Milly, Grade 12, Awarded Prestigious National Honor Society Scholarship

From founding the high school chess club to spearheading a charity raising autism awareness in Vietnam, SSIS senior Milly’s commitment has earned a remarkable distinction - she’s one of only five international semi-finalists for the prestigious National Honor Society (NHS) Scholarship.

Since 1946, the NHS has honored exceptional high school students embodying its core pillars. This year, Milly's application stood out from thousands, reflecting her sustained excellence inside and outside of the classroom.

"Milly is an extraordinary student, and we're thrilled the NHS has recognized her hard work and dedication. This well-deserved honor underscores her remarkable contributions to SSIS and beyond," said High School Principal Jennifer Mendes.

Aligning Experience with the NHS Pillars

For students aspiring to similar recognition, Milly shared that they should emphasize their leadership roles within clubs or organizations and how those opportunities reflect how they’ve exemplified the four NHS pillars and positively influenced the community.

To secure the NHS semi-finalist spot, Milly carefully highlighted her achievements and how they aligned with each pillar. "I spent a lot of time on my application to make sure that I showcased my skills, community impact, and commitment to scholarship, leadership, service, and character," she shares.

Milly's extensive leadership roles attest to her passionate drive for personal growth. In addition to chess club, she captains the debate team and has represented SSIS at the VEX Nationals robotics competition. Since joining our student body as our Lawrence S. Ting scholar in 2021, Milly has been exemplary in seizing the opportunities that an SSIS education offers.

Even outside of SSIS Milly seeks leadership opportunities, serving as the Secretary-General for a Model United Nations organization. She shares the following thoughts on leadership: "Good leaders should not be intimidating. They should be approachable yet able to gain the respect of the people they are leading. They should be easy to talk to."

An Innovator's Future

Looking ahead, Milly plans to pursue bioengineering, drawn to the prospect of a fast-paced career where she can innovate and create. Her decision was further cemented at the recent high school Career Day where she learned how much a degree in biology can be used for from Science teacher Dr. Adelantado, who is also a doctor of veterinary medicine. Whatever direction Milly chooses, we are sure that with her dedication, leadership, and commitment, there is no doubt that she will continue to make a lasting impact on the world around her. 

Congratulations, Milly, on your well-deserved NHS scholarship!