CREC Academy of Science and Innovation Student Awarded Prestigious National Honor Society Scholarship
Nw Britain, Connecticut– The National Honor Society (NHS) announced that Sabrina Lanza, a high school senior at CREC Academy of Science and Innovation and the president of ASI’s chapter, has been selected as an NHS Scholarship semifinalist. This year's pool of applicants consisted of 16,697 NHS Seniors who came from 9,210 Chapters of NHS; 600 were selected (only 3.6% of all submitted applicants).
Since 1946, more than $25 million in scholarships have been awarded to outstanding NHS senior members to support college access and student success. The scholarship program is supported by the parent organization of NHS, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
In the 100+ years since NHS was founded in 1921, 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. Recipients are chosen based on their demonstrated work to support the four pillars of NHS: scholarship, service, leadership, and character.
Stacy O’Donnell, ASI’s NHS chapter adviser explained that, as part of the NHS scholarship application process, advisers are asked to send a letter indicating what distinguishes the candidate among other high-achieving students. O’Donnell’s letter opened with the following statement, “My greatest fear in writing this letter is not being able to adequately convey the depth of Sabrina Lanza’s intellectual ability, conscious demeanor, and insatiable energy for organizing new initiatives. After twenty-four years of teaching in a variety of schools, I can state with full sincerity that Sabrina Lanza is the most impressive student with whom I’ve ever worked. She has left an indelible mark on the Academy of Science and Innovation; we are lucky to have her.”
At CREC Academy of Science and Innovation, Lanza has shown exemplary amounts of leadership and participation throughout her presidency of NHS. Under her administration, ASI’s NHS created a Peer Tutoring Program and held a Thanksgiving Food Drive, Toy Drive, and Pink Day where they raised over 650 dollars for breast cancer research. Aside from NHS, in school, she is a co-president of the Student Advisory Board and serves as the district-wide Student Senate president where last fall she lobbied Congress for an increase in Magnet School funding. Outside of school, she demonstrates service at her parish, St.Thomas Assyrian Church of the East, where she created and consistently updates their website, as well as participates in several events with her youth group. When asked for comment, Lanza stated, “Although I do not like the spotlight, I appreciate being recognized and am happy my accomplishments at school can be shared to hopefully inspire rising students.”
Sabrina has demonstrated the pillars of NHS: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character in all aspects of her life. This fall, she hopes to study Finance and Actuarial Science and will be making her college decision soon.
For more information about the NHS, visit www.nationalhonorsociety.org.