Selection
Criteria
The NHS National Council establishes
the national standards for all NHS chapters. Local chapters create their own
by-laws which are to be consistent with and comply with the NHS National
Constitution.
Any student in grades 10 through 12 in a school with both an official charter of
the National Honor Society and an affiliation with the NASSP Department of
Student Activities is eligible for consideration for membership in the National
Honor Society (instructions for obtaining a Charter and/or affiliation are found
on the pages that follow). All membership selection is handled through the local
school chapter.
NHS is more than just an honor roll. The NHS chapter establishes rules for
membership that are based upon a student's outstanding performance in the areas
of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. These four criteria for
selection form the foundation upon which the organization and its activities are
built.
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Scholarship:
"students
who have a grade point average of 3.5 or a higher, set by the local
school's faculty council meet the scholarship requirement for membership.
These students are then eligible for consideration on the basis of service,
leadership, and character." (NHS Constitution, Article IX, section 2)
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Service:
This quality is defined through the voluntary contributions made by a
student to the school or community, done without compensation and with a
positive, courteous, and enthusiastic spirit.
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Leadership:
Student leaders are those who are resourceful, good problem solvers,
promoters of school activities, idea-contributors, dependable, and persons
who exemplify positive attitudes about life. Leadership experiences can be
drawn from school or community activity while working with or for others.
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Character:
The student of good character upholds principles of morality and
ethics, is cooperative, demonstrates high standards of honesty and
reliability, shows courtesy, concern and respect for others and generally
maintains a good and clean lifestyle.
Specific standards for these four
criteria may vary from one school to the next. Such variations are acceptable as
long as they do not fall below the standards set by the National Council of the
NHS. All chapters are required to write down the criteria and procedures used in
their local selection processes. The NHS adviser maintains copies of the local
procedures and has them available upon request.
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