Membership
National Honor Society is a national organization that recognizes outstanding scholarship, leadership, and volunteerism. The Honoratus Chapter in Brookings High School must follow the national constitution.
In the spring of their junior year, students are notified of their academic eligibility. They may then apply for membership by filling out an application that requires proven leadership experiences and proven community service experience. In addition, the character of each nominee is reviewed by the faculty. Incidences of academic dishonesty or code of conduct violations that resulted in nonparticipation in extra-curricular activities will be taken into account during the character review.
Requirements
Grade Point Average = 3.70 or higher
Proven leadership experiences
Proven community service experience
Good character (no incidences of academic dishonesty, code of conduct violations, or other incidents not reflecting good character)
The national constitution requires that a faculty committee of five members, appointed by the principal, review each candidate to determine final admission. The chapter advisor serves as chairperson of the committee but does not vote.
Responsibilities
National Honor Society requires that to maintain their charter, each chapter must complete group community service projects each year and that each member carries out individual service projects. At Brookings High School, each member is required to complete a minimum of thirty individual community service hours while also participating in monthly group service projects.
National Honor Society members are honored at Awards Night in the spring of their senior year. At that time, they receive the gold tassel and cord that they wear at graduation.
Students who become academically eligible following the completion of their junior year or the completion of the first semester of their senior year are notified of their academic eligibility and invited to apply for membership in NHS.
Students who apply for membership following the first semester of their senior year, in addition to meeting all other membership criteria, must meet an additional requirement of twenty documented service hours completed since the end of their junior year. Upon acceptance as a member, these students would only need to complete an additional ten community service hours to fulfill their membership obligations.
Selection Process
Pillar: Scholarship
Following the completion of the first semester of their junior year cumulative grade point averages will be checked and students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.7 will continue in the member selection process.
Scholarship will be revisited following completion of second-semester junior year and a final time at the completion of first semester of their senior year.
Pillar: Character
A list of student names eligible for membership after examining scholarship will be given to BHS staff members. This list provides for the opportunity for staff to mark students with questionable character due to incidences of academic dishonesty or classroom behavior. If such notations are made the advisory council will determine whether the student continues on in the process of membership selection.
A list of student names eligible for membership after examining scholarship will be given to the activities director to check for any code of conduct violations that have not been expunged. If a student has a code of conduct violation that has not been expunged they will not continue on in the membership selection process.
Pillars: Service and Leadership
Students who have successfully completed the pillars of scholarship and character will be sent an application form where they can document their service and leadership activities during their high school years.
Students who have fulfilled the requirements of all four pillars of NHS will be notified and invited to attend an induction banquet where they will complete the process toward membership during an induction ceremony.