Alexandria, Virginia—April 21, 2025—The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the American Student Council Association (ASCA) proudly celebrate 2025 National Student Leadership Week, taking place this year from April 21-25. This week is an opportunity to recognize the pivotal role student councils play in shaping the next generation of leaders. 

“Student councils serve as a training ground for young people to experience democracy, civic participation, and leadership firsthand,” said L. Earl Franks, Ed.D., CAE, executive director of NAESP. “These students aren’t just getting ready for tomorrow; they’re actively molding it through their dedication and efforts to create positive change. This National Student Leadership Week, NAESP is excited to recognize both these young achievers and the educators who mentor them.”

During this special week, schools across the nation are encouraged to celebrate the hard work and achievements of their student leaders. The student council experience offers young individuals their first taste of governance, engagement in elections, and the joy of planning school activities, all while fostering service, leadership, citizenship, and school spirit. 

2025 ASCA Student Council School of Excellence Award Winners 

To kick off #NSLW25, NAESP is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 ASCA Student Council School of Excellence Award.  

• Aldridge Elementary, Richardson, Texas
• Barton Elementary, Irving, Texas
• Bill Childress Elementary, Vinton, Texas
• Buckland Mills Elementary, Gainesville, Virginia
• Burnett Elementary, Houston, Texas
• Butterfly Ridge Elementary, Frederick, Maryland
• California Pacific Charter, Costa Mesa, California
• Cross Schools, Bluffton, South Carolina
• Curtistene S. McCowan Middle, Glenn Heights, Texas
• Divine Providence Catholic, Westchester, Illinois
• Donald Elementary, Flower Mound, Texas
• Eli Whitney Elementary, Stratford, Connecticut
• Eva Wolfe Elementary, North Las Vegas, Nevada
• Findlay Middle, North Las Vegas, Nevada
• Fred Roberts Middle, Houston, Texas
• Griffin Elementary, Forney, Texas
• Hamilton Elementary, Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Harrison Middle, Harrison, Arkansas
• Highlands Elementary, Highlands, Texas
• Hillside Elementary, Livingston, New Jersey
• Hubenak Elementary, Katy, Texas
• Independent Elementary, Castro Valley, California
• Jackson Memorial Middle, Massillon, Ohio
• Joseph R. Pye Elementary, Ladson, South Carolina
• Kay Granger Elementary, Fort Worth, Texas
• Lawrence Orr Elementary, Charlotte, North Carolina
• Little Cypress Intermediate, Orange, Texas
• Lower Pottsgrove Elementary, Pottstown, Pennsylvania
• Madison Crossing Elementary, Canton, Mississippi
• Madison Junior, Madison, New Jersey
• Mauriceville Elementary, Orange, Texas
• Nancy Young Elementary, Aurora, Illinois
• Nolan Elementary, Signal Mountain, Tennessee
• Oskaloosa Elementary, Oskaloosa, Iowa
• Paw Creek Elementary, Charlotte, North Carolina
• Pistor Middle, Tucson, Arizona
• Pollocksville Elementary, Pollocksville, North Carolina
• PS 310 – The School For Future Leaders, Brooklyn, New York
• Saint James School, Basking Ridge, New Jersey
• Sigler Elementary, Plano, Texas
• Sparks Elementary, Pasadena, Texas
• Teague Elementary, Pasadena, Texas
• The Elisabeth Morrow School, Englewood, New Jersey
• Washington Intermediate, Dinuba, California
• W.C. Petty Elementary, Antioch, Illinois
• Westminster Academy, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Woodland Elementary, Lee’s Summit, Missouri

2025 ASCA Exemplary Advisor Awardees

New this year, NAESP established the ASCA Exemplary Advisor Award to recognize the educators who go above and beyond to support student leaders. NAESP is proud to recognize these 17 ASCA advisors with the 2025 ASCA Exemplary Advisor Award.

• Ngina Hardy, Aldridge Elementary
• Montserrat Rosas Acosta, Barton Elementary
• Jessica Arnold and Karina Diaz, Burnett Elementary
• Twynnette Anderson, Curtistene S. McCowan Middle
• Tucker Hopper, Hamilton Elementary
• Maribeth O’Dell, Harrison Middle
• Nikki Cox, Independent Elementary
• Madelyn Reilly and Susan Shannon, Lower Pottsgrove Elementary
• Laura Grace Nash, Madison Crossing Elementary
• Mary Berndt, Mauriceville Elementary
• Rob Maldonado, Nancy Young Elementary
• Sweet Flake, Paw Creek Elementary
• Martha Isiderio-Gutierrez, Pistor Middle
• Dymond Smith, Sigler Elementary
• Julie Felix, Washington Intermediate

National University Harmony Academy is the sponsor of the 2025 ASCA Student Council School of Excellence Awards program.  

For more information about ASCA or to connect with any of the ASCA Student Council School of Excellence Award recipients, email Nikki Sparks, NAESP assistant executive director, Executive Services and Recognition Programs, at nsparks@naesp.org, or visit naesp.org/ASCA.