The Alliance for Student Activities, a national organization dedicated to providing a unifying voice and network to promote the benefits and processes of co-curricular activities, named Brooklawn Middle School as the 2010 NATIONAL winner of the Middle School DifferenceMakers Award. Only one middle school and one high school in the United States are selected to receive this award each year. CLICK HERE to visit the Alliance's DifferenceMaker Award announcement page.

This award was given in recognition of the "Serve The Soldiers" project, carried out in December 2009 by the Brooklawn Student Council and its Community Service Committee. Sparked by a letter from former NJASC State Officer (and now 1st. Lt.) Joseph Zdaniewicz, the students of Brooklawn collected hundreds of cards, letters, and personal items for the soldiers of his unit stationed in Afghanistan. These items filled 15 postal boxes and were shipped from Parsippany in January 2010, arriving in Afghanistan for the 19th U.S. Army Combat Engineer Battalion about two weeks later...

The entire Brooklawn school community salutes 1st Lt. Zdaniewicz and all of our armed forces, thanking them for their tireless dedication to protecting our country and working toward a better world. We would also like to thank all the students, parents, and faculty members who wrote letters, made cards, or donated items. It was your efforts that made a real difference not only with the men and women of the 19th Combat Engineer Battalion, but in our own school and community as its' student body gained a true appreciation for the valuable service of these men and women to our nation.

The "original" Mike Smith, motivational speaker and President of the Alliance for Student Activities, visited Brooklawn on January 6, 2011 to present this national award. He spoke to the entire student body, and then conducted a special workshop for members of the Student Council General Assembly. CLICK HERE to view an article about this visit, published by the Alliance to its' members shortly after Mike's visit to Brooklawn. You can also learn more about the Alliance for Student Activities, of which Brooklawn Middle School is a charter member, by visiting their website at www.alliance4studentactivities.org.

 

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We are proud to report that the Brooklawn Middle School Student Council received its' SIXTH consecutive National Gold Council of Excellence award from the National Association of Student Councils (NASC) for excellence in all aspects of a Student Council program.

The Brooklawn Middle School Student Council is one of only FIFTEEN middle level student councils in the United States to receive this high honor in 2011, and one of only TWO to have attained this recognition every year since the program began in 2006.

In addition to basic requirements such as the presence of a constitution, regular meetings, a democratic election process and active membership in both state and national Student Council associations, schools that qualify for this award consistenly demonstrate such things as leadership training for council members, teacher or staff appreciation activities, school and community service projects, goal setting, and activities that emphasize school spirit, team building, and social development. With firmly established traditions such as Brooklawn's Intense Games (B.I.G. Night) and the annual B.L.T. Saturday Leadership Training Conference, the Brooklawn Student Activities program has a long history of providing all of these important things for our school community.

"Receiving the National Gold Council of Excellence Award indicates a dedication on the part of the local school to providing a strong, well-rounded student council program," says Jeff Sherrill, associate director of NASC. "The National Association of Student Councils applauds the work of National Gold Councils of Excellence such as Brooklawn Middle School, and challenges them to continue their exemplary efforts to serve their schools as the elected representatives of their student body."

At the state level, the Brooklawn Student Council has been recognized for excellence by the New Jersey Association of Student Councils (NJASC) for many years, and its' Advisor Lou Miller has served as an Executive Director for NJASC since 2006. Two state officers have been elected to the position of NJASC Middle Level Representative from Brooklawn, and countless high school state officers and staff members of the annual NJASC Leadership Training Conference (LTC) can trace their leadership roots back to Brooklawn. A summary of these awards is given in the Student Council section of our website, at which you will learn more about what student leaders at Brooklawn are doing to live up to our motto, "Local. State. National. Leadership. Excellence."

On behalf of all the student leaders of Brooklawn and those adults who work with them, we welcome you to our website and invite you to explore and discover all the great things that are happening with Student Council and Student Activities at Brooklawn Middle School. If you are a student, parent, or member of the Brooklawn school community, we also would like to thank you for your past and continuing support of Brooklawn Student Activities.

