Benefits to the Student

» Membership in a nationally recognized Honor Society.

» Local recognition for outstanding achievements in scholarship, leadership, service, and character (and citizenship for NJHS).

» Chapter activities that provide students the opportunity to cultivate those ideals within themselves, their schools, and their communities.

» National conferences-including NHS and NJHS National Conference, and the LEAD Conferences, enhance local leadership training opportunities and allow students to meet and share ideas and experiences with other outstanding students.

» National scholarship programs that recognize students for their leadership and scholarship achievements. The NHS National Scholarship program, in particular, has recognized outstanding chapter members since 1946.

» A wide variety of insignia merchandise available in The NHS & NJHS Store.

National Honor Society Selection Process

1. Cumulative GPA report is printed for all sophomores, juniors, and seniors as soon as first semester grades are finalized.

2. Letters are sent to all students in the junior and senior class who have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater. They are invited to complete a student information form and two references within a one week—or shorter—deadline in order to be considered as inductees. Sophomores are selected based on a 4.0 GPA.

3. Faculty and staff are invited to give input about each student on a summary sheet given to them, usually at staff meeting.

4. For those students who have all documents returned by the deadline, Faculty Council (five people plus the NHS Adviser who has no vote) meets to decide who will be inducted. Character references, faculty input, and information about leadership and service provided by the student are also considered.

5. NHS Adviser meets with principal to approve the list of inductees and the honorary sophomore(s).

6. Inductees are notified, and a letter of invitation is sent to the parents.

7. Those who have completed all necessary paperwork and are not inducted are also notified. The letter of “refusal” is intended as encouragement for being considered, and also to give some indication of growth areas so that they have an idea why they weren’t selected.

8. Faculty is notified at the next faculty meeting.