The secret society of MCHS

California Scholarship Federation Meeting on Feb. 27 (Hugh Cochrane / The Puma Prensa)

By Chase Soylu Chee, News Editor & Video Editor

At the start of every semester, Carrillo Live mentions a secret society in which a few Pumas participate and hold membership in. This article serves as the light, exposing the excellence and rigor students go through to gain admittance into this society. 

California Scholarship Federation (CSF), which is a non-profit honor society that serves as a club on campus that rewards students with academic excellence and community service hours. 

Admittance in the club requires grades to be As and Bs during a whole semester, in addition to a fee each semester once you get admitted. After four acceptances, including one in your senior year, you become a permanent member and have a special capstone during graduation. 

What’s interesting is that Maria Carrillo High School bends the rules. Our CSF club does not recognize community service hours, but only academic prowess, which is in accordance with CSF's bylaws. 

This private club is not just a group but a society where they hold a couple meetings to discuss college and club leadership. Social Studies teacher and CSF Advisor Scott Wallach, answered questions about the mysterious body of students on campus.

Surrounding membership, one misconception Wallach brought up was the name and the purpose of the society and club on campus. “When they say California Scholarship Federation, they mean scholarship in the sense of being a scholar rather than actual scholarships,” said Wallach.

CSF awards two scholarships per year which are the Seymour Memorial Awards and the Michelson Memorial Award. The Seymour Memorial Awards, which has a total of $115,000+ for 50 finalists, requires a member to be a senior, get nominated by Wallach, and be interviewed by CSF. 

The Michelson Memorial Award on the other hand is an annual essay contest for students who have a passion for community service and school. Members of any type, permanent or not may enter and earn $1,000 during the contest. 

Moving away from membership, the advisor of the club deals with the back end of CSF. For the extraordinary members, they have the club to network with each other. To meet more often, they must facilitate their role to vote and ask for more from their representatives. 

“As far as students who want [more], students need to be involved, come to meetings, talk to the officers, push the officers to do those things, [and] volunteer to help out,” said Wallach. 

One of the officers of the club, sophomore, Treasurer Chloe Griffin-Holm, became an officer because of her passion to lead. “[CSF] feels like a community, and I like being involved in the school more, and college is something I’m passionate about,” said Griffin-Holm.

As an officer, Griffin-Holm and her fellow officers have a lot of power to shape and mold CSF into a community for growth and excellence. “We have a lot of freedom… we have a lot of voice.” 

Looking into the activity behind the meetings of the society, Wallach said that his “job is to run the paperwork and do the honors society side, and then if the students who run the club, and students who are in the club, want to do meetings. If they decide to be less active, that’s their choice.” 

On and off, the club has one meeting per semester to introduce new members, and on years like this one, the club holds meetings to prepare members for college through a variety of ways. 

“I know there is some push to do some workshops around college applications and stuff as we get close to the end of the year,” remarked Wallach. In relation to what Wallach said, Griffin-Holm stated that “[they’ve] met a couple times and had meetings, and [they’re] planning to do a college field trip at the end of the year.” 

Unfortunately, membership is unavailable until next fall semester where students can submit their spring application for membership. For current members, and future prospects, may you explore and learn the wonderful secrets that this secret society has to offer, in which these experiences will enrich your ability to look more clearly into college and your future as a student.