NEVADA ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNCILS A Division of the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association www.NevadaStuCo.org

Spirit of Nevada Award 2016/2017 Criteria

The Spirit of Nevada Award is the highest honor given to middle-level student councils by the NASC. It is reserved for those councils that go above and beyond their typical school and community expectations.

Criteria must be met between JULY 1, 2016 and the APRIL 1, 2017 deadline. Activities cannot be used to satisfy more than one category. Councils must submit an application and ppt/scrapbook with artifacts/proof.

Charitable Drive (1) You may select the charity of your choice. Examples: toy, canned food, clothing, or book drives Evidence of a donation must include pictures or other evidence of the Drive and a thank you letter from the organization indicating the donation.

Financial Charitable Contribution (1) You may select the charity of your choice. You may choose an official 501(c)3 charity or help a person/family in need. You should not only contribute money to their cause, but organize at least one fundraising event to raise awareness of their need/purpose. Evidence of a donation must include copy of the check given to the organization and/or a thank you letter from the organization indicating the amount of the donation. AND -> Evidence of the event must include pictures of the event and/or promotional materials.

School or Community Service Project (1) Examples: picking up trash, giving tours to new students, stuffing envelopes for administration, volunteering at elementary school carnivals etc. [time – not money] Evidence of the service must include: pictures clearly identifying your students involved in the service and/or a thank you note from an organization/person who benefitted from the service.

School Spirit Activity (1) This must be an activity planned by you, not the administration! Choose one of the following: o Spirit Activity Examples: sponsor a dress-up day, host a “pack the gym” o Assembly Examples: pep assembly, motivational speaker o Dance Examples: Valentine’s Day, Welcome Back

Meeting Agendas (4) o You must include one copy of the agenda for four separate council meetings.

Meeting Minutes** (4) ** minutes are notes/summary of discussion & decisions from the meeting o You must include one copy of the minutes for four separate council meetings. . Please make sure that these minutes correspond in date to the agendas you submit. ** Minutes and agendas are separate documents **

Dedicated in unifying the state through effective communication and assisting all Nevada Student Councils in achieving their goals. Teacher or Student Appreciation/Recognition Activity (1) This must be an activity planned by you, not the administration! Choose one of the following: . Teacher Examples: write letters of appreciation, make care packages or “survival kits”, host a party/luncheon . Student . Select a student group or organization (chess team, NJHS, yearbook staff, etc.) and recognize them for all of their hard work! . Examples: give pre-game refreshments to a sports team, make signs, congratulatory gifts

High School Contacts/NASC Participation (2) o Must complete an activity with a high school student council in the area This may include a community service project, helping setup or cleanup of a school function, student council party, shadow day, etc. Evidence of the activity must include: pictures clearly identifying both groups of students involved and/or a note from the high school that participated.

o Attend the 2016/17 Mid-Level Conference in your area*. Southern Region- November 5, 2016 Contact [email protected] for information Northern Region- TBA Contact [email protected] for information Western Region- TBA Contact [email protected] for information

*If you cannot make it to a conference you may complete two activities with a high school council.

Scrapbook OR a POWERPOINT submitted via www.dropitto.me/NASCginger by 4/1/17 [password = silverstar]  All activities must be documented in a scrapbook/ppt with artifacts to provide proof of accomplishing the criteria. This should be sent in with your application.  Thank-you notes, pictures that clearly depict the project, receipts, and newspaper clippings are some examples of ways to document activities.  Scrapbook/ppt should contain a table of contents with corresponding page numbers, or some other labeling system - like tabs - that is easy to understand.

APPLICATIONS will be available January 2017 from Region Representatives. Applications are due postmarked by: APRIL 1, 2017

Evidence must clearly depict your council meeting the criteria for each portion of the award. All evidence must be included in the scrapbook when submitted. Northern Rep. - [email protected] Southern Rep. - [email protected] Western Rep. - [email protected]

Dedicated in unifying the state through effective communication and assisting all Nevada Student Councils in achieving their goals.