Woodrow Wilson House, a National Trust Historic Site, welcomed members of Student Council from the John S. Davidson Fine Arts School of Augusta, Georgia to Washington on March 16th to receive the inaugural Woodrow Wilson Youth Leadership Award. The award was presented by Woodrow Wilson House in celebration of the sesquicentennial of the birth of Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States. December 28, 2006 marked the 150th birthday of the most educated and one of the most complex United States presidents.

These students won a nationwide competition sponsored by Woodrow Wilson House which was conceived to echo Woodrow Wilson’s call for students in the service to the nation. This first Woodrow Wilson Youth Leadership Award sought to identify those students who step forward, participate and excel in student government and community service nationwide. In recognizing their service today, we will instill the message of service for their tomorrows and carry forth the Wilson legacy to a new generation.

Davidson Student Council President, Lauren Bryant accepted the award with Vice President George Daniels and Secretary Beth Caldwell, and more than 30 members of the Student Council on hand. Their travel to the Nation’s Capital included a Spring Concert Tour and a surprise opportunity for accomplished pianist George Daniels. George played on Wilson’s daughter Margaret’s piano which had returned to Wilson House earlier that week after its yearlong restoration project.

The Woodrow Wilson Youth Leadership Award was bestowed upon the Davidson High School Student Council in recognition of their commitment to community service and school spirit which was demonstrated through many projects: Hooked on Service is more than just their pledge – it is a call to action; Spooky to Be Hungry food drive received accolades from the national organizer of this food drive who called Davidson the “poster child” for this annual event because the Davidson student body alone was responsible for over 3% of the total weight of food collected for the entire community by more than 300 participating organizations; volunteer staffing the Arts in the Hearts, one of the largest attended festivals in the southeast festival in Augusta; participating in the Walk for Autism; and collecting pink tabs for Breast Cancer research. Student Council members participate in at least one community service and school related program each month. In terms of school spirit, because the school is combined with a middle school, the Student Council organizes mixers between their “sister classes” and the high school students. These mixers help to involve the middle school students and help them to feel apart of the school. Student Council matches each high school student with a middle school “buddy.” This buddy system helps to reduce the anxiety that middle school students experience, and instills the spirit of public service.

Wilson House Executive Director Frank Aucella read congratulatory greetings from former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan. Dr. Greenspan, who upon receiving the Woodrow Wilson Statesmanship Award last November 10th had hoped to present the Student Leadership award in person but was unable due to a scheduling conflict. The students and their parent chaperones enjoyed guided museum tours and a light reception in their honor. Wilson House Board Chairman Connie Carter posed for photographs with the students in President Wilson’s library beneath his portrait which best epitomizes the extraordinary legacy of Woodrow Wilson, his inspiring call to public service and dedication to the global community.

The Wilson 150 celebration, exhibition and Youth Leadership Award where made possible by the leadership support of The History Channel, and by Security Storage of Washington. Major funding was provided by individual Donors to the exhibition, by the Interpretation and Education Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and by The Institute of Museum and Library Services, A Federal Agency.