Oscar F. Smith High School 2015-1016
1994 Tiger Drive
Chesapeake, VA 23230
Election to membership in the National Honor Society represents the highest honor and trust that can be bestowed upon a student in the junior and senior year of high school. The National Honor Society recognizes students for outstanding SCHOLARSHIP, LEADERSHIP, SERVICE and CHARACTER. Membership in the society is indicative that the student has attained and is demonstrating and promoting all of these qualities, and is exerting an effort to improve conditions in the school and community.
Membership
Membership in the Oscar F. Smith Chapter is an honor bestowed upon a student. Selection for membership is by faculty council and is based on outstanding scholarship, character, leadership and service. Members selected will have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate these qualities. Members who resign or are dismissed are never again eligible for its benefits. Applicants may review the rubric in which the Faculty Council will use to evaluate the applications on the Oscar Smith High School website.
Selection of new members:
1.
To be eligible for membership, the student must be a member of the junior or senior class. A student must have been in attendance at the school for an equivalent of one semester. The faculty council in consultation with the principal may waive this requirement.
2.
A student must have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above.
3.
The candidate shall then be evaluated based on outstanding character, leadership and service. Candidates are to submit supporting information for this evaluation (see attached).
4.
The selection of members to the chapter shall be by a majority vote of the faculty council based on the criteria detailed on the next page in the first round.
5.
Students who have been selected by the faculty council will then be invited for an interview with
National Honor Society officer representatives, faculty council, sponsors, and/or National Honor Society current members. Interview questions will be created by National Honor Society officer representatives, faculty council, sponsors, and/or National Honor Society current members. The questions are to help the applicant show how they intend to be an active addition to the chapter and how they plan on contributing ideas which will demonstrate scholarship, leadership, service and character.
6.
If selected the student will receive a letter of acceptance on or before July 1, 2015.
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SECTION I: APPLICANT INFORMATION
Last Name: _________________________________________ First Name: ___________________________
Mailing Address: __________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Home Telephone: _______________________________Cell Phone Number: _________________________
Name of Parent(s)/Guardian(s): ______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Email Address: ____________________________________________________________________________
Date of Birth: ________________________________________ Gender: Male or Female
Grade at OSH (circle one): 11 th
12 th
If Faculty council selects your application for further review, when would you like to schedule your interview during the week of
th
nd
th
th
?
(CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLIES)
DAY: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
After School 4:15 After School 4:30 TIME: After School 4:00
CLASS SCHEDULE
1A
1B
2A
2B
3A
3B
4A
4B

SECTION II: CO-CURRICULAR INVOLVEMENT
List activities in which you have participated during high school . Include clubs, teams, classes, musical groups, organizations, etc., and major accomplishments in each. A sponsor or coach signature is required for each entry below.
Activity
Sample: Class of 2016
Year
List the ways in which you have been involved with
9 10 11 12 this organization. x x x x Active member: Homecoming float decorations committee
Sponsor’s Signature xxxxxxxxx
SECTION III: COMMUNITY SERVICE
List community service activities, affiliated with an organization , in which you have actively participated during this school year and the past high school years. Include service activities outside of school that support your community and for which you received no payment . Examples are scouting, church activities, visiting nursing homes, working with homeless people, environmental protection activities, working for the SPCA, volunteering at a hospital or library, Special Olympics, fundraising for charities and others.
NOTE: Recreational sports are not considered community service if your main involvement is as a player.
Community
Activity
Sample: Relay for
Life Participant
Year
Hours
(Per
9 10 11 12
x x visit)
2
Frequency
(check one) weekly monthly
 one time weekly monthly one time weekly monthly one time weekly monthly one time weekly monthly one time
Explain the ways in which you helped this organization.
Participant: raised money for
Breast Cancer
Sponsor’s Signature xxxxxxx

SECTION IV: LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
List elected or appointed leadership positions held in high school, community, or work activities. Only those positions in which you were directly responsible for directing or motivating others should be included. For example: elected student body, class, or club officer, committee chairperson, team captain, newspaper editor, work area manager, or community leader.
Position Activity or Club
Year
Sponsor’s Signature
Sample: Captain AAU Baseball
Explain the duties performed in this position.
Organized team building events, called team about schedule changes
9 10 11 12
x xxxxxx
SECTION V: RECOGNITION AND AWARDS
List recognition, honors, and awards that you have received either from an organization at Oscar Smith High
School or in the community that would support you being considered as a candidate for membership in the
National Honor Society. Only have your guidance counselor verify awards like honor roll, superintendent’s list, an academic letter, or Merit scholar recognition.
Recognition or Award
Sample: MVP Award
Organization or
Group
JV Cheerleading
Year
Sponsor’s Signature x
9 10 11 12 xxxxx
SECTION VI: PERSONAL ESSAY
(Not to exceed 3 pages, Times New Roman Font, 12 point font, 1.5 spaced) o Why are you interested in being a part of the Oscar F. Smith National Honor Society Chapter? o Please describe an example of an activity, event or involvement in your community illustrates your character through your leadership, service or scholarship. The committee is especially interested in seeing demonstrations of outstanding character and concrete evidence that you have a commitment to something outside of yourself- to other people or causes. o Please describe any original ideas in which you would contribute to the National Honor Society for scholarship, leadership, service and character.

