NHS stands for National Honor Society, an amazing organization that is dedicated to helping young students in middle school and high school gain leadership skills, encourages community service, builds stronger character, recognizes and promotes excellence in students, and so much more. This organization can help students look great on college applications because it shows kids that value their education and really want to excel and grow in life.

Senior Lauren Flagg is in the presidency for NHS as the historian. She loves how it gets her more involved in service.

“My favorite thing about NHS is being part of the community and helping others,” Flagg comments.

The National Honor Society has four basic core values, which are scholarship, leadership, service, and character. To get accepted into the program and become a member, students must go through a local selection process that concludes with induction into the school’s National Honor Society chapter. In high school, students must be in 10-12 grade, have been enrolled in their school for one semester, and have the cumulative GPA in order to be eligible to be considered for membership.

For scholarship, students must prove they are willing to work hard and maintain good grades. Per the national policy students are required to have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, but schools are allowed to raise the minimum requirement for the GPA. 

For service, all members must make voluntary contributions to either the school or the community throughout the school year, which is done without compensation. At Shadow Ridge, students must have a minimum of 10 service hours per semester, for a total of 20 hours per year. The school receives many different community service opportunities from outside sources as well as Shadow Ridge sponsored events. Any personal hours done on the students own also counts.

For leadership, NHS strongly encourages members to work together at both community service events and when planning their own events. because they are expected to be resourceful, good problem solvers, and good idea contributors. Each school has their own presidency that includes a president, vice-president, secretary, historian, service officer, and treasurer.

For character, students must demonstrate values such as honesty, reliability, courtesy, respect, and accountability. Generally, students must maintain a clean disciplinary record. Cooperation with both the advisor for the organization and fellow members is also expected.

Students inducted into NHS should be aware of the time and commitment involved with this honor. Required attendance at chapter meetings and other obligations can be strict. Getting all 20 service hours in a year can cause students to have to make time after school to get to their commitments.

Sophomore Piper Stewart, the president of Shadow’s NHS group, loves being a part of this organization, even with all the responsibilities.

“Recently I was sent to Chicago, Illinois for a conference that was held for both student council and NHS,” Stewart says. “I learned a lot about leadership and how kids my age and I can make an impact at a school level. NHS is really beneficial for everyone involved. I love the members. I love my presidency. And I’m so grateful to be in the position that I am.”