Jared Platt, a Syosset High School senior, was recently nominated to compete in the national Principal's Leadership Award scholarship program (PLA), sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Principals in high schools throughout the country nominated one of their student leaders. Nominees were selected based on their leadership skills, participation in service organizations and clubs, achievement in the arts and sciences, employment experience, academic record and the essay they were required to write. According to NASSP, the student needs to be a representation of the outstanding caliber of young people in America's high schools. One hundred and fifty national PLA winners will be chosen this spring to receive $1,000 college scholarships.

While at Syosset High School, Platt has been recognized for his outstanding academic and athletic achievements. He was awarded the New York State Science Education Leadership Association Award for Scholarship in Biology, the Academic Achievement Award in Financial Decision Making, was selected to participate in the 2000 National Youth Leadership Forum on Law in Washington, DC and was the Syosset High School Winner and Long Island Regional Winner in the "Credit Drives America Contest," sponsored by the Ford Motor Company.

Platt is also a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society. He is president of Community Services of the Interact Club, a Spanish Club executive board member, treasurer of the Spanish National Honor Society and involved in the select Peers as Leaders Program.

In addition to his scholastic accomplishments, Platt is a Black Belt in Martial Arts and a ranked United States Tennis Association player. He is captain of the Syosset Varsity tennis team and has twice been named Most Valuable Player. Last year he was also awarded the Section VIII New York State Public High School Athletic Association Sportsmanship Award in recognition for his outstanding sportsmanship and conduct.

NASSP is the nation's largest school leadership organization with a membership reaching toward 40,000 middle level and high school principals and assistant principals. It administers the National Honor Society, the National Junior Honor Society, the National Association of Student Councils and the National Association of Student Activity Advisors, collectively serving an additional 50,000 advisors and more than one million students. NASSP is also the sponsor of National Student Leadership Week.