QUALIFICATIONS FOR NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
Membership in the National Honor Society (NHS) is based on a student's fulfillment of four requirements. Members of the junior and senior class who meet all four requirements, as evaluated by faculty, and complete an application will be admitted to the National Honor Society. The four basic requirements for membership are scholarship, leadership, service, and character.
SCHOLARSHIP
Students are eligible to apply for NHS membership if they demonstrate academic achievement through their grade point average.
- Junior Year Induction GPA Requirement: A cumulative grade point average of 3.5 must be earned from the time the student enters high school through semester 1 of their junior year.
- Senior Year Induction GPA Requirement: A cumulative grade point average of 3.5 must be earned from the time the student enters high school through semester 1 of their senior year.
Grade point average will not be rounded to meet the minimum requirement.
LEADERSHIP
According to the National Honor Society standards, the student who exercises leadership:
- is resourceful in proposing new problems, applying principles, and making suggestions
- demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities
- exercises 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 and efficiently; and demonstrates reliability and dependability
- is a leader at work and in school or community activities
- is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted
- is willing to uphold scholarship and maintain a loyal school attitude.
SERVICE
The National Honor Society standards require that a student:
- 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
- participates in some activity outside of school: Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, youth groups affiliated with religious institutions, volunteer services for the aged, poor, or disadvantaged
- mentors persons in the community or students at other schools
- shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students
The SSHS chapter of the NHS requires members to participate in a variety of school and community activities.
CHARACTER
Each eligible student will be evaluated by the faculty and administration according to the National Honor Society standards for good character, which state the student of character:
- takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously
- consistently exemplifies desirable qualities of behavior (cheerfulness, friendliness, poise, stability)
- upholds principles of morality and ethics
- cooperates by complying with school regulations concerning property, programs, office, halls, etc
- demonstrates the highest standards of honesty and reliability
- shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others; observes instructions and rules
- exhibits concentration and sustained attention as shown by perseverance and application to studies
- manifests truthfulness in acknowledging obedience to rules, avoiding cheating in written work, and showing unwillingness to profit by the mistakes of others
- actively helps rid the school of bad influences or environment.
Character will automatically be questioned by events leading to suspension from school, consistent lateness, cheating, or other offenses brought forth by a member of the faculty or administration. If someone deems a student's character not sufficient, that opinion will be discussed with the student's current teachers, counselor, or dean, and the relevant information will be forwarded to the full faculty for consideration.
INITIATING MEMBERSHIP
Eligible students will be notified and are responsible for completing a candidate information form and documenting their service/activity hours. The faculty will evaluate the requirements of scholarship, leadership, service, and character for each eligible candidate. Final selection of the National Honor Society is the responsibility of the faculty. All National Honor Society members are expected to maintain membership requirements of the National Honor Society, including GPA, and to take part in National Honor Society service projects. The faculty may dismiss any member failing to fulfill these obligations. Dismissal will result in the removal of the NHS designation from school records.