SECTION VII: SIGNATURE PAGE
I.
I understand that by submitting this application does not guarantee placement into the National
Honor Society at Oscar F. Smith High School
Applicant Initial Here: _______________ Parent/Guardian Initial Here: ________________
II.
I understand that if the Faculty council selects my application for further review I will be required to participate in an Interview session to be considered for NHS chapter membership; however this does not guarantee placement into the National Honor Society at Oscar F. Smith High School.
Applicant Initial Here: _______________ Parent/Guardian Initial Here: ________________
III.
I have read the Oscar F. Smith National Honor Society Chapter Bylaws and am agreeing to follow all responsibilities as a NHS chapter member such as:
1.
Attending all general meetings
2.
Attendance at induction ceremony
3.
Participation in NHS community service activities
4.
Participation in NHS fundraising activities
5.
Paying annual dues on time
6.
Signing annual contracts
7.
Following all rules and guidelines set forth in the Chapter Bylaws
Applicant Initial Here: _______________ Parent/Guardian Initial Here: ________________
IV.
I certify that all information given on this application is true and correct.
Applicant Initial Here: _______________ Parent/Guardian Initial Here: ________________

SECTION VIII: TEACHER RECOMMENDATION
Please complete this form and return it to the student in the envelope he or she provided. Please be sure to sign over the seal of the envelope. This recommendation will be kept confidential, so thank you in advance for your honesty and candor.
Student Name (Please Print): __________________________________________________________________
Teacher Name (Please Print): _________________________________________________________________
List the course(s) you have taught this student and circle the year you taught them:
______________________________________________ (circle one) 9 th
grade 10 th
grade 11 th
______________________________________________ (circle one) 9 th
______________________________________________ (circle one) 9 th
grade 10
grade 10 th th
grade 11
grade 11 th th
grade
grade
grade
What are the first three words that come to your mind to describe this student?
____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________
Please check appropriate box
EXCELLENT AVERAGE BELOW
AVERAGE
NO BASIS
Academic Integrity
Personal Integrity
Leadership in Classroom
Respect for Others
Respect for Self
Responsibility
Motivation
Works Well with Others
Class Attitude
Class Participation
Fairness
How strongly do you recommend this student for admission into the OSH chapter of the NHS?
Enthusiastically
Recommend
Recommend Recommend with
Reservation
Do not
Recommend

