National Distinguished Student Leadership Award (NDSLA)

Positions such as team captain or officer for academic teams such as debate, Model United Nations, or Science Olympiad.

• Cannot count the time spent in a meeting participating or engaging at the same level as a “regular”, non-leader member.
• As an example, the captain of the academic bowl team can count the time scheduling meetings, registering the team for a competition, creating practice questions, conducting a clinic, but cannot count the time in regular practices or competitions like all other team members.

Positions such as captain of a varsity or junior varsity sports team or league travel team.

• Cannot count the time spent in workouts, practices, scrimmages, or games engaging/playing at the same capacity as a “regular”, non-captain players.
• As an example, the captain of the basketball team can count the time spent meeting with the coach, planning team-building activities, talking to the media, and leading a freshman clinic, but cannot count the time spent lifting weights, doing speed/agility drills, or playing in a game alongside all other players.

Positions such as patrol leader or cadet commander for organizations such as Civil Air Patrol, JROTC, Naval Sea Cadets, or Young Marines.

• Cannot count routine weekly/monthly unit meetings that he/she attends in the same capacity as other, “regular” cadets.
• As an example, the Cadet Commander of a local squadron of Civil Air Patrol can count time spent training new recruits, conducting technical training for squadron members, giving presentations, coordinating with adult members and commanders, and leading physical fitness workout, but cannot count the time spent in the regular cadet meetings.

Positions such as president, vice president, or chair of in-school or out-of-school student clubs which can be networking, career, social, hobby/interest, political, or community- focused clubs.

• Cannot count the time spent in a meeting participating or engaging at the same level as a “regular”, non-leader member.
• As an example, the president of the chess club can count the time planning meetings, contacting members, and conducting a chess clinic, but cannot count the time spent playing a chess game during the club meeting.

Participation as a youth representative or delegate to councils, advisory boards, city or county committees, or similar. Most of these roles are representative in nature, providing input, identifying, aiding in prioritizing issues to governing bodies, or recommending how funding is allocated. Because the entire effort is “above and beyond” the participation of most students, all direct efforts on the council/board/committee may be counted including attending meetings, participating in focus groups, researching an issue, writing proposals, summarizing recommendations, etc.

Positions such as captain of mock trial, model UN, forensics (speech and debate), or leader in Boys’ State/Boys’ Nation, or Girls’ State & Girls’ Nation.

• Cannot count the regular work of routine meetings, practices, scrimmages or competitions, or the research and rehearsals for events.
• As an example, the captain of the mock trial team can count time spent on auditions of other members, planning/scheduling meetings, conducting training or running clinics for younger members, coaching or directing the group, scheduling speakers or competition officials, but he cannot count the time researching, writing arguments, rehearsing, or competing like all other members of the team.

Positions such as producer, director, choreographer, or conductor.

• Cannot count the time spent acting, dancing, or playing in the same capacity as “regular” non-leader performers.
• As an example, the student director of a play can count the time spent planning and holding auditions, scheduling the performance venue, working with the costume designer, meeting with the set designer, and coordinating the work of the technical crew, but the director cannot count the time spent rehearsing and performing her own role in the play.
• Another example is a student conductor who can count the time spent leading rehearsals and instructing musicians, but cannot count any time playing his own instrument in the orchestra.

Positions such as editor of a newspaper, yearbook, or literary magazine.

• Cannot count the spent writing own articles/stories or attending weekly staff meetings like all other “regular”, non-editor staff members.
• As an example, the editor-in-chief can count time spent reading and editing others’ submissions, checking layouts, reminding staff members about assignments and deadlines, and talking to advertisers, but cannot count the time spent writing their own contribution or editorial.

Positions such as leader or assistant leader of a younger scout troop, Junior Assistant Scout Master or Senior Patrol Leader qualify as well as certain aspects of work on the Boy Scout Eagle Scout service project and the Girl Scout Gold Award.

• A scout cannot count routine weekly troop meetings and activities that he/she attends in the same capacity as a “regular” non-leader member.

Leadership Roles

• Example: an Ambassador Girl Scout who serves as an assistant leader to a Brownie troop. She can count time spent planning badge activities, preparing for a meeting, purchasing or gathering supplies, and directly working with and teaching the younger scouts, but she cannot count her routine, bi-weekly meeting with other Ambassador scouts where they complete their own badge work.

Eagle Scout, Gold Award, or other Capstone Projects

Volunteer Scholars does not automatically count all time recorded toward an Eagle Scout, Gold Award, or similar capstone project. Qualifying service is limited to the portions of the project that directly benefit the community and/or demonstrate active leadership of others.

• Activities that may qualify includes coordinating with the benefiting charity, organization, park, school, or public officials; procuring materials and supplies; recruiting, scheduling, and directing volunteers; supervising work crews; physically constructing, assembling, installing, or delivering the project; and other hands-on activities necessary to carry out the approved community service project.
• Activities that will not qualify include completing prerequisite, administrative, investigative, or award-related requirements, including researching the issue or community need; gathering background information; completing Scout-required paperwork, forms, surveys, evaluations, or reports; preparing a proposal, presentation, or project pitch; meeting with a mentor, advisor, Scout leader, or review board; completing required revisions or close-out documentation; or attending an award or recognition ceremony.
• Note: The standard is not whether an activity is required by Scouts or appears on the Scout’s project-hour record. The question is whether the activity directly advanced the service being provided to the community or involved meaningful leadership of others carrying out that service. Some early planning activities and some final close-out activities therefore may not qualify for Volunteer Scholars service-hour credit.
• Example: As an example, a Boy Scout whose Eagle Scout service project encompasses design and construction of a new, raised wooden boardwalk over park wetlands can count the time spent coordinating with park officials, working with an engineer to design the boardwalk, fundraising for the project, purchasing the supplies, recruiting and signing up volunteers, leading the construction activities, and planning and attending the dedication ceremony, but he cannot count the prerequisite steps of the Eagle Scout award such as earning merit badges.

