The National Honor Society of Secondary Schools
The National Honor Society (NHS) and the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) are America's leading organizations for recognizing exceptional students at the high school and middle school levels. These organizations do not just honor scholarship, but also recognize students who've shown excellence in leadership, character and service, not to mention good grades. Many former National Honor Society members have gone on succeed, with some becoming household names.
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Size
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According to the National Honor Society website, roughly a million students are involved in NHS and NJHS activities. These chapters are in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Canada, many U.S. territories and Puerto Rico.
Qualifications
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To be considered for membership students must have a cumulative GPA (grade point average) of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0, which is 85 percent, or they must have a cumulative grade average of excellent standards, granted these standards are consistent and applied fairly. A local chapter can raise this average for meeting its local standards of excellence. Although candidates should be enrolled at their school for at least one semester, there can be exceptions for transfer students.
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Purposes
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Four key purposes have continued to guide National Honor Society chapters since the organization began. According to the NHS website, the NHS Constitution says that the first purpose is to create an enthusiasm for scholarship. Stimulating a desire for rendering service is another purpose. The organization also promotes leadership and develops character in secondary school students. These four main purposes also are used as criteria for selecting new members.
Famous National Honor Society Members
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Alexander Lamar, a former United States Senator from Tennessee, belonged the the NHS.
Astronaut Judith Resnick, known for losing her life in the 1986 Challenger accident, was a member of her local NHS in Akron, Ohio.
NHS member Elizabeth Ward of Forrest of Russellville, Arkansas, went on to become Miss America 1984.
Katie Couric, former "Today Show" co-host and currently the managing editor of CBS Evening News, belonged to her NHS chapter in Arlington, Virginia.
History
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The National Honor Society was founded in 1921, although various local and regional honor societies existed before then. Middle schools were included in the organization in 1929. Dr. Edward Rynearson, a principal of a Pittsburgh high school, led the organization in 1929, helping it to grow to more than 1,000 chapters by 1930, notes the NHS website. The NHS gained an emblem, motto and constitution, quickly becoming one of America's best educational societies.
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References
- Photo Credit studying image by Petro Feketa from Fotolia.com
