Statement of purpose: Selection for membership in NHS recognizes those students who represent high standards of scholarship, leadership, character, and service. NHS provides opportunities for its members to grow through its many service activities.

Eligibility: Students who have the required cumulative grade point average are eligible to be considered for membership in the National Honor Society. Membership in NHS, as outlined by the national organization, requires excellence in scholarship, leadership, character, and service. Note that all four of these areas are necessary for membership; the required cumulative grade point average of 3.6 or higher does not guarantee selection. Students must demonstrate a commitment to West High through service, activities, and leadership.

Scholarship is the basic requirement. In keeping with the guidelines stating that "Academic requirements must be the same for all candidates in all classes," West has established a 3.6 career GPA as the minimum academic average to be considered for membership during the sophomore, junior, and senior years.

Leadership is also a requirement for membership. Leadership may be exhibited in the classroom, organized activities, in attitude, and of course, in elected office. This requirement may be fulfilled with leadership from activities both inside and outside of school.  This must be verified by an adult sponsor who is not the applicant's parent.

Character, an integral quality in anyone considered for membership in an honor society, is demonstrated by evidence of honesty, reliability, cooperation, integrity, respect, and concern.

Service, another requirement for membership, must be provided in the classroom, throughout the school, and in the West community. Examples of service include participation in clubs or organizations with service as their primary aim. It includes any work outside the classroom that is of service to the school, such as volunteering to help in a concept center, to aid a teacher, or to tutor students. Time devoted to an activity that goes above and beyond the requirements for that activity may be considered as service. To apply, Sophomore applicants should have at least 30 accumulated hours of school service, Juniors 35, and Seniors 40. In addition, a candidate may provide service to the larger community through such organizations as Scouts, church groups, or Junior Achievement. However, such service may only supplement, not substitute, for service to the school. Like scholarship, service is cumulative, so include all service since your high school career began. If you have questions about the eligibility of an activity, ask one of the sponsors. Those looking for hours can join the NHS prospective member Google classroom (code: 7jgdsxy). 

Process: 12th grade students with a career GPA of 3.6 will be invited (via email) to seek membership at the start of their first semester. 10th and 11th grade students with a career GPA of 3.6 will be invited (via email) to seek membership during their second semester. Candidates are asked to provide evidence of service to our school, school-sponsored extra-curricular activities, and leadership. Interested students should participate in a variety of activities and keep track of hours beginning with the summer between 8th and 9th grades. On the form, activities and hours must be signed by an adult sponsor. Students who have submitted their forms on or before the due date are then submitted to the faculty for evaluation. The faculty advisory council meets to consider each candidate. Letters notifying each candidate of the council’s decision are mailed for Seniors in early-October and for Sophomores and Juniors in mid-March. A formal induction is held in April.

Sponsors: Francisco Navarro and Blair Hopkins

Links:

• NHS Tutoring