Official site of the National Honor Society and Junior National Society: http://www.nhs.us
Introduction
The National Honor Society (NHS) is the nation's premier organization established to recognize outstanding high school students. More than just an honor roll, NHS serves to honor those students who demonstrate excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. These characteristics have been associated with membership in the organization since its beginning in 1921.
Today, it is estimated that more than one million students annually participate in activities of NHS and its middle level counterpart,
the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS).
NHS chapters are found in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, many U.S. territories, and Canada. Chapter membership not only recognizes students for their accomplishments, but also challenges them to develop through involvement in school activities and community service. Both NHS and NJHS were founded by and are programs of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
History of the Organization
In 1921, NASSP officially established the National Honor Society. Though many local and regional honor societies existed prior to 1921, no nationwide organization had been founded. Under the leadership of Dr. Edward Rynearson, principal of the Fifth Avenue High School, Pittsburgh, and the organization grew from the original Alpha Chapter at the Fifth Avenue School to more than 1,000 chapters by 1930. Equipped with a constitution, an emblem and motto, and a group of dedicated principals as coordinators, the new NHS organization quickly developed into one of the country's leading educational groups.
Four main purposes outlined in the NHS constitution have guided chapters from the beginning: “To create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools.” These purposes also translate into the criteria used for membership selection in each local chapter.
Selection Criteria
The NHS and NJHS National Council establishes the national standards for all NHS chapters. Local chapters create their own bylaws that are to be consistent and comply with the NHS national constitution.
Any student in grades 10-12 in a school that has both an official charter of and an up-to-date affiliation with the national office of the National Honor Society, is eligible for consideration for membership in NHS (instructions for obtaining a charter or affiliation are found in the pages that follow). All membership selection is handled through the local school chapter.
NHS is more than just academic recognition. The NHS chapter establishes guidelines for selection that are based upon a candidate's outstanding performance in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, and character.
Scholarship: “Students who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or equivalent standard of excellence, or a higher cumulative average set by the local school's faculty council, meet the scholarship requirement for membership. These students are then eligible for consideration on the basis of service, leadership, and character.” (NHS Constitution, Article IX, Section 2)
Service: This quality is defined as the voluntary contributions made by a student to the school or community, without direct financial or material compensation to the individual performing the service. Chapters may establish criteria that stipulate specific quantities of projects or service hours for candidates, as well as expectations of service obligations once a student is selected as a member. Leadership: Student leaders are often viewed as those students who are resourceful, good problem solvers, involved in and promoters of school activities, idea contributors, dependable, and who are both
organized and organizers. Experiences to be considered under the leadership criterion can include activities that originate in the school or community or both, as determined by the local chapter.
Character: The student of good character can be said to be one who upholds principles of morality and ethics; is cooperative and responsible; demonstrates high standards of honesty and reliability; shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others; and is a good citizen. Local chapters consider the values and traditions of both the local school and community when defining the character criterion.
Specific standards for these four criteria may vary from one school to the next. Such variations are acceptable as long as they do not fall outside the parameters set by the National Council of NHS. All chapters are required to record and publish the criteria and general procedures used in their local selection processes. The NHS adviser supervises the selection process and maintains copies of the local procedures and has them available upon request.
Percent of the Classes Annually Accepted: 15% of Seniors, 10% of Juniors, 5% of Sophomores
Membership in NHS
Once selected, a student is awarded the privilege of membership in the local chapter at a special induction ceremony. With induction, each member assumes certain obligations as outlined by the chapter and the national constitution. The chapter must conduct a service project for the school or community and see to the development of
an individual service project for each member. Chapters may choose to sponsor fundraising projects or otherwise involve themselves with the school to reach the chapter's goals. In addition, regular meetings of the chapter can be held to conduct chapter business. All chapters should delineate the full range of membership obligations and share them on a regular basis with all members and their parents. All active NHS chapter members are expected to fulfill these obligations and support chapter activities.