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

Today, it is estimated that more than one million students participate in NHS activities.  NHS chapters are found in all 50 states, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, many US territories and Canada.  Chapter membership not only recognizes students for their accomplishments, but challenges them to develop further through active involvement in school activities and community service. 

Additional benefits of participating in NHS

NHS is a national organization with a high level of recognition and respect.  Participation is very beneficial to include on college applications, scholarship applications and job applications.
Seniors who are members of NHS are eligible to apply for additional college scholarships including the NASSP scholarship which gives out $250,000 annually.
NHS at HCPA

HCPA first opened a chapter of the National Honor Society in 2016 with Mr. Morgan McLaughlin as the advisor.  Here at HCPA these students will take part in a variety of events starting with an induction ceremony to honor their achievement of getting accepted into the NHS program.  Other events include large service learning projects that are designed to benefit the outside community, small service projects to benefit the HCPA community, a virtual college fair, meetings and a special honor at graduation.  NHS students are also strongly encouraged to take part in additional volunteer activities that Mr. McLaughlin can help them set up during the summers or the school year.  In addition to their CP teacher, Mr. McLaughlin acts as an additional advisor to these students.

Qualifications for Hmong College Prep Academy NHS

Membership in the National Honor Society (NHS) is based on a student’s fulfillment of four requirements.  Members of the upcoming and current Junior and Senior class who meet all four requirements and complete an application will be considered for admission to the National Honor Society. 

The four basic requirements for membership are SCHOLARSHIP, LEADERSHIP, SERVICE and CHARACTER.

SCHOLARSHIP

Students are eligible to apply for NHS membership if they demonstrate academic achievement through their grade point average (GPA).

Junior Year Induction GPA Requirement:  A cumulative grade point average of 3.00 must be earned during freshmen and sophomore years.

Senior Year Induction GPA Requirement:  A cumulative grade point average of 3.00 must be earned during freshmen, sophomore and junior years.

Grade point average will NOT be rounded to meet the minimum requirement.

All NHS seniors are eligible to apply and compete for the National Honor Society college scholarship.  Mr. McLaughlin will explain this to seniors during their meetings and work with students one-on-one, as needed, to fill out the application and essays. 

LEADERSHIP

According to the National Honor Society, student leaders are those who are:

Resourceful
Good problem solvers
Idea contributors
Leadership experiences can be drawn from school or community activities while working with or for others.

SERVICE

The National Honor Society defines service as “Voluntary contributions made by a student to the school or community, done without compensation and with a positive, courteous, and enthusiastic attitude.”

The National Honor Society standards require that a student:

The HCPA chapter of the NHS requires members to participate in a variety of activities that may serve the school community and/or the community outside of the school.  These activities are each worth points.  In years where there are more applicants than there are NHS positions available Activity/Service points allow the NHS committee to decide which applicants get accepted.

Activity/Service points can be earned through activities such as:

Athletic team member or manager
Member of a regional or state musical competition performance
Member of an in school musical performance
Member of a drama production
Yale Summer Institute participant
Committee officer
Mock Trial team member
After school class other than credit recovery
Volunteer hours
Long-term job
Job promotion
Hmong Spelling Bee
Non-required summer school other than Yale Summer Institute
Non-school led college visit w/documentation
PSEO, AP or CIS class
HCPA school activity volunteer (other than for committee, class or other requirement)
Tutoring as documented by the coordinating teacher
Church activities w/documentation
Other leadership groups/activities/events
Please note that these point values are subject to change and categories are subject to addition or subtraction from year to year.

CHARACTER

Each eligible student will be evaluated by HCPA’s Honor Society admissions board according to the National Honor Society standards for good character.  National Honor Society defines the student of good character as one who “The student of good character upholds principles of morality and ethics; is cooperative; demonstrates high standards of honesty and reliability; shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others; and generally maintains a clean disciplinary record.”

Application and Membership

Eligible students will receive an invitation to attend an informational meeting.  Meetings will be held at least once a month.  Students are responsible for completing an application, documenting their service/activity hours and securing recommendations. 

The HCPA Honor Society admissions board will evaluate the student’s application based on evidence of scholarship, leadership, service and character shown within their application form as well as seen from their recommendation letters.  Applicants who were not selected may reapply at each application interval.

All National Honor Society members are expected to maintain membership requirements of the National Honor Society, including GPA, character and participation in NHS service projects.  The HCPA Honor Society admissions board may dismiss any member failing to fulfill these obligations.  Dismissal will result in the removal of the NHS designation from school records and depending on the severity of the infraction, possible notification of colleges to which the student has applied.