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{{Short description|US high school student organization}}{{Primary sources|date=April 2016}}{{sources|date=August 2023}}

factoids

| remarks = | formerly = | footnotes = }}The National Honor Society (NHS) is one of the oldest, largest, and most widely recognized co-curricular student organizations in American high schools.WEB, National Honor Society {{!, Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/national-honor-society#:~:text=The%20first%20chapter%20of%20the,Groves%20High%20School%20in%20Missouri. |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=www.encyclopedia.com}} More than 1.4 million students are members of the NHS.WEB, 2017-01-17, About,weblink 2023-11-14, NHS, en-US, The purpose of the NHS is to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools.WEB, National Honor Society / History of Organization,weblink 2023-11-16, www.fortbendisd.com, en, WEB, 2017-02-23, NHS National Constitution,weblink 2023-11-14, NHS, en-US, Membership in local NHS chapters is an honor bestowed upon a student by a Faculty Council and is based on the four pillars of NHS: scholarship, character, leadership, and service. Once selected, members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate these qualities.WEB, 2017-02-23, NHS National Constitution,weblink 2023-11-14, NHS, en-US,

History

The National Honor Society was established on March 1, 1921 by Dr. Edward Rynearson, a member of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), which is the parent organization of the NHS.WEB, National Honor Society {{!, Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/national-honor-society#:~:text=The%20first%20chapter%20of%20the,Groves%20High%20School%20in%20Missouri. |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=www.encyclopedia.com}} Rynearson, then the principal of Fifth Avenue High School in Pittsburgh, PA, envisioned an organization that would balance academics and athletics while emphasizing the role of high schools as a foundation for democracy. Prior to the establishment of the NHS, numerous local and regional honor societies existed, but the NHS was the first organization of its kind with a national scope.WEB, 2023-07-20, The History of NHS,weblink 2023-11-13, NHS, en-US, Since its inception, the NHS has expanded significantly, with over 17,000 active chapters across the United States and beyond.WEB, 2023-07-20, The History of NHS,weblink 2023-11-13, NHS, en-US, In 1929, the NHS furthered its reach by introducing the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) for middle school students. This expansion was complemented in 2008 with the creation of the National Elementary Honor Society, a collaboration between the NASSP and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), aimed at elementary school students.WEB, 2023-07-20, The History of NHS,weblink 2023-11-13, NHS, en-US, The NHS operates through a decentralized model, granting autonomy to local chapters for innovation and adaptation within the framework of the NHS National Constitution. This approach allows chapters to address specific local needs while adhering to the overarching principles of the organization.WEB, 2023-07-20, The History of NHS,weblink 2023-11-13, NHS, en-US, The operational management of the NHS is overseen by the NASSP, with strategic guidance provided by the NASSP Board of Directors. This structure ensures the continuity of Rynearson's vision and the organization's impact on students' lives. WEB, 2023-07-20, The History of NHS,weblink 2023-11-13, NHS, en-US,

Membership

National Honor Society chapters operate in all 50 states, territories, and many schools around the world, engaging and serving more than 1.4 million students. Each year, the average NHS chapter contributes:WEB, 2017-01-17, About,weblink 2023-11-14, NHS, en-US,

• 1,000 hours of school/community service
• $26,000 in charitable donations
• 1,000 pounds of food to local, state, and national causes

Scholarship

Since 1946, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) has awarded more than $23 million in scholarships to outstanding NHS seniors. Each year, NASSP awards $2 million in scholarships to 600 students, including 1 National Winner ($25,000), 4 NHS Pillar Winners ($10,625) 20 national finalists ($5,625 each), and 575 national semifinalists ($3,200 each).WEB, 2017-01-16, Most Recent Winners,weblink 2023-11-13, NHS, en-US, Scholarship recipients are selected based on their demonstration of the four pillars of NHS: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character. WEB, 2017-01-16, The NHS Scholarship,weblink 2023-11-13, NHS, en-US,

Parent and sister organizations

• National Association of Secondary School Principals
• National Junior Honor Society
• National Elementary Honor Society
• National Student CouncilWEB,weblink NHS, www.nhs.us,

Notable members{| class"wikitable"|+

!Name!Chapter!StateTroy Aikman>Aikman, Troy|Henryetta High School|OKAlan Alda>Alda, Alan|St. Thomas More High School|NYWilliam Cohen>Cohen, WilliamBangor High School (Maine)>Bangor High School|MEKatie Couric>Couric, KatieYorktown High School (Arlington County, Virginia)>Yorktown High School|VACindy Crawford>Crawford, CindyDeKalb High School (Illinois)>DeKalb High School|ILElizabeth Dole>Dole, ElizabethSalisbury High School (North Carolina)>Salisbury High School|NCGloria Estefan>Estefan, Gloria|Our Lady of Lourdes Academy|FLTina Fey>Fey, Tina|Upper Darby High School|PAStone Phillips>Phillips, StoneParkway West High School (Missouri)>Parkway West High School|MOFred Rogers>Rogers, Fred|Latrobe High School|PAJon Stewart>Stewart, JonLawrence High School (New Jersey)>Lawrence High School|NJMeryl Streep>Streep, Meryl|Bernards High School|NJCarrie Underwood>Underwood, Carrie|Checotah High School|OKWEB, 2017-02-23, Famous NHS Members,weblink 2023-11-16, NHS, en-US,

See also

• Arista – National Honor Society
• German National Honor Society
• French National Honor Society
• Spanish National Honor Society
• Mu Alpha Theta
• International Thespian Society
• National Art Honor Society
• National Beta Club
• National Technical Honor Society
• Quill and Scroll
• Tri-M

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

• National Honor Society
• National Junior Honor Society
• National Elementary Honor Society
• National Association of Secondary School Principals