By Barry Villamil, President, Rotary Club of Pearlridge
The Rotary Club of Pearlridge (RCOP) would like to congratulate Mr. Eric White, Highlands Intermediate (HIS) Student Activities Coordinator and the Highlands Intermediate School Student Council for being awarded the prestigious National Gold Council of Excellence Award for a record breaking 1lth year in a row.
The Highlands Intermediate School Student Council was recognized for their exceptional leadership, service, and community engagement.
The award winning students are also Rotary Club of Pearlridge sponsored Rotary Interact Leadership Club members. The RCOP annually provides financial support, Leadership mentorships, and a community volunteer outreach partnership that serves to beauty and care for both the Pearl City and Aiea communities.
Financial support is also generously provided annually by the Pearl City Shopping Center Merchants Association and RCOP President-Elect Eric Fujimoto via the Ho’ea Foundation.
Congratulations! We are so proud of you and your accomplishments while sharing your leadership skills with us all.
By Mr. Eric White, Student Activities Coordinator, Highlands Intermediate School
Highlands Intermediate Student Council Earns National Award
[Pearl City, HI] – For its exemplary record of leadership, service and activities that improve the
school and community, the [School Name] student council has been recognized as a 2025 National Gold Council of Excellence by the National Association of Student Councils (NASC). The NASC program is supported by its parent organization, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
The 2024 – 2025 school year exceeded expectations because of all of the fun and memorable activities the Student Council provided for the nearly 900 students at Highlands Intermediate! The Highlands Intermediate Student Council was able to accomplish this by implementing the “Adventure Time!” theme to the maximum in all student activities and school events. Starting with the amazing Welcome Back Assembly 2024 “Adventure Time!”, the fun didn’t stop through the dozens of other amazing themed events throughout the year like Highlands Haunted House 12 “Ravenloft” and the most recent Valentine’s Dance 2025 “Best Day Ever”! The Highlands Intermediate Student Council has now received this prestigious award 11 years straight…
“The student council at Highlands Intermediate just pulled off something extraordinary,” said NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe. “Their student-driven change has earned them national recognition as a National Gold Council of Excellence, proving that when young people are given the chance to lead, they turn their vision into real-world impact.”
“This is my 18th year as Student Activities Coordinator at Highlands Intermediate School and every year I ask myself, “How are we going to top this year? How can it get better than this?” Sure enough, we did it… and by leaps and bounds! This was the most amazing school year ever! I just want to thank this year’s Student Council for putting in the work and having the dedication to make our activities and our Student Council program the best it could be!” Mr. White, Highlands Intermediate Student Activities Coordinator
A student council must meet a variety of criteria to earn the National Gold Council of Excellence Award. In addition to basic requirements such as a written constitution, regular meetings and a democratic election process, the councils must have demonstrated successful sponsorship and participation in activities such as leadership development and service to the school and community.
Photos by Mr. Eric White, Student Activities Coordinator, Highlands Intermediate School
Mr. Eric White, Student Activities Coordinator, Highlands Intermediate School is pictured with Highlands Intermediate Student Council / RCOP Interact Club members during the annual Honolulu City & County Pearl Harbor Bike Path Clean-Up beautification Project on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
Photo by Barry Villamil