Because all of the candidates applying for NHS have met the scholarship guidelines, please use the rubric below to review the information packets for the remaining three membership qualities and to prepare for the council review meeting. Candidates who are inducted into the National Honor Society should receive no lower than a 3 in any category.
Incomplete packets, those lacking signatures or information, will not be eligible for consideration.
Service—as a member of the Oscar Smith High School Community.
Ideal candidates are committed to the improvement of the school community. They participate in school sponsored activities and demonstrate dedication through their involvement.
4—Stellar
These candidates demonstrate involvement in a variety of activities. These candidates are not only involved in a variety of activities, but they also demonstrate dedication with their involvement. This dedication is obvious through maintained involvement, detailed narratives about the ways they have been involved with the activity, and through a connection between their involvements listed in the
“Co-curricular” section and the “Leadership” section of the application.
3—Outstanding
These candidates may demonstrate one of three profiles. Some candidates demonstrate a focused involvement in activities—revolving around one sphere of interest (like a sport, theatre, or student government). However, these candidates are fully engaged in all that
Smith has to offer in that sphere. Other candidates may exhibit involvement through maintained participation, but the narratives provided are generalized. The final candidate profile exhibits service to Smith through a surge of involvement beginning in tenth or eleventh grade, and the accompanying narratives are filled with details regarding their specific service to their co-curricular activities.
2—Involved
Involved candidates may demonstrate waning service (perhaps a drop in involvement since ninth or tenth grade), but are still involved in one or two activities at Smith. Some of these activities require little time or participation as evidenced by the narrative provided.
Students scoring a 2 may also have overly generalized or vague narratives.
1—Emerging
Candidates with emerging co-curricular involvement are just beginning to participate in all that Smith has to offer. With time these candidates may demonstrate the outstanding level of dedication to the Smith community necessary for National Honor Society members.
Service—as a member of the community at large
Ideal candidates recognize the ways that they can help better the community. They work through school, church, or volunteer groups to put their time and talents towards the service of others.
4—Stellar
These candidates demonstrate sustained involvement in volunteer activities. This dedication is obvious through maintained involvement and detailed narratives about the ways they have been involved with the activity. Their volunteer work extends beyond one or two one-time, once-a-year activities. Often these students blend their interests and talents with their volunteerism.
3—Outstanding
These candidates may demonstrate one of three profiles. Some candidates demonstrate involvement in a few volunteer activities— revolving around one time volunteer commitments. However, these commitments do occur yearly, demonstrating dedication to these causes. Other candidates may exhibit involvement through maintained participation, but the narratives provided are generalized. The final candidate profile exhibits service through a surge of involvement beginning in tenth or eleventh grade, and the accompanying narratives are filled with details regarding their specific service.
2—Involved
Involved candidates may demonstrate waning service (perhaps a drop in involvement since ninth or tenth grade), but are still involved in one or two volunteer activities. All of these activities require little time or participation as evidenced by the narrative provided.
Students scoring a 2 may also have overly generalized or vague narratives.
1—Emerging
Candidates with emerging community service are just beginning to realize how they can give back to their communities. With time these candidates may demonstrate the outstanding level of service necessary for National Honor Society members.

Leadership—both in and out of the classroom
Student leaders are often viewed as those students who are resourceful, good problem solvers, promoters of school activities, idea contributors, dependable people, and those who are both organized and organizers. Ideal candidates demonstrate leadership in the classroom and through their extra-curricular activities.
4—Stellar
These candidates demonstrate leadership that has increased in scope over the years. Leadership duties are obvious through the detailed narratives they have provided about the ways they serve the organizations they lead. These candidates may serve as leaders on athletic teams, in church youth groups, in scouts, in volunteer organizations, in student groups—as officers, board members, or committee chairpersons. These students are also observed as leaders in the classroom, as evidenced through the all-faculty survey.
3—Outstanding
These candidates may demonstrate one of three profiles. Some candidates demonstrate involvement in leadership activities involving limited time commitment. However, these positions do reflect an emerging theme of dedication to particular interests. Other candidates may exhibit leadership in name, but the narratives provided are generalized. The final candidate profile exhibits leadership through a surge of involvement beginning in tenth or eleventh grade, and the accompanying narratives are filled with details regarding their specific service to the specified organizations. These students are also observed as leaders in the classroom, as evidenced through the all-faculty survey.
2—Involved
Involved candidates demonstrate waning leadership—perhaps a drop in involvement since ninth or tenth grade. These activities require little time or participation as evidenced by the narrative provided. Students scoring a 2 may also have overly generalized or vague narratives. These students may or may not be observed as leaders in the classroom, as evidenced through the all-faculty survey.
1—Emerging
Candidates with emerging leadership are just beginning to realize how they can grow as leaders. Often these candidates are observed as leaders in the classroom, but have not extended their leadership skills to other areas of interest. With time these candidates may demonstrate the outstanding level of leadership necessary for National Honor Society members.
Character—informally and formally recognized
A student of good character is 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. Ideal candidates are recognized for their high standards formally and informally through the all-faculty survey.
4—Stellar
These candidates demonstrate outstanding character as evidenced through their awards and achievements. These accolades come from an array of activities such as their involvement on athletic teams, in church organizations, in scouts, in volunteer organizations, in extra-curricular activities, or through academics. These students are also observed as terrific citizens by their teachers as evidenced through an all-faculty survey. In addition, their essays demonstrate dedication to high standards.
3—Outstanding
These candidates may exhibit accolades in a field of interest and are observed as commendable citizens by their teachers. While these candidates may not have the variety of accomplishments of stellar candidates, their essays and teacher feedback demonstrate the kind of character becoming of National Honor Society members. These students write adequate essays that may need more concrete detail, but are well written.
2—Growing
These candidates demonstrate inconsistent dedication to their pursuits, as evidenced by vague narratives throughout the application or essays that reflect composing flaws. These students may have demonstrated a pattern of character complaints, as evidenced through the all-faculty survey.
1—Emerging
Candidates with emerging character are just beginning to realize how they can improve their character. These candidates may have honor code violations. With time these candidates may demonstrate the outstanding level of character necessary for National Honor
Society members.