Hanover Central Honor Society

Advisor: Mr. Steve Gustas

The National Honor Society encourages excellence in the areas of character, service, scholarship, and leadership. The Brookfield Central chapter is composed of juniors and seniors who have satisfied the following requirements:

1. Character. Candidates will demonstrate excellence of character in their actions and will complete an essay on character. Behavior such as academic dishonesty, suspensions, athletic code violations, and other violations of school policies, or violations of civil law may welllead to a candidate not being selected or being removed from the organization. Faculty and administration are invited to weigh in on candidate character assessment - these recommendations, both positive and negative, count heavily in the application process

2. Service. Candidates will show community service through volunteering for non-profit organizations. Candidates will give evidence of at least 25 service hours performed since the beginning (September 1) of their freshman year. Members in good standing will perform ongoing service hours at specified levels. Acceptable servicehours are anyhours preformed for a not-for-profit organization and aretotally voluntary in that no credit orcompensation of any sort is involved.

3. Leadership. Candidates will demonstrate leadership through involvement in school activities as well as some position where they are leading others.

4. Scholarship. Candidates and members in good standing will maintain a minimum 3.500 cumulative G.P.A.

Application materials will be due in the fall of the year to apply for membership. Candidates build a portfolio that shows evidence of their leadership and service. In October the Selection Committee reviews the portfolios and selects qualified applicants as new members. Once chosen, members will regularly attend NHS meetings and projects, and continue to do community service.

Application and Selection Process for National Honor Society, HCHS Chapter


While the Advisor (Mr. Gustas) is always happy to speak with parents, students should consider the fact that they are applying for membership in a select group for which leadership is a significant criteria.

1. Any student who starts their junior or senior year with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or higher may be a candidate for the National Honor Society. Information will be distributed to the prospective students usually around the beginning of October.

2. Candidates are encouraged to attend an informational meeting, which explains the process for selection. At this meeting students will learn about the Selection Criteria and the deadline for submitting documentation. The date and time of this meeting will be made known through the school announcements and an invitation letter will be given.

3. Students will complete a portfolio documenting their leadership and service during their recent high school career. Methods of documentation are explained at the informational meeting. Students must turn in all documentation in the specified format by the deadline set. No documentation will be accepted after the deadline for any reason. All documentation must be complete and follow all guidelines to be considered for application. Please check to be sure all pages of the application are attached.

·  Application Personal Data Sheet

·  Application Signature page

·  Leadership Personal Statement/Service Statement/ Statement

·  Application Resume

4. Staff members are invited to comment onthe character of applicants according to the Selection Criteria and make recommendations - positive or negative. The Advisor will check for documentation of inappropriate behavior. This information weighs greatly with regards to acceptance in NHS.

5. Candidates are notified individually about their acceptance/denial. The Principal may hear appeals of any candidates who are not selected.

6. To officially become a member, selected candidates and a parent must verify understanding of the bylaws and accept the offer of membership. New members are invited to attend an induction ceremony at the Hanover Central Auditorium. This usually occurs at the beginning of November.

7. To remain in the National Honor Society members must continue to demonstrate scholarship, leadership, service, and character. In particular, all members must school complete ongoing community service each year to remain a member of NHS.

Comments

The selection process described above is meant to create a system that meets all national guidelines and maintains high standards of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. The selection criteria rubric is attached and will begiven to all candidates.

Selection to the National Honor Society is a privilege, not a right. Students do not actually apply for membership. Instead, they provide documentation to support their candidacy that the Faculty Council uses in making its decision.

Local chapters of the National Honor Society are not legally obligated to share with parents or students information concerning selection decisions. Parents or students who seek more information about the selection decision should consult the Principal or the Advisor and should not attempt to contact the Faculty Council members.

Hanover Central High School

National Honor Society

Application Due Date: October 3, 2014 at 8:05am

Members of the class of 2015/2016 are eligible to receive an application.

What are the academic eligibility requirements?

· A minimum grade point average of 3.50.

· No ‘D’ grade on the student transcript (grades 9 -11)

· No 'F' grade on the student transcript (grades 9 -11)

· A minimum of one semester of attendance at Hanover Central High School

What is the National Honor Society?

The National Honor Society was founded in 1921 "[t]o create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools." It honors the students at Hanover Central High School who epitomize its four pillars: Character, Scholarship, Leadership, and Service.

How are members of the Hanover Central chapter selected?

The NHS Faculty Council of the Hanover Central chapter reviews the applications of all junior/seniors who meet the deadline and academic eligibility requirements.

What criteria are used to judge the "four pillars"?

Character – Three teacher recommendations and their student character attribute ratings are reviewed. Questions about character raised by faculty are also considered.

Scholarship – The applicant’s grade point average is the primary factor used to evaluate scholarship. The student transcript is also reviewed for rigor or challenge of course work.

Leadership - Applicants are required to submit a brief essay detailing an experience with leadership. A resume that lists work history and extracurricular activities is also required.

Service - Applicants demonstrate meaningful community service experiences that were completed after their 8th grade year.

What does the Hanover Central chapter expect of its members?

Members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate the qualities of character, leadership, scholarship and service that led to their selection.

Members must attend weekly meetings with chapter sponsors and participate in all chapter sponsored activities.

Member dues of $15 must be paid to paid upon notification of acceptance.

Hanover Central High School

National Honor Society

Application Checklist

The application pages should be in the following order.

Personal data page with photograph of yourself (scanned photo is acceptable)

Signature page (with live signature)

Personal Statement

Service statement

Resume

The application is complete if all of these pages are included.

Applications must be received by October 3, 2014 by 8:05am.

Deliver completed application to Mr. Gustas in room 764.

Applications dropped off at office or in mail box will not be accepted.

Applications e-mailed must still be printed and presented by due date and time.

Hanover Central High School

National Honor Society Application

Personal Data

Name: ______

Last First Middle

Address: ______

Number and Street

______

City and State Zip Code

______

Home Telephone E-mail

General Directions: Use the checklist to be sure all parts of the application are included. Follow the specific directions on each page.

Handwritten applications will NOT be accepted. Incomplete applications will NOT be reviewed.

Return your completed application to Mr. Steve Gustas in room 764.

Deadline: October 3, 2014 at 8:05.

Applications dropped off in mailbox, to the front office or e-mailed will NOT be accepted.

Hanover Central High School

National Honor Society Application

Signature Page

To be completed by the applicant:

Have you ever been suspended? If so, please explain the circumstances.

I understand that completing and submitting this application does not guarantee selection to the National Honor Society. Not all students to submit an application will be selected. I attest that the information presented here is complete and accurate. I understand that falsification of any information in this application could lead to non-selection or removal (if your selection is based on inaccurate or false information.) If selected, I agree to abide by the standards and guidelines of the chapter and to fulfill all my membership obligations to the best of my ability.

Name: ______

(Printed)

Signature: ______

(Date)

To be completed by the parent or guardian of the applicant:

I have reviewed the application and give permission for my child to apply to the Hanover Central chapter of the National Honor Society. Name: ______

(Printed)

Signature: ______

(Date)

Hanover Central High School

National Honor Society Application

Personal Statement

Directions: In the space provided below, answer the following question in your own words.

MUST BE TYPED!

What makes the Hanover Central High School Honor Society different from any other club in the school? Does Hanover Central High School need it? What do you believe you can contribute to it success? (300 word maximum)

NHS Student Activities

Athletic

In this section please indicate your participation in athletic events.

Name of Activity Grade of Participation Leadership Role (Y or N) Type of Leadership Role

NHS Student Activities

Non-Athletic

In this section please indicate your participation in athletic events.

Name of Activity Grade of Participation Leadership Role (Y or N) Type of Leadership Role

NHS Work Experience

Describe your paid employment during the school year only.

Indicate how many hours you work each week.

Do NOT include work done at home and paid by parents.

Place of Employment Briefly describe duties Est. # of hours worked Supervisor and Phone Number

NHS Service/Volunteer Activities

School Related

Indicate service activities associated with a school organization.

Briefly describe the activity.

Indicate the school organization the activity is associated with.

Activity/Organization and Sponsor Briefly describe the activity School year

NHS Service/Volunteer Activities

Non-School Related

Indicate service activities associated with a school organization.

Briefly describe the activity.

Indicate the school organization the activity is associated with.

Activity/Organization and Sponsor Briefly describe the activity School year

NHS School/Non-School

Awards and Recognition

Indicate related special recognition, top awards, and top honors at national/state/school levels.
Do NOT include "Who's who references.”
If it is a semester award, indicate semester.
Do not include items you have listed elsewhere

Award/Recognition Brief Description School Year and Semester