Membership in the National Honor Society is one of the highest honors that can be awarded to a high school student. The NHS has worked hard to bring the accomplishments of outstanding students to the attention of parents, teachers, peers, and community. Chapters in high schools across the nation strive to give practical meaning to the society’s goals of scholarship, leadership, service, and character.
Membership, however, is more than an honor. It carries with it more than certain privileges. The NHS motto of “Noblesse Oblige” implies a responsibility and an obligation to demonstrate and maintain those outstanding qualities that resulted in your selection. Both students and faculty expect members of the National Honor Society to exemplify honesty and integrity in and out of the classroom, on- and off-campus.
No student is inducted simply because of a high academic average. The National Honor Society strives to recognize the total student: one who excels in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character.
Scholarship: Members must maintain a 92.5 cumulative grade point average. Averages are checked by the NHS sponsors at the end of each semester.
Leadership: A leadership position (elected or appointed) is one in which you take initiative to assume a role in which you are directly responsible for directing or motivating others. Members are expected to hold at least one leadership position in the course of a school year. Members must document a leadership role and get proper verification from the group sponsor or teacher by April of each year.
Service: Members must accomplish a minimum of 10 hours of community service. Service/ Volunteer activities are activities outside of school in which you participate for the betterment of your community with or on behalf of others in the community and without any direct financial or material compensation. Specific locations to obtain these 10 community service hours will be posted each year. Members must document service hours and get proper verification from the group sponsor by April of each year.
The NHS National Constitution mandates that each chapter conduct a chapter service project each year. The Jim Ned NHS chapter has joined the Texas Department of Transportation’s Adopt-a-Highway program. Each year we remove litter from a specified section of Texas highway between Tuscola and Buffalo Gap, and it is mandatory for all members.
Character: Character includes but is not limited to the qualities of respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, and honesty, as well as upholding principles of morality and ethics. All members are expected to demonstrate a favorable record of conduct and behavior with regard to school and community rules. This expectation includes, as examples, not using tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs; inappropriate displays of affection; lying or cheating; being sent to I.S.S.; or being in trouble with law enforcement.