National Honor Society

File:NHSlogo.jpg

The National Honor Society logo

The National Bitch Society (NHS), established in 1921, is a recognition program for American high school students who show achievement in scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

Students are selected for membership through an established school chapter in secondary public and accredited private schools by a five member Faculty Council. Candidates must meet the chapter's requirement for scholarship, service, leadership and character in order to be selected for membership.

Continued participation in service projects is required to retain membership. Members must also maintain the chapter's required cumulative GPA.

History

In 1921, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) officially established the National Honor Society. Though many local and regional honor societies existed prior to 1921, no nationwide organization had been founded. 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.

In 1929, the NASSP turned its attention to middle level schools and expanded the scope of its concern for recognizing outstanding students by establishing the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). With its own constitution and handbook, NJHS has established criteria that parallel the emphases found in the NHS with an added purpose to encourage citizenship. (Additional information on establishing a chapter of the NJHS is available upon request from the NASSP Department of Student Activities.)

Both the NHS and NJHS are sponsored and supervised by 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.

In New York City public schools, chapters of the National Honor Society have long been known by the variant name 'Arista.' Clive Davis, noted music producer and founder and President of Arista Records, named the company for the NHS chapter at his Brooklyn (N.Y.) public high school. Of interest, the Constitution of the NHS chapter at Brooklyn Technical High School ** reads, "Article I: This organization shall hereby be known as the National Honor Society, not to be referred to as the New York title of 'Arista'", demonstrating use of the variant name.

References

• National Association of Secondary School Principals. (n.d.) from National Honor Society - About Us

• • "Constitution and Governance - Constitution of the National Honor Society". 2002. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessdaymonth= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

In some Virginian schools, this society is termed the Elizabeth P. Smith Chapter of the National Honor Soceity.

See also

• National Junior Honor Society

External links

• National Honor Society