AHS National Honor Society
Introduction to the NHS | History of the NHS | Selection Criteria | Meeting Dates | Upcoming Events | Bylaws | Disciplinary Procedures | Membership Obligations | Service Form
The National Honor Society (NHS) is the nation's premier organization established to recognize outstanding high school students. The NHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character. These characteristics have been associated with membership in the organization since its beginning in 1921.
Today, it is estimated that over one million students participate in activities of the NHS. NHS chapters are found in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and many U.S. Territories and Canada. Chapter membership not only recognizes students for their accomplishments, but challenges them to develop further through active involvement in school activities and providing community service.
In 1921, the NASSP officially established the National Honor Society. Under the leadership of Dr. Edward Rynearson, principal of the Fifth Avenue High School, Pittsburgh, Pa., the organization grew from the original Alpha Chapter at the Fifth Avenue School to more than 1,000 chapters by 1930. Equipped with a constitution, an emblem and motto, and a group of dedicated principals as coordinators, the new NHS organization quickly developed into one of the country's leading educational groups.
Four main purposes have guided chapters of NHS from the beginning: "To create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools." (from the NHS Constitution) These purposes also translate into the criteria used for membership selection in each local chapter.
The NHS is sponsored and supervised by the NASSP which appoints a National Council - the controlling body of NHS. In addition, National Council members also serve as the selection committee for the prestigious NHS Scholarship which has been administered annually in schools with NHS chapters since 1946.
The day-to-day administration of NHS national concerns is handled by the NASSP Department of Student Activities, headquartered in Reston, Va.
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. All membership selection is handled through the local school chapter.
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.
Scholarship:"students who have a cumulative grade point average of 85 percent, B, 3.60 (on a 4.0 scale) or equivalent standard of excellence, or a higher cumulative average, 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)
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.
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.
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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October 17
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November 21
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December 19
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January 16
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February 20
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March 20
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April 10
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May 15
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June 5
If a meeting cannot be attended due to sports or a prior engagement, email Ms. Mitchell or Mrs. Boyce before the meeting.
Mandatory Induction Meetings: Rehearsal, October 28; Induction, November 4
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| October 30 |
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| November 4 |
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| December |
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| March |
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Allentown Chapter Bylaws and NHS Selection Process
The National Honor Society Chapter of Allentown High School is a duly chartered and affiliated chapter of this prestigious national organization. Membership is open to those students who meet the required standards in four areas of evaluation: scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Standards for selection are established by the national office of the NHS and have been revised to meet our local chapter needs.
Students are formally selected to be members by a five-member Faculty Council, appointed by the principal, which bestows this honor upon qualified students on behalf of the faculty of our school each November.
Students in the eleventh and twelfth grades are eligible for membership. For the scholarship criterion, a student must have a weighted cumulative grade point average of 3.60 or better.
Those students who meet this criterion and pass the preliminary discipline check are invited to complete a Student Activity Information Form that provides the Faculty Council with information regarding-the candidate's leadership and service. A history of leadership experiences and participation in school or community service is required. Students should have participation in at least two student activity organizations or documented community organizations. These can include, but are not limited to: sports, Show Choir, Jazz & Marching Bands, Student Council, Class activities, Lifesavers, Math League, G &T Academic Competitions, volunteer fire/first aid squads, church activities, Special Olympics, and hospital volunteering.
To evaluate a candidate's character, the Faculty Council uses two forms' of input: first, school disciplinary records are reviewed; second, members of the faculty are solicited for input regarding their professional reflections on the candidate's character and leadership abilities. Any category 3 or above infraction for the preceding and current years, as per the student discipline code, will automatically eliminate a student from qualifying for National Honor Society. Other serious discipline infractions would be evaluated at the discretion of the Faculty council. Candidates, like members, may have no more than 4 tardies to school/class per school year and no more than 5 demerits per school year. Character is based upon integrity...having no recorded incidents of cheating or intentional dishonesty. It also incorporates positive behavior ... no record of skipping classes or of violating school regulations, and no record of civil offenses in the community. Character is also measured by cooperation ... willing to assist classmates, faculty, etc. with courtesy and respect for others. Lastly, character considers ethics ... wanting to do the "right" thing; having a positive work ethic that is demonstrated over a period of time.
These forms and the Student Activity Information Forms are carefully reviewed by the Faculty Council to determine membership. A majority vote of the Council is necessary for selection. Candidates are notified regarding selection or non-selection in early November. Following notification, a formal induction ceremony is held at the school to recognize all newly selected members and to install the new officers. Once inducted, new members are required to maintain the same level of performance in all four criteria (or better) that led to their selection.
This obligation includes regular attendance at chapter meetings held monthly during the school year and participation inthe chapter service projects. Service commitments are divided into group and individual service hours with a minimum of 30 hours of total service per year. As part of their 30 hour commitment, members must complete a minimum of 3 hours of community service per month. Students must complete a minimum of 5 hours tutoring time in the after school homework and/or math lab for each year of membership. Other individual hours can be completed through pre-approved service projects. Individual service forms must be submitted for credit of service hours. In addition to individual service hours, members must participate in group service projects such as the scholarship fund-raiser, The Giving Tree, and the Spring Egg Hunt. All new members, juniors and seniors, must participate in the FFA Banquet service project.
Students must also maintain a 3.6 weighted cumulative GPA as well as Honor Roll Status. Students who go below this criteria will be warned and placed on academic probation. If at the end of the semester the grades have not improved, dismissal may occur.
Member discipline records will be monitored. Any category 3 or above infraction will result in probation, and dismissal proceedings may be initiated. Cases of documented class cutting, leaving school without permission, intentional dishonesty and cheating at any level will be investigated and will result in a faculty council hearing. A member can have no more than 4 tardies to school/class per school year. In addition, the accumulation of no more than 5 demerits per year will be permitted. Should members exceed these limits, probation and dismissal procedures may be initiated.
Failure to meet any of the chapter obligations can be used as a reason for dismissal, following the appropriate dismissal procedures.
Members of the National Honor Society may be disciplined or dismissed for failure to maintain standards of scholarship, leadership, character or servicethat were used as the basis of their selection. When questions are raised regarding these standards, the advisors of the National Honor Society will call a meeting of the NHS Faculty Council. The purpose of the meeting would be to review pertinent information about the failure to maintain National Honor Society standards. The student in question may attend the hearing with a parent. At this point the national guidelines indicate that representation by legal counsel is not appropriate Following the taking of evidence, the Faculty Council will be sequestered and reach a decision regarding disciplinary actions, which may include dismissal from the National Honor Society, for the student.
The decision of the Faculty Council may be appealed to the building principal. If the member is still not satisfied with the decision, student appeals follow the guidelines as for any other disciplinary action used in the school district. The National Council and the National Association of Secondary School Principals will hear no appeals in dismissal cases.
Students or parents who have questions regarding the selection process, membership obligations or dismissal procedures can contact the chapter advisers, Mrs. Boyce and Ms. Mitchell, in rooms 416 and 102 or by phone at (609) 259-2160.
