c/o Points of Light

Earlier this year, Spencer Chaisanguanthum, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Eloquence Academy, received the Daily Points of Light Award.

President George H.W. Bush was the first president in American history to institute a daily presidential recognition program from the White House. Bush devoted attention to voluntary service as a means of solving some of America's most serious social problems, noting in The Points of Light Movement: The President’s Report to the Nation how “by giving so generously of themselves, these remarkable individuals show us not only what is best in our heritage but what all of us are called to become.” Over the course of his administration, he conferred 1,020 Daily Point of Light Awards on ordinary citizens and organizations from all walks of life taking direct and consequential action in their communities to solve serious social problems.

Points of Light continues this recognition and has now awarded over 8,000 honorees, uplifting individuals who lead, lend support, and take action for causes they care about. The award process began with public nominations, including a narrative, images, and stories of the nominee’s impact. All nominees were then background checked, and nominations were blind-reviewed by a panel of judges. After multiple rounds of screening and sorting, the highest-scoring nominees were named awardees.

“The Daily Point of Light Award recognizes individuals who saw a challenge and recognized the power they have to use their time, energy, and talents to transform their community,” said Vanessa Diamond, executive vice president, Global Network and nonprofit programs, at Points of Light. “We’re delighted to honor Spencer for their volunteer work and dedication to making the world a better place.”

c/o Spencer Chaisanguanthum

Spencer began his role as Chief Executive Officer in September 2022. During his tenure, Eloquence Academy has launched all of its existing programs to serve 2,500 students nationwide. Spencer has crafted two strategic plans that integrate innovation, pedagogical excellence, diversity, and an emphasis on civics, earning Eloquence Academy recognition as one of the nation’s leading debate academies and a top 75 youth afterschool program for service learning in the United States. Previously, Spencer served as a Student Leader at the New York City Urban Debate League and represented over 150,000 student members through a two-year term on the Student Leadership Council at the National Speech & Debate Association. A debater in his own right, Spencer competed for more than a decade in Public Forum Debate and led the team at the Dalton School.

Spencer was awarded on May 7, 2025. A full article from Points of Light announcing the award and highlighting Spencer’s work can be found here.

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Eloquence Academy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and 509(a)(2) public charity dedicated to increasing equitable academic debate opportunities for rural and historically underserved students. The Academy offers debate classes, summer camps, workshops, tournaments, in-school programs, and online resources for 2,500+ students across 35 states and 17 countries. Ultimately, EA aims to prepare youth for college readiness, career engagement, and community impact through the transferable skills gained from debate. Follow EA on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.