Positions such as president or vice president of Key Club, Beta Club, Anchor Club, Interact Club, etc.

• Cannot count participation in routine weekly/monthly chapter meetings or service project work that he/she performs in the same capacity as other, “regular” members.
• As an example, the president of the Beta Club can count time spent creating the yearly schedule, setting up the chapter website, hanging posters advertising the first meeting, sending emails soliciting new members, monitoring the chapter’s chat group, meeting with the advisor, compiling a meeting agenda, scheduling work with a local food banks, or managing a member sign-up list, but he cannot count time spent in the recurring monthly meeting or group service project.

Positions such as student body President, Vice President, or Class Officer.

• Cannot count time spent in activities of the “regular” class members or student body.
• As an example, the student body president can count time spent meeting with school administrators, taking a student poll, collecting student surveys, planning a post-prom party, but cannot count the time spent at the party and enjoying/participating in the festivities alongside other attendees.

Positions such as founder, president, executive director, or officer of a student-founded or student-run charitable organization.

• The organization must have an established charitable purpose, other individuals working toward a shared goal under the member’s leadership, and identifiable benefiting organizations, recipients, end-users, or communities receiving the charitable service. A personal project, résumé-building initiative, or organization that exists primarily in name or online does not qualify.
• As an example, the student founder of a charitable organization can count time spent establishing the organization’s mission and goals; recruiting, organizing, and supervising volunteers or officers; leading meetings; planning programs and service projects; coordinating with community partners and beneficiaries; developing policies and procedures; maintaining organizational records; managing finances and administrative responsibilities; developing and maintaining the organization’s website; conducting outreach and publicity; planning fundraising campaigns; soliciting donations or sponsorships; and completing other operational duties necessary to lead and sustain the organization.
• Administrative work, website development, fundraising, communications, and similar responsibilities may qualify when they are performed as part of the student’s broader leadership of an active charitable organization. These activities do not qualify when they are the student’s only involvement, when no other individuals are being led toward a common goal, or when there are no identifiable beneficiaries receiving a charitable service.

• Leadership service and learning hours must be entered in the Volunteer Activity Log in discrete entries noting the date worked, hours worked, activity description, and beneficiary organization.
• For example, the president of the Key club must itemize her activities like the following instead of entering a general “Key Club President- 19 hours.”
  • March 3, 2024: Plan and prepare for monthly meeting. Create agenda- Key Club, 2.5 hours
  • March 4, 2024: Lead monthly meeting- Key Club, 1.5 hours
  • March 10, 2024: Meeting with chapter advisor- Key Club, 0.75 hours
  • April 4, 2024: Plan and prepare for monthly meeting. Create agenda- Key Club, 2.5 hours
  • April 5, 2024: Lead monthly meeting- Key Club, 1.5 hours
  • May 5, 2024: Plan and prepare for monthly meeting. Create agenda- Key Club, 2.5
  • May 6, 2024: Lead monthly meeting- Key Club, 1.5 hours
  • May 10, 2024: Write emails to club officers- Key Club, 0.25 hours
  • June 6, 2024: Set-Up Year- End Banquet, Lead Elections, Present Awards, Clean-Up- Key Club- 6 hours

• For each itemized service activity, the member must list the name and full contact information of the organization he/she led.
• For each itemized service activity, the member must check the box for NDSLA
• Leadership service activities do not need individual time-tracking records or signatures like the PVSA does. Instead, candidates will request a letter from their advisor on the NDSLA form.

• For each itemized learning activity, the member should select, “NDSLA Leadership Training” instead of listing a beneficiary organization.
• For each itemized learning activity, the member must check the box for NDSLA
• Leadership learning activities require verification of completion such as a letter, email, or certificate. Documentation must contain the organization’s name, address, contact name, phone number, email, and dates/hours completed. Documentation of sign-up or registration will not count.
• In the case of a book, podcast, video, the candidate should take a screen shot of the title/opening and upload a .jpg to the portal.

The NDSLA award year follows the Volunteer Scholars membership year: from September 1 through August 31 each year. All leadership hours must be completed between September 1 and August 31 of the award year, and all leadership activities and submittals must be uploaded by 11:59 pm EDT on August 31.

Candidates must have a current membership in Volunteer Scholars at the Elite or Elite Senior level to have their leadership work reviewed and certified for the NDSLA award.

Any Premier member who submits NDSLA details/documentation will have the information rejected unless he/she wishes to upgrade membership.

Candidates must be enrolled in public school, private school, parochial school, charter school, home school, online, virtual, or hybrid school in grade 7 or above.

Candidates must be minimum age 13 and maximum age of 19 as of August 31 of the award year.