National Honors Society recruits new students

National Honors Society is a national program allowing for students to get involved in leadership. Those chosen in Hays High will be informed by Oct. 31.

Courtesy Photo

National Honors Society is a national program allowing for students to get involved in leadership. Those chosen in Hays High will be informed by Oct. 31.

At the beginning of the year, Juniors and Seniors with an cumulative GPA of 3.500 were chosen to apply for National Honors Society.

“It is a society that has honors groups all over the United States,” co-sponsor Kayla Brown said. “NHS is mainly known for its support and want for kids to have academics, scholarship and service to the community.”

Those applying must fill out an application about themselves, answer questions about their own community service as well as providing reference forms.

“They also have to get a teacher reference and a community reference from someone who would know them out of school and turn those in as well,” Brown said.

After applying, student applications are sent to a committee with around 8-10 people.

“It goes to a committee of teachers and administrators who look at the application and references and look at who holds character, scholarship and service,” co-sponsor Cheryl Shepherd-Adams said.

Shepherd-Adams said that the committee looks for leadership and character with the most regard. Those who are following the NHS standards then move on to the Induction Ceremony.

“It’s a ceremony that’s at Fort Hays at the Robins Center,” Shepherd-Adams said. “It’s very nicely done. It’s run by the current officers of NHS; we have a guest speaker who we try to have for 15 minutes. Everyone gets to sign their names in the book, shake some hands and receive a certificate and pin.”

This year, those who applied will know if they made it by Oct. 31, and the Induction Ceremony will take place on Nov. 7.

For future students, Brown says that having leadership service for the application, will make the process easier.

“NHS is a great opportunity to gain the availability to give service to the community,” Brown said. “It’s also a nice resume builder to be in an elite group.”

19ibraun@usd489.com