NATIONAL ACHIEVERS SOCIETY

 

Background

Hugh Price, former president of the National Urban League, stated so eloquently what we all know to be a fact:  “Education is the great equalizer of American society.  It unlocks the doors to children’s futures.  It’s the key to enabling them to gain access to the opportunity that will propel them up the ladder of mobility.”  Unfortunately, many of America’s youth are not receiving the education that they should.  This is evident in the minority achievement gap that has been allowed to permeate our schools, as well as, the low numbers of minorities enrolling in and graduating from college. 

 

In an effort to address this academic achievement gap, the Triangle Urban League has launched the Campaign for Minority Achievement.  The Campaign is a coordinated, intensified and sustained effort to raise the achievement levels of youth of color.  Based on the National Urban League’s Campaign for African American Achievement, the Campaign is designed to support the academic and social development of children of color.  The Campaign accomplishes it goals by reminding minority communities, parents, and youth that achievement matters today more than ever before.  In addition, it provides a forum for minority community members, leaders, scholars and institutions to advocate for public policies that equitably and adequately serve youth of color and low-income children. 

 

A component of the Campaign implemented is to the National Achievers Society.  The National Achievers Society (NAS) seeks to recognize, encourage, and reinforce achievement among youth of color.  As a minority community’s honor society, it draws attention to students who demonstrate achievement in school, in their community and in their lives.  The society is designed to reduce the negative peer pressure associated with academic achievement.  Through identifying, nurturing and creating an environment in which motivation soars for young minorities, high academic achievement is certain to grow and develop.

 

Our Chapter

National Achievers Society began at Millbrook High School in 2004.  We have inducted an average of 25 students every school year since our chapter was established.  We are very proud to state that all graduates participating in this organization attended 4-year universities and received partial to full scholarships. 

 

NAS strives to focus on education inside and outside of the classroom.  For the past two years we have sponsored college tours.  We have visited public and private colleges inside and outside of our state.  We, in turn, share our findings with the student body through posters and our media outlets, such as The Morning Show and CatTalk.  We have also made school-wide efforts to promote Black History Month through visual displays around our school and segments on the Morning Show. 

 

NAS participation of community events from former school years include the Urban League Salute to Education, Achievement Gap Teen Summit, and The 7^th Annual Education Summit sponsored by Task Force for Student Success, and Toys-For-Tots Campaign at MHS.  This year we sponsored five Angel Tree students through St. Raphael’s Catholic Church.  

 

NAS Litany

I am excellent.  I am excellent.  I am excellent.  My mind is a pearl.  I can do anything.  Anything that my mind can conceive, I can achieve.  Anything that my mind can conceive and my heart can believe, I can achieve.  I am excellent.  I am excellent. I am a National Achiever.

 

 

NAS Inductees 2007

 

Brittany Battle                      Gessica Chadic                     Beatrice Campbell

Amber Snyder                      Chantelle Martin                  Melissa Venable

Hien Phung                           Abegayle Neri                      Maureen Thomas

Uka Onuoha                          Shaunesha Lindsey             Jenni Chu

Eddie Harris                          Amanda Horne                     Jade Lester

Olga Mabolia                        Jared Matlock                       Preston Kendall

Morgan Williams                 Jermel Moody