NHS Membership Requirements

The National Honor Society has been established to recognize the academic achievement of students while developing other characteristics essential to citizens in a democracy.  Scholarship, leadership, character and service are the characteristics used to determine membership in this society.  To gain membership the student must display outstanding achievement in all of these areas.

Membership in the National Honor Society is an honor, not a right!  Students must be responsible for completing all requirements and communicating with the NHS advisor if any questions arise.

Students interested in membership are required to attend an informational meeting, complete a student information form and request leadership recommendations from school staff or employers.  Incomplete forms will not be considered.  Information forms turned in past the due date will not be considered.

The guidelines that must be met to qualify in the areas of scholarship, leadership, character and service are as follows:

Scholarship

To become a member of Andover High School�s chapter of the National Honor Society, a student must be at least a junior, and have been in attendance at Andover Schools for at least one semester.  Those students with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 will become prospective candidates.  A faculty council consisting of the NHS advisor, moderator,  and 5 faculty members will review student activity forms completed by eligible students.  In addition, the council will review the character and leadership recommendations.  This five member committee will determine, by majority vote, which students meet the criteria for the National Honor Society.

Leadership

The National Honor Society handbook uses the following criteria to describe a student who exercises leadership as one whom:

Demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities.

Exercises influence on peers in upholding school ideas.

Contributes ideas that improve the civic life of the school.

Inspires positive behavior in others.

Exemplifies positive attitudes.

Demonstrates reliability and dependability.

Is a forerunner in the classroom, at work and in school or community activities.

At least three (3) positions must come from leadership held in school or community after graduating from Middle School/8th grade.  All positions must be documented on the school information form along with a supervisor�s signature and phone number.  Students must also describe the responsibilities they had while holding each position.  Successful completion of leadership responsibilities must be able to be verified.  Election or appointment to a position without carrying out responsibilities will not be considered adequate leadership.  Examples of leadership positions include club or class officers, yearbook or newspaper (or other professional publications) editors, student council members, captain of Trojanettes or cheerleaders, captains of sports teams, committee chairpersons, 4H officers, youth group officers/leaders.  Examples of positions that are not leadership include positions in class projects or assignments, participants on a team such as quarterback or Trojanettes, sight reader.

Additionally each student must have at least three (3) leadership recommendations from a teacher, employer, or job supervisor verifying outstanding leadership shown in the classroom, in school activities, or on the job.  Students will be responsible for asking teachers and/or employers to complete leadership recommendation forms.  Those adults filling out the recommendations need to return these to the NHS advisor in a sealed envelope.  These forms must be received by the NHS advisor by the student information packet due date.

Character

The National Honor Society handbook uses the following criteria to describe a student of character as one with the following attributes:

1.  Takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously.

2.  Consistently exemplifies desirable qualities of behavior (cheerfulness, friendliness, poise, stability).

3.  Upholds principles of morality and ethics.

4. Cooperates by complying with school regulations.

5.  Demonstrates the highest standards of honesty and reliability.

6.  Shows courtesy, concern and respect for others.

7.  Observes instructions and rules, punctuality, and faithfulness both inside and outside the classroom.

8.  Manifests truthfulness in acknowledging obedience to rules, avoiding cheating in written work, and showing unwillingness to profit from the mistakes of others.

Each student must receive a minimum of seven (7) unsolicited recommendations from staff members.

1. Recommendations will be made by secret ballot/vote from the total staff.  Staff  members are asked to use the description of character from the NHS handbook as a guideline for describing students of character.

2.  Students who have had the following  problems will not be considered for NHS membership:

      a.  Detention given for excessive tardiness or unexcused absences.

      b.  Suspension for discipline problems

      c.  Arrested, found guilty or admitting guilt for a violation of civil offenses.

Service

Students must volunteer for a minimum of forty (40) hours for a community organization or group, or by doing volunteer service for the school after graduating from Middle School/8th grade.  Any work done through or for an organization without pay, reward or credit can be considered toward service hours.  You must include one activity which has a minimum of ten (10) hours of service work.  Examples of volunteer work might include work for churches, nursing homes, hospitals, charitable organizations and other non-profit service organizations.  Only ten (10) hours of the 40 can come from a school-sponsored activity such as the State Wrestling Tournament. 

You may not count work required as a member of another organization.  For example:  working concession stands, organizing a debate tournament if you are on the debate team, or doing a service project for 4H.  You also may not count attending meetings of various organizations as service work.

The student must turn in a description of the service work completed and must obtain the signature of an adult supervisor or sponsor.  A phone number of the supervisor or sponsor must also be documented.  It is preferred that this supervisor not be a relative of the student.

An appeal can be made to faculty council for special problems in these areas.

NHS Requirements  adopted OCT  2004