The Chapter of the Week for this week is none other than The Woodlands College Park High School from the Woodlands, Texas. Increasing their tax-paid count to 37 members this year, The Woodlands College Park is averaging about 25 members at each of their meetings held every two weeks. Activities at these meetings include thought talks on issues like illegal immigration, capital punishment, and war in Iraq. In addition the chapter holds traditional JSA-style debates and the ever popular “speed chess” style of debate when possible. So far this year, The Woodlands College Park has attended the GCR Fall Regional and Fall State, where the chapter earned two “Best Speaker” awards! They plan on attending Winter Congress, Texas’ Presidential Nominating Convention, and Spring State.

The chapter is currently planning ways to make an impact in their home community and is continually brainstorming ideas through the help of political and social activists. To gain inspiration, the chapter heard Sister Helen Prejean speak in October. Sister Helen Prejean is a Catholic nun who plays a critical role in speaking out against capitol punishment. Having written Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty, which ultimately was transformed into an Oscar-winning movie, Sister Helen Prejean has successfully influenced her community and society as a whole. More recently, the chapter attended a presentation by Muhammad Yunus, the winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, for his work with micro-lending and the establishment of the Grameen Bank.

With the Texas Winter Congress Convention just around the corner, The Woodlands College Park High School will be in attendance in full force. Their ten member delegation prepared three pieces of legislation and is eager to get them passed through Congress. The Woodlands College Park High School has done a phenomenal job striving to go above and beyond the call of duty in their school, in their community, and in Texas JSA. Take their message to heart and become active. Great things are expected from this week’s Chapter of  the Week!