 

During the 2010 NASC National Conference at Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Indiana, Brooklawn Student Council Adviser Lou Miller was named the winner of the Warren E. Shull Award as the National Middle Level Adviser of the Year. Mr. Miller was one of six regional finalists selected by the NASC Advisory Council from nominees submitted by each state. Each regional finalist has attained excellence in advising Middle Level student leaders in their schools as well as through involvement in programs of their state and national student council associations.

It was a high honor to be associated with each of these outstanding advisers, who were presented with regional Adviser of the Year awards just before the national Warren E. Shull Award was presented. The six regional finalists, pictured at right: Liz Benstead - Massachusetts Lou Miller - New Jersey Carissa Sapp - Tennessee Julie Zeman - Wisconsin Sherrie Gallegos - New Mexico Patricia Holt - California

The National Adviser of the Year Award is given to one Middle Level and one High School adviser in the United States each year in honor of Warren E. Shull, who founded the National Association of Student Councils (NASC) in 1931. He recognized that leadership is service, and that "NASC has a future that must be dedicated to improvement of education for all youth." Warren E. Shull died in 1987 at the age of 76, but many Student Council advisers across the nation are still guided by the same principles that he espoused from the very beginning. Mr. Miller is the twenty-seventh individual to have won this award since its inception in 1989, and only the sixth middle level adviser to be so honored. Patricia Finch of Boswell High School in Fort Worth, Texas was honored at the same general session as the 2010 Warren E. Shull National High School Adviser of the Year.

While the Warren E. Shull award does single out individuals for excellence on the national level, the purpose of it is to highlight the many contributions made by thousands of Student Council advisers at middle and high schools throughout the country. CLICK HERE to visit the NASC website for more information about the Warren E. Shull national Adviser of the Year award, including a list of past winners. You can also learn more about the many award programs and opportunities that NASC offers to student leaders and their schools, some of which the Brooklawn Student Council has already taken advantage of.

ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR This award is given to one outstanding Principal or Assistant Principal statewide each year for his or her support of Student Council and leadership programs as well as the students and advisors who take part in them. Angelo Guiliana, 2005-2006 CLICK HERE to visit the NJASC website and view other winners of this award.

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ADVISOR OF THE YEAR This award is given to one outstanding Advisor statewide each year, to recognize him or her for outstanding service to Student Council and leadership programs as well as the students and advisors who take part in them. Lou Miller, 2004-2005 CLICK HERE to visit the NJASC website and view other winners of this award.

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COMMUNITY SMILE AWARD This award is given in recognition of the many hours of service provided by Student Councils across the state to their school and local communities. Award received every year 1997-present CLICK HERE to visit the NJASC website and view other winners of this award.

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HONOR SCHOOL AWARD This award recognizes those Student Councils that consistently follow criteria recognized by NJASC as important for developing and maintaining a successful Student Council program. This is a cumulative award, designating the number of years a Student Council has attained Honor School Status. Currently a 14th year Honor School (1998-present) CLICK HERE to visit the NJASC website and view other winners of this award.

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STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE This award recognizes outstanding Student Council programs in terms of their administration, operations, and activities. A rigourous self-evaluation is followed by an evaluative visitation by another participating school. This award can be won only once every five years. 1999 - with Phillipsburg High School 2004 - with Parsippany Hills High School 2009 - with Ocean City High School CLICK HERE to visit the NJASC website and view other winners of this award.

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STATE CHARITY AWARDS Each year the NJASC State Officers select a special cause to become the State Charity for New Jersey's student leaders. Each year, awards are given to Student Councils that support the State Charity through donations to NJASC. $2000 Club - 1997 to 2002 $5000 Club - 2003 to present Third Overall Middle School in New Jersey - 2010 CLICK HERE to visit the NJASC website and view other winners of this award.

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TOP TEN PROJECTS AWARD This award recognizes outstanding activities and projects conducted by Student Councils throughout the state. Each year, the NJASC State Officers select ten such activities or projects to designate as the "Top Ten" for New Jersey. 2001 - Brooklawn's Intense Games 2004 - B.L.T. Saturday Leadership Training Conference 2006 - Volleyball Night 2011 - Serve The Soldiers CLICK HERE to visit the NJASC website and view other winners of this award.