The National Honor Society creates a new level for American students to strive to meet, creates job opportunities, and most importantly, makes a program for students to better themselves while upholding the standards of NHS. Schools all around America benefit greatly from this program, with one of the main “pillars” of NHS being service either for their school, town, or country. Today Hunter looks at the local impacts of NHS, right here at Grandville High.

NHS was created nearly a century ago, being founded by the National Association of Secondary Principals in 1921, aspiring to “…recognize and encourage academic achievement while developing other characteristics essential to citizens in a democracy.” 99 years ago! Though there were a number of other programs dedicated to the same types of things as NHS, there was no group on the nation-wide level. NHS creates volunteer opportunities around schools that students fill and act upon, gaining skills and community service in the process! Jake Clarey a 2 year member of the group says “NHS has definitely made me more willing to volunteer, and provide service voluntarily without reward.

At Grandville High School, NHS has contributed a wide variety of things for the community and school. Landen Chulski, Grandville’s NHS president said ,“Yeah, NHS is pretty fun– it takes up a little bit of my time but I’m happy to give it up, next week I’m planning on timing for the swim team.” Students complete jobs like these for hours that are required per semester, with 15 being the number required here at Grandville. Other students have special jobs in NHS, such as Treasurer or Officers. Daniel Foster, the Hours Secretary here, took on the task of making sure every member has their hours or getting them opportunities to finish them. He says “It’s great to be able to help the members of NHS here at Grandville, it’s fun to conference with them to coordinate jobs!” 

“It definitely has made me more aware of the needs of the community and the way we can help [Grandville] thrive.” Says Sara Moss, Co-Advisor of the entire society here at Grandville: “Helping to organize events and jobs as well as select officers, and just being in the group overall has definitely changed my life for the better.” People that are involved with NHS have opportunities going into college with lots of scholarships, but being a member is also a great thing to see on a resume! Most students involved in the society have only positive remarks on it, like how it helped them into their dream college or taught them a valuable skill. It’s a great program to be involved in!

If students are interested in joining NHS, it is best to start early in their high school career; a 3.5 cumulative GPA is required, so starting and holding grades up will really ease the pressure later on in their high school journey. They must also strive to be a better person, as their service to the community, character, and leadership skills are all looked at before the individual is selected to join. It may not sound like much, but those couple things are difficult, especially to teens as they are adapting to the real world. So keep at it! With all of the work students put forth in these years, they will be rewarded at some point later in their life, whether it be their college acceptance, being hired somewhere they thought they didn’t have a chance, NHS can make the difference.