National Honor Society

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The members of the National Honor Society are selected from the sophomore and junior classes using criteria based on scholarship, leadership, service, and Christian character. Students who wish to be members of this prestigious organization must show a dedication to community service, leadership,and exemplary Christian character. Applicants qualify in the spring of their sophomore or junior year by having a specified GPA of 3.5.National Honor Society members organize a variety of activities in order to raise funds for their various projects which benefit the school and the community.

Scholarship: Students who have a cumulative grade point average of a rounded 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) meet the scholarship requirement for membership. These students are then eligible for consideration on the basis of service, leadership,and Christian character.

Service: Service is generally considered to be those actions undertaken by the student which are done with or on behalf of others without any direct financial or material compensation to the individual performing the service. In considering service, the contributions this candidate has made to school, classmates, and community, as well as the student’s attitude toward service can be reviewed. The student who is high in service: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 responsibilities;cheerfully and enthusiastically renders any requested service to the school is willing to represent the class or school; does committee and staff work without complaint; participates in some activity outside of school, for example; 4-H, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, church groups,volunteer service for the elderly, poor, or disadvantaged; mentors persons in the community or students at other schools; and shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students.

Leadership: The leadership criterion is considered highly important for membership selection. Some Faculty Councils may wish to interpret leadership in terms of number of offices a student has held in school or community organizations, although it is important to recognize that leadership also exists outside elected positions including effective participation in other co-curricular activities. In the words of Albert Einstein “Not everything that can be counted, counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.” The Faculty Council is looking for those GCA students who go above and beyond what is expected of all GCA students. Leadership roles in both the school and community may be considered, provided they can be verified, the student who exercises leadership is resourceful in proposing new problems, applying principles, and making suggestions.They demonstrate initiative in promoting school activities and exercise a positive influence on peers in upholding school ideals. They are able to delegate responsibilities and inspire positive behavior in others.They demonstrate academic initiative and exemplify positive attitudes.They can successfully hold school offices or positions of responsibility while conducting business effectively and efficiently. They demonstrate reliability and dependability. They are a leader in the classroom, at work, and in other school or community activities. The student who is high in leadership qualities is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted and is willing to uphold scholarship and maintain a loyal school attitude. 

Christian Character: Christian Character is probably the most difficult criterion to define. The Faculty Council will consider the positive as well as the negative aspects of Christian character. All judgments in this and others election criteria should be free of speculation and rumor. The National Honors Society supports and recommends the use of a multi-faceted definition of character known as the ‘Six Pillars of Character.’ A person of character demonstrates the following six qualities: respect,responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring, and citizenship. In addition, it can also be said that 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; regularly shows courtesy, concern,and respect for others; observes instructions and rules, is punctual and faithful both inside and outside of the classroom: has powers of concentration, self-discipline, 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; and actively helps rid the school of bad influences or environment. 

Service Requirements:

All members shall participate in two-thirds (2/3) of NHS sponsored projects for the year.

These projects shall have the following characteristics: fulfill a need within the school or community, have the support of the administration and the faculty, be appropriate and educationally defensible, and be well-planned, organized, and executed. 

Each member will have the responsibility of completing a minimum of 15 hours of documented community service each year and submitting records of those hours to the chapter adviser by the end of the current school year.

- These service hours must represent participation in service opportunities provided through or organized by the chapter.

Each member shall have the responsibility for choosing and chairing or co-chairing, a service project which reflects his or her particular talents and interests and is approved by the chapter adviser. This is in addition to the chapter projects to which all members contribute. 

A ember who fails to meet these service project requirements will receive a written warning and will have a one quarter probationary period in which to correct the deficiency. If the participation is not corrected by the end of the probationary period, the member may be considered for dismissal.

Chapter Director: MaryBeth Holland ([email protected]) and Cheryll Haugen ([email protected])