National Honor Society (NHS)

The National Honor Society (NHS) is established to recognize outstanding high school students. More than just an honor roll, NHS serves to recognize those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. These characteristics have been associated with membership in the organization since its beginning in 1921.

Westview High School National Honor Society Selection Procedure

To be eligible to apply for membership, student must:

• be a sophomore or junior
• have attended Westview for one term
• have a minimum weighted cumulative academic 3.8 grade point average

To be selected, students must demonstrate outstanding performance in:

• Scholarship (3.8 GPA)
• Leadership
• Service
• Character

The Selection Process

1. After Term 1 grades have been posted, students academic records will be reviewed by the chapter adviser to determine those persons who are scholastically eligible for membership.
2. Students who are eligible will be notified and informed that for further consideration for selection to the chapter they may complete the Student Activity Information Form, which outlines their accomplishments in the areas of service and leadership.
3. Candidates will return the Student Activity Information Form and the adviser will invite all faculty members to make character comments about each candidate that they have had professional interactions with on the Faculty Evaluation Form. School discipline records and citizenship grades will also be consulted for character documentation.
4. Student Activity Information Forms and the Faculty Evaluation Forms will be reviewed by the Faculty Council. Candidates receiving a majority vote from the Faculty Council will be inducted into the chapter. To further define leadership, service, and character, the following descriptions are from the National Honors Society Handbook, 18th ed.

Leadership is considered highly important. It may be interpreted in terms of the number of offices a student has held in school or community organizations, including effective participation in other co-curricular activities offered on campus. The student who exercises leadership:

• Is resourceful in proposing new problems, applying principles, and making suggestions
• Demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities
• Exercises positive influence on peers in upholding school ideals and spirit
• Contributes ideas that improve the civic life of the school
• Is able to delegate responsibilities
• Inspires positive behavior in others
• Demonstrates academic initiative
• Successfully holds school offices or positions of responsibility; conducts business effectively and efficiently; demonstrates reliability and dependability
• Is dependable in any responsibility accepted

Service is generally considered to be those actions undertaken by the student, which are done with or on behalf of others without any direct financial or material compensation to the individual performing the service. The student who serves:

• Volunteers and provides dependable and well-organized assistance, and is willing to make sacrifices to offer assistance
• Works well with others and is willing to take on difficult or inconspicuous responsibilities
• Enthusiastically renders any requested service to the school
• Is willing to represent the class or school in interclass and interscholastic competition
• Does committee and staff work without complaint
• Participates in some activity outside of school, for example, Girl Scouts; Boy Scouts; religious groups; volunteer services for the elderly, poor, or disadvantaged.
• Mentors in the community or students at other schools
• Shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students. 

Character is probably the most difficult criterion to define. Positive as well as negative aspects of character will be considered. All judgments in this and other selection should be free of speculation and rumor. A person of character demonstrates the following six qualities: respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring, and citizenship. In addition, a student of character:

• Consistently exemplifies positive and desirable qualities of behavior (cheerfulness, friendliness, poise, stability)
• Cooperates by complying with all school policies and regulations and codes of student conduct
• Takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously
• Demonstrates the highest standards of honesty, academic integrity, and reliability
• Regularly exhibits courtesy, concern, and respect for others
• Complies with instructions and rules, and displays personal responsibility.

These lists are for consideration purposes only and should not be thought of as a checklist for this criterion.