLS, a national nonprofit promoting female/nonbinary student representation in mathematics through contests and other educational opportunities. Among Stephanie’s many other notable achievements is writing an epidemiology textbook.
Zion Alexander; Ridge Point High School; Missouri City, TX
Zion’s passion for and dedication to his community is evident throughout his work and in the mission of the nonprofit he co-founded, the Called to Serve Collaborative. The organization distributes food items to those in need throughout the Houston area. Through his engagement in various community initiatives, Zion has spearheaded efforts to raise significant funds for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, March of Dimes, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the Sickle Cell Association of Texas Marc Thomas Foundation. He has held numerous leadership positions, including Texas DECA District 3 president, St. Jude Leadership Society, and vice president of his school’s NHS chapter.
Caroline Holtman; Wall High School; Wall, TX
Caroline Holtman has leveraged the strength of her local 4-H club to make a difference in her community. She has served as the president and vice president of the Tom Green County 4-H Council and helped raise awareness of the benefits of 4-H with events and activities, such as clover art projects for children at the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts. In her capacity as a 4-H officer, she has worked to save lives in her community by educating parents about how they can combat teenage vaping in their own families and beyond. She also volunteered with the San Angelo Meals for the Elderly, giving presentations and encouraging donations to provide fresh food to seniors in need. And Caroline herself has collected food. In the last two years, she amassed almost 4,000 pounds for her local food bank.
“Leading my peers has become one of my greatest strengths,” said Caroline Holtman, a finalist from Wall High School in Wall, TX.
“I am humbled to recognize these outstanding student leaders for the tremendous work they’ve done for their communities,” said NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe. “We hope that honoring the hard work of these students will inspire others to rise to the challenges of the moment. Their ability and resilience to persevere in the face of uncertainty bode well for our future.”
The scholarships recognize students who demonstrate support for the four pillars of NHS membership: scholarship, service, leadership, and character. One national winner will receive $25,000, while 24 finalists each earn a $5,625 scholarship. In addition, 575 semifinalists will receive $3,200 scholarships. For the first time ever, NASSP is bringing the finalists together, with their NHS student advisers, and announcing the national winner at a gala on the evening of April 25.