• NHS FAQs

    What is NHS?
    NHS is a service based organization meant to give high achieving well rounded students students the opportunity to earn recognition and to get together with other like minded students in giving back to the community.

    What is the purpose of the club?
    There are four purposes have guided NHS since its inception:

    • to create excitement for academia
    • to stimulate a desire for citizen service
    • to build leadership skills
    • to develop character in students

    How do I join?
    Students in grades 10th, 11th, and 12th grades with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) will be invited and sent a Candidate Information Form for membership about two weeks into the beginning of a Semester based on their grades at the end of the previous Semester.

    Why should you join? 
    The NHS provides members with awards and opportunities to recognize excellence in service.  The National organization awards more than $2 million to NHS senior members who have demonstrated a commitment to the four pillars of NHS and underprivileged students to college each year.  Additionally, there are opportunities to earn awards within the association at the national and local level for working in their communities or inventing things that aid the community.  Each year, the NHS national organization gives out five Outstanding Service Project awards to chapters that make significant contributions to their communities in the form of construction or beautification projects. 

    Being a NHS member is not only a positive thing to put on your college, and job resume, but the NHS national organization has resources to help student members plan for college, a databank of valuable advice directly from admissions experts to help guide them through the process.

    At graduation active members have the privilege of wearing special regalia/items signifying their length of membership in the club.

    Will I need to reapply each semester? 
    Current "active" members do not need to reapply.  They will just need to indicate that they would like to continue their membership, and continue meeting the standards for GPA, service hours, and character.

    How many service hours do I need to do? 
    This year there are two level of membership.  Basic membership need to do a minimum of 12 hours of service.  For those wanting Full Scholarship membership, the minimum requirement is 20 hours of service.  (Seniors who want the Regalia to wear at