National Honor Society
National Honor Society Advisor - Amanda Swanson
Please review the Walled Lake Central National Honor Society Bylaws.
What is National Honor Society?
The National Honor Society (NHS) is a nation-wide organization in American high schools, founded in 1921 by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Its headquarters is in suburban Washington, D.C. There are now over 20,000 chapters. Many of the more than 6,000,000 members have distinguished themselves in all phases of American society. NHS gives recognition to high school students who are distinctive in four areas: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character.
Purpose
The purpose of NHS is to draw attention to the values in education (character, scholarship, leadership, service) by honoring those students who demonstrate those qualities. The organization involves itself with service-oriented projects within the school. For example, here at Walled Lake Central, members have ushered at graduation and at PTSA events. NHS tutors fellow Walled Lake Central students in small groups and individually. We have held fundraisers for fellow Vikings in need and the American Cancer Society. We also have held large Blood Drives for the American Red Cross, as well as establish a fund to help fellow students in need.
Selection
Each year in the spring semester, qualified juniors will be evaluated in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character by the professional staff and the NHS Faculty Advisory Committee to be selected for membership in this national organization that recognizes outstanding high school achievement. The national office of NHS strongly recommends that the selection procedure be published to faculty, parents and students. Accordingly, you can review our National Honor Society Selection Process.
Membership
A minimum accumulative GPA required into NHS varies with the entering grade. Incoming seniors are invited to apply with an overall GPA of 3.5 and incoming juniors are invited to apply with an overall GPA OF 3.90. All members MUST maintain the GPA requirement according to their grade level. There is no deviation from this requirement. Academic rigor, attendance, discipline history, school activities, and leadership experiences are evaluated by the school faculty on a point system. The compiled results of those evaluations are considered by a faculty advisory committee. Those whose ratings meet the committee's criteria are accepted for membership.
A student may be dropped from NHS if his/her grade point average falls below the required grade level GPA. A warning letter is sent after the first low semester marking. If his/her grades for the following semester do not return to the required GPA, the student will be dismissed from membership and is required to return all certificates of membership, pins, etc. The exception to this rule is seniors whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.5 in the 7th semester of high school. These students cannot receive a warning due to timing circumstances and will be removed from membership. Members must adhere to the National Honor Society Constitution and the Walled Lake Central Chapter Bylaws at all times and abide by the requirements within.
Induction Ceremony
This is a semi-formal ceremony, for new members and their families, where all members are formally inducted into membership for the next school year. The event highlights past year(s) events and highlights the four pillars of the National Honor Society. This ceremony typically occurs after the current senior class graduates.
After Induction
It is expected of members that they continue to set good examples of high standards of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Participation in all NHS activities is also expected. Only active members who have met all the necessary requirements of NHS will be eligible to wear the honor cords and NHS stole at graduation.
Recognition
The fact that a student belongs to NHS is noted on his permanent high school record. College admissions officers see NHS membership as a label of distinction. At commencement, NHS member's names are starred on the graduation program. At Walled Lake Central, members wear a distinctive stole over their graduation robes.