Membership in the National Honor Society (NHS) is one of the highest honors that can be awarded to a high school student. The organization was founded in 1921 for the purpose of creating enthusiasm for scholarship, stimulating a desire to render service, promoting leadership, and developing character in students of secondary schools. Chapters in more than 22,000 high schools across the nation strive to give practical meaning to the Society’s goals. These four ideals are considered as the basis for selection. No student is inducted simply because of a high academic average; the NHS aims to recognize students who meet and exceed in the following areas:
Scholarship: Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors must have an accumulative average of 85 or better in order to be eligible for consideration.
Leadership: Setting a positive example for other students by promoting school activities and inspiring positive behavior; holding positions of responsibility in school, civic and/or religious groups; demonstrate academic initiative
Service: Taking an active role in school and community activities; showing a desire do his or her share of whatever has to be done; volunteering one’s time
Character: Uphold principles of morality and ethics; show courtesy, concern and respect for others; observe rules and faithfulness in obligations both inside and outside the classroom
Students who have met the requirement for scholarship are then evaluated by a faculty council, of which there are five voting members. The faculty council is re-chosen every year. It is the duty of the Faculty Council to assess if a student meets the remaining criteria of leadership, service and character. Students must qualify for all 3 of these criterion measurements. In order to be selected a student must receive at least 3 votes from the 5 council members. Once selected, members must maintain these standards and may be dismissed if they do not maintain the high standards of scholarship, leadership, service and character.