OVERVIEW OF NHS AND THE APPLICATION PROCESS
What is National Honor Society (NHS)?
 A national program recognizing students who display exemplary scholarship, service,
leadership, and character.
 Membership in the NHS is one of the highest honors a high school student can receive.
What are the requirements to be accepted into NHS?
 Be a junior or senior with a cumulative 3.5 GPA. Your GPA makes you eligible for
NHS, but does not guarantee induction into NHS.
 Display exemplary traits in the areas of service, leadership, character, and scholarship.
o Service – Voluntary contributions to the school and community completed in a
spirit of enthusiasm and selflessness without monetary compensation.
o Leadership – Resourceful, good problem-solvers, promoters of school activities,
idea-generators, dependable, and setting a standard of behavior and expectation
for peers.
o Character – High principles of morals, ethics, honesty, humility, and respect.
Demonstrate honor and integrity in the classroom by not plagiarizing papers,
cheating on homework, quizzes, and tests, and discourages others from cheating.
o Scholarship – Maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA
 A five-member faculty council reviews the applications and decides who is accepted for
induction into the NHS.
I should not apply if…
 You have ever had a “D” or “F” on your transcript.
 Your GPA is close to a 3.5. If your GPA falls below a 3.5, you will be placed on
probation and given one semester to raise your GPA above a 3.5. You will be dismissed
permanently from NHS if you do not remediate your GPA in one semester.
 You have been suspended or received multiple detentions.
 Are chronically absent or tardy (been on U-9 list) or received detentions for tardies.
 You have been caught plagiarizing a paper, copying homework, cheating on a quiz/test.
 You participate in activities involving tobacco, alcohol, or drugs.
How should the application be completed?
 Neat, orderly, and thoroughly documenting your accomplishments and qualifications.
 The application should be filled out in pen, not pencil. The essay should be one page,
double spaced, typed, and free of spelling and grammatical errors.
 Signatures are required! Incomplete or improper applications will not be reviewed.
When is the application due?
 Friday, November 20, at 3:30 p.m.
If I am accepted into NHS, when is the induction ceremony?
 Thursday, December 10, at 7:00 p.m. (Tentative)
If I am accepted into NHS, what are the expectations to remain as a member in good standing?
 Maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA and participate in service projects such as the
Community Christmas Dinner.
 Tutor for 30 minutes a week during one of the regularly scheduled tutoring times for
teachers in math, science, English, and Spanish, at the Boyton Street Community Center,
Marion Carnegie Library, and at Longfellow Elementary.