National Honor Society

Advisor: Tricia London - Teacher Librarian

Membership in the National Honor Society (NHS) is one of the highest honors that can be awarded to a high school student. Our chapter has worked hard to bring the accomplishments of outstanding students to the attention of parents, teachers, peers, and the community. Our chapter strives to give practical meaning to the Society’s standards of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. These four ideals are considered as the basis for selection. No student is inducted simply because of a high academic average. The National Honor Society strives to recognize the total student—one who excels in all of these areas. The standards used for selection are:

Scholarship: (3.30 GPA) cumulative average, unweighted by a 2/3 majority vote of members, beginning in the fall of 2027 the required GPA needed to apply for membership will be a 3.6 weighted GPA.

Leadership, Service, and Character: as demonstrated by verified activities, explained in your essay, and reviewed by faculty and administration. 

Membership, however, is more than an honor. It is an ongoing responsibility and an obligation to continue to demonstrate those outstanding qualities that result in a student’s selection. Membership also carries a responsibility to the chapter. If our NHS chapter is to be effective and meaningful, each member must become involved.

Before the application period begins there will be a meeting for prospective candidates.  At that time, we will explain the process and answer any questions.

Candidate who are invited to join will be added to a National Honor Society Application Canvas. (Parents and guardians are allowed to view the Canvas, just as they can view the Canvas Module for any other class.)  

The Canvas will give information about the application.

Application components include:

Application will be posted online prior to deadline

Service/Leadership List

  • Make a copy of this form(Links to an external site.) and then complete it and save it to your OneDrive. Change the sharing permissions to share the document SO ANYONE WITH THE LINK CAN VIEW. You will be asked for the link in the online application. For clarity, please name the document "your first and last name service-leadership list."

Resume

  • Create a resume in Microsoft word using a resume template. Find a sample resume here. (Links to an external site.) Save your resume to your OneDrive.  SHARE IT SO ANYONE WITH THE LINK CAN VIEW. You will be asked for the link in the online application. For clarity, please name the document "your first and last name resume."

Essay 

  • Write a brief essay explaining why you would like to become a member of the National Honor Society and describe how you intend to carry out the responsibilities of membership. Use factual evidence of leadership, and service, listed in your resume and service / leadership list to explain why you would be a good candidate for the organization.
  • Familiarize yourself with the four pillars of NHS (see the bottom of this page) so you can incorporate these pillars into the essay.
  • Use details and examples to allow the Faculty Council to learn as much about you as possible.
  • Please use complete sentences and proper grammar. Do not write abbreviated words, or use slang, 
  • Check spelling, format, etc.  Your writing is a reflection of you.  
  • Create the essay in Microsoft word and save it to your OneDrive.  SHARE IT SO ANYONE WITH THE LINK CAN VIEW. You will be asked for the link in the online application. For clarity, please name the document "your first and last name NHS essay"

 Character References

  • Ask two adults who are NOT related to you who will be willing to vouch for your exemplary character. (For example: honesty, responsibility, fairness, courtesy, trustworthiness, tolerance, self-discipline and cooperative attitude) These references will need to complete an online form. 

Finally, you and your parent / guardian must sign off at the end of the online application that you have read the Bylaws and Constitution agreement, 

Criteria:   
 
Scholarship (minimum GPA 3.3) 

Service 

  • Your Service / Leadership sheet will list your service record and your participation in any school, religious organization or community activities. Note: Service hours must include information about an adult coordinator of the activity including email should the faculty council need verification.  Religious organization service counts, as does school activities, scouting, youth sport coaching…anything you do for someone outside your family, for which you do not get paid. 
  •  Between reading your service list, resume and essay the faculty council should understand what you did to serve your community and how your actions helped others. Note: We understand that due to a global pandemic, service opportunities have been limited during the past year and a half. 

 Leadership

  • Please describe your leadership role in a particular organization or activity. Do not just say "vice president," Please explain what you did as a vice president and how and who you lead. 
  • While service is something you do without being paid for your actions, you can demonstrate leadership in your job. You can use paid positions as example of your leadership skills.

Character 

  • Character references should be chosen from people who know you well. These are people who are not related to you. 
  • As a courtesy, please ask your references before you give them the link for the recommendation form.
  • Don’t use a relative. 

PROCEDURE FOR ADJUDICATION 

1) Forms for adjudication are then given to faculty and administration who are asked to rate the candidates they have taught, coached, or know through school activities. Each is to judge the applicants on a scale of one to four in standards of leadership, character, and service. The Faculty Council then makes its selection based on the staff evaluations and the information provided by the students. 

2) There is a five-member Faculty Council appointed by the principal each year.  A successful candidate needs a minimum 3 votes for selection. The advisor/s are non-voting members of the Faculty Council. National Honor Society Selection rubric (Links to an external site.) is used to assess candidates’ strengths in the areas of leadership, service, and character. However, this selection rubric(Links to an external site.) only serves as a guide. The Faculty Council, not the rubric, makes the final determination of membership.