Interested in being selected for National Honor Society? READ THIS!
by Jeffrey Horner
September 06, 2006
National Honor Society is one of the most prestigious high school organizations. Only top well-rounded students achieve membership. Each student must demonstrate scholarship, leadership, service, and character. All four characteristics are necessary for admission. For example, a student who does well in classes, shows leadership, and provides service to the community may not be admitted if he or she is regularly disrespectful and moody during classes. A description of each of the characteristics is included in this informative letter to help students understand each concept and plan for their high school career.
Leadership
• is resourceful in proposing new problems, applying principles, and making suggestions
• demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities
• exercises positive influence on peers in upholding school ideals
• contributes ideas that improve the civic life of the school
• is able to delegate responsibilities
• exemplifies positive attitudes
• inspires positive behavior in others
• demonstrates academic initiative
• successfully holds school offices or positions of responsibility; conducts business effectively; demonstrates reliability and dependability
• is a leader in the classroom, at work, and in other school or community activities
• is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted
• is willing to uphold scholarship and maintain a loyal school attitude
Questions you should ask yourself in regard to leadership:
Do I join student organizations? Am I an active member of those organizations? Do I speak up during class? Am I a role model to other students? Do I make my own decisions? Do I care about my education?
Service
• volunteers and provides dependable and well organized assistance, is gladly available, and is willing to sacrifice to offer assistance
• works well with others and is willing to take on difficult or inconspicuous responsibilities
• cheerfully and enthusiastically renders any requested service to the school
• is willing to represent the class or school in inter-class and inter-scholastic competition
• does committee and staff work without complaint
• participates in some activity outside of school, for example, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, church groups, volunteer services for elderly, poor, or disadvantaged
• mentors persons in the community or students at other schools
• shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students
• may contribute time to the community through MHS’s CATS Volunteer Program
Questions you should ask yourself in regard to service:
Do I regularly volunteer to help out at school functions? Do I volunteer to teach Sunday school or help with my church service? Do I volunteer time at the Minden Opera House or other Minden organizations like Optimists? Am I working toward becoming a Distinguished Service Graduate?
Character
• takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously
• consistently exemplifies desirable qualities of behavior (cheerfulness, friendliness, poise, and stability)
• upholds principles of morality and ethics
• cooperates by complying with school regulations
• demonstrates the highest standards of honesty and reliability
• regularly shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others
• observes instructions and rules, is punctual, and faithful both inside and outside the classroom
• has powers of concentration, self-discipline, and sustained attention as shown by perseverance and application to studies
• manifests thoughtfulness in acknowledging obedience to rules, avoiding cheating on written work, and showing unwillingness to profit by the mistakes of others
• actively helps rid the school of bad influences or environment
Questions you should ask yourself in regard to character:
Am I late to class on a regular basis? Am I disrespectful to authority such as teachers? Have I accumulated unexcused absences? Have I received police citations such as MIP, MIPT, or MIC? Do I conduct myself on a daily basis with care for only myself? Am I the kind of person that others find friendly and approachable?
The policy of the Minden High School National Honor Society is to rely upon the faculty to determine membership selection. Students must demonstrate the characteristics of scholarship, leadership, character, and service to become members. If students are interested in eventually becoming members of the organization, they should start making conscious decisions as freshmen to be involved in the above mentioned activities. They should be seeking leadership positions; they should also be serving the community, the school, and their church (when appropriate). They should conduct themselves with character consistently IN and OUT of school. They should exhibit behaviors as freshmen and sophomores that will increase their chances of being selected to the organization as juniors.
When students have demonstrated scholarship by maintaining a GPA of at least 3.35 through the first five semesters of high school, they are invited to submit resumes if they are interested in being considered for the organization.
Resumes are copied for all members of the high school faculty to see. Each faculty member is asked to comment on the leadership, character, and service of the students eligible through the information given on the resume and also through their daily interactions with the students. Teachers who have not interacted with a student are encouraged to abstain from the vote on said student. Teachers are also encouraged to give comments in regard to any student seeking admission. The survey is signed by each faculty member but is kept confidential for obvious reasons.
The advisers of the organization tabulate the results from the surveys. These results help the faculty council determine membership into the organization. While the faculty council’s vote is the only determining factor for membership, the council does rely heavily upon teacher responses to the survey.
A faculty council, appointed by the principal each fall, meets to review the results of the surveys. This council has the final word on admission into the organization. The honor society advisers are not voting council members; they simply gather the information needed to determine admission. Generally the council will respond directly to teacher surveys; however, they can overrule the surveys if they feel it is necessary. For example, if a student is picked up for MIP after the surveys have been completed, the student may then not be admitted into the organization despite high marks from the teachers.
