Do you want to help your Harvard club inspire promising High school students?

As chair of the club’s Harvard Book Prize program, Andrew R. Sutton ’94, invites you to participate in a fun and easy way to give back to Harvard – presenting an award to a young student of promise!

Since 1910, the Harvard Prize Book has been an important way for Harvard Club members to help attract talented young people to Harvard and to call their attention to the opportunities in Cambridge. The Prize Book is awarded to outstanding juniors who demonstrate academic excellence as well as achievement in nonacademic areas. It is often given at a school’s graduation exercises or junior class awards ceremony with brief remarks by a local Harvard alumnus or alumna.

The award may also be presented to outstanding high school teachers who inspire curiosity and excellence in their students.

Giving a Harvard Prize Book is simple.

The process starts with identifying a school where you would like to present a Prize Book. You may have a school in mind or may contact me to be assigned a school.

You then contact a school guidance counselor, college counselor or principal in charge of junior class awards to explain the program and offer to present the Prize Book in person, by mail, or at a school ceremony. Depending on the school, Prize Book volunteers may have some latitude with giving speeches at the ceremony and their involvement in selecting students.

Toward the end of the school year, your Harvard Club will supply the books for you to hand deliver or mail to students. Of course, the preferred method is that you present the award in person at an appropriate school ceremony, but the circumstances vary from school to school.

If you are interested in contacting schools and/or presenting awards, please contact Andrew at rice.sutton@gmail.com or (919) 291-6231 by April 15. Please specify if you are interested in any particular high schools or schools within a certain county or town.