Reston, VA — The National Honor Society (NHS) named Pritika Kharkwal, a senior at Lebanon Trail High School in Frisco, TX, the $25,000 National Honor Society Scholarship winner. NHS is supported by its parent organization, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), which also administers the National Association of Student Councils.
"I am so honored to be the National Honor Society Scholarship National Winner, and I thank NHS for supporting my passion for making a difference in the world through innovation,” said Pritika, who was chosen from more than 16,000 applicants. “Through NHS, I've gained a deeper understanding of the power of collaboration and mentorship, which has fueled my efforts to launch entrepreneurial ventures, work on national legislation and policies, and expand Girls In the Corporate World to ultimately promote equitable access to opportunities for diverse individuals globally. I look forward to spending the next four years at Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and taking the next step to achieve my vision of equity."
Pritika stands out for her exceptional scholarship and leadership. She is the youngest winner of the Excellence in Mentoring Award for Corporate Youth Leadership, which she received for leading a successful mentoring initiative for diverse youth. She has also worked on national legislation, such as the Foster Youth Mentoring Act, with congressional staff. She is the host of “Talk It out with Pritika Kharkwal,” a mentoring/mental health podcast, and the author of It’s Time to Start Looking In, a youth self-help book. She is a student advisor at the Digital Wellness Lab and a youth advisory board member at Making Caring Common, a project of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is the captain of her mock trial team and founder of a peer mentoring program, Girls In the Corporate World. She is also a 2024 Coolidge Senator and a 2025 Coca-Cola Scholar semifinalist. A nationally ranked speaker in extemporaneous speech, multimedia/promotion and entrepreneurship, she hopes to pursue a career in entrepreneurship and public service.
NHS awarded more than $2 million in scholarships to 600 high school seniors this year. Four of the top finalists were awarded a $10,625 scholarship for embodying the pillars of NHS membership: Scholarship, Service, Leadership and Character. The recipients of these awards are Jazmin Garza from Mercedes, TX, for Scholarship; Nishita Karikatti from Oro Valley, AZ, for Service; Maurits Acosta from Hialeah, FL, for Leadership; and Natalie Hodge from Anchorage, AK, for Character. Twenty finalists received $5,625 and the national winner received $25,000. Their bios are here.
"I'm blown away by the impact these NHS Scholarship winners have had already,” said NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe. "From publishing books to developing lifesaving technology, they've gone above and beyond in their service, showing us the true spirit of what NHS stands for."
The announcement is part of NASSP’s National Education Leadership Awards gala, bringing together the 2025 State Assistant Principals of the Year and the NHS Scholarship finalists to celebrate their accomplishments and connect with one another. NASSP also announced the National Assistant Principals of the Year and the National Advocacy Champion of the Year during the event.
