Location United States | Website www.nhs.us | |
Formation 1921; 96 years ago (1921)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||
The National Honor Society (NHS) is a nationwide organization in the United States, and outlying territories, which may consist of many chapters in high schools. Selection may be based on four criteria: scholarship, leadership, service, and character. The National Honor Society might require some sort of service to the community, school, or other organizations. The time spent working on these projects contributes towards the monthly service hour requirement. The National Honor Society was founded in 1921 by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. The Alpha chapter of NHS was founded at Fifth Avenue High School by Principal Edward S. Rynearson in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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National Honor Society groups are commonly active in community service activities both in the community and at the school. Many chapters maintain a requirement for participation in such service activities.
In addition, NHS chapters typically elect officers, who, under the supervision of the chapter adviser, coordinate and manage the chapter as a student organization.
History
The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) officially established NHS in 1921. 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 in Pittsburgh, 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:
1. to create enthusiasm for scholarship
2. to stimulate a desire to render service
3. to promote leadership
4. to develop character in the students of secondary schools.
Membership
Over one million students are estimated to participate in the National Honor Society. NHS and NJHS chapters are found in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, many U.S. territories, and Canada. They can also be found in areas of Asia; Pakistan has three schools maintaining an active chapter. They further can be found in international and American schools throughout the globe.
Motto
The NHS motto is noblesse oblige. This is French for "nobility obligates". The Dictionnaire de l'Académie française defines it thus:
- Whoever claims to be noble must conduct himself nobly.
- (Figuratively) One must act in a fashion that conforms to one's position, and with the reputation that one has earned.
Scholarship
Since 1946, the National Honor Society has given out more than $12 million in scholarship grants. Among all the applicants, 300 will receive $1,500 each while 25 will get $3,000 each (with an additional $1,500 added to the national semifinalist award), and one will receive the award of $15,500 plus $12,500 to the national finalist award.