Who's Who Among American High School Students
Encyclopedia
Who's Who Among American High School Students was a web site and publication
(owned and managed by Educational Communications Inc.) that listed what it deemed to be high school
student
s "who have excelled in academics, extracurricular activities and community service."
opportunities. While there was no required fees to be considered, there was the optional purchase of the listing publication.
Who’s Who Among American High School Students was one of three publications produced by Educational Communications, Inc. (ECI). ECI was part of American Achievement Corporation (AAC), located in Austin, Texas
. AAC is one of 11 companies owned by Fenway Partners
, based in New York City
. ECI ceased operations on November 1, 2007.
Students consent to being listed in Who's Who in the hope that this listing will be seen by college admissions offices as a significant recognition of a student's academic and extracurricular involvement. However, most admissions officers believe that the recognition has no such value and in fact some consider the "honor" to be a joke. For instance, according to the admissions vice president of Hamline University
, "It's honestly something that an admissions officer typically wouldn't consider or wouldn't play into an admissions decision," adding that Who's Who... is just trying to sell books.
In the late 1970's the Fairfax High School (Fairfax VA) newspaper staff notified the school administration that they were submitting a false nomination to "Who's Who". They requested that if the publication contacted the school, it should be stated that the nomination was fake, and submitted as a joke. The fake student's listing appeared in that years "Who's Who", without any attempt to verify the biography. The story was covered in the student newspaper that spring.
Publication
To publish is to make content available to the public. While specific use of the term may vary among countries, it is usually applied to text, images, or other audio-visual content on any medium, including paper or electronic publishing forms such as websites, e-books, Compact Discs and MP3s...
(owned and managed by Educational Communications Inc.) that listed what it deemed to be high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
student
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
s "who have excelled in academics, extracurricular activities and community service."
About
Who's Who Among American High School Students compiled and published an annual edition in which students' names and achievements are listed. According to the website, people who accept nomination for inclusion in the book are sometimes qualified for various scholarshipScholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
opportunities. While there was no required fees to be considered, there was the optional purchase of the listing publication.
Who’s Who Among American High School Students was one of three publications produced by Educational Communications, Inc. (ECI). ECI was part of American Achievement Corporation (AAC), located in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. AAC is one of 11 companies owned by Fenway Partners
Fenway Partners
Fenway Partners is a private equity firm that makes leveraged buyout and growth capital investments in transportation, logistics, consumer products and manufacturing companies in the middle market....
, based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. ECI ceased operations on November 1, 2007.
Criticism
There was much debate over the value of the book. Although it does not cost any money to be listed, it is often categorized as a scam since it is an attempt by a private company to make money through proud parents and students who purchase the book and various memorabilia (such as a "commemorative keychain") associated with the publication in attempt at recognition. There have been concerns about how students are nominated as well as whether the listing's entries are fact-checked and accurateStudents consent to being listed in Who's Who in the hope that this listing will be seen by college admissions offices as a significant recognition of a student's academic and extracurricular involvement. However, most admissions officers believe that the recognition has no such value and in fact some consider the "honor" to be a joke. For instance, according to the admissions vice president of Hamline University
Hamline University
-Red Wing location :Hamline was named in honor of Leonidas Lent Hamline, a bishop of the Methodist Church whose interest in the frontier led him to donate $25,000 toward the building of an institution of higher learning in what was then the territory of Minnesota. Today, a statue of Bishop Hamline...
, "It's honestly something that an admissions officer typically wouldn't consider or wouldn't play into an admissions decision," adding that Who's Who... is just trying to sell books.
In the late 1970's the Fairfax High School (Fairfax VA) newspaper staff notified the school administration that they were submitting a false nomination to "Who's Who". They requested that if the publication contacted the school, it should be stated that the nomination was fake, and submitted as a joke. The fake student's listing appeared in that years "Who's Who", without any attempt to verify the biography. The story was covered in the student newspaper that spring.