FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Claes Nobel Presents Scholarship to Outstanding California Student

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, Calif./EWORLDWIRE/Feb. 18, 2003 --- Claes Nobel, senior member of the Nobel Peace Prize family, is presenting a scholarship and speaking on the campus of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. Laurel Angelica, high school student of La Canada Flintridge, California, will receive the first of four $5,000 Claes Nobel Academic Scholarships to be awarded this year by The National Society of High School Scholars. The Society also awards several $1,000 National Scholar Awards annually.

The presentation ceremony will be held on the Sacred Heart campus on Monday, February 24, 2003. The Society inducts outstanding high school students and honors them for superior academic achievement. Laurel was selected for the award from among 14,000 applicants. 

Scholarship selections are based on academic performance, demonstrated leadership, community involvement, and recommendations from school personnel. Laurel was singled out for her stellar academic performance, as well as her initiative in successfully organizing a local Bone Marrow/Blood Drive now in its third year.

Claes Nobel, honorary chairman of the Society, telephoned Laurel to personally congratulate her from Oslo, Norway, in December, where he was in attendance at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony honoring President Jimmy Carter.

"I am deeply honored to recognize Laurel as one of the nation's most outstanding students," Claes stated. "Princeton University has also recognized her achievements by notifying her recently of her early acceptance into the college."

Laurel was thrilled to receive the phone call from Mr. Nobel. "The words of wisdom he shared will stay with me forever, and I hope always to live up to the ideals that his family represents," she said. 

Claes Nobel extends his family's dedication to excellence to the youth of today. Claes' family established the Nobel Prizes in 1901 in order to note outstanding contributions in the fields of peace, literature, medicine, chemistry, and physics. More than a century later, these internationally renowned awards continue to distinguish scientists, authors, and leaders in a world forum.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARS
The mission of The National Society of High School Scholars is to recognize and encourage academic excellence among the most exceptional high school upperclassmen. The Society selects students nationally and awards this distinction on a very limited basis. 

Membership is by invitation only, extended by Chair Claes Nobel.

Additional information is available at the Society's web page at www.nshss.org. 

CONTACT:
Susan Thurman, Ph.D.
The National Society of High School Scholars
2531 Briarcliff Road
115 National Headquarters
Atlanta, GA 30329
PHONE: 866.343.1800 
EMAIL: sthurman@nshss.org

URL: http://www.nshss.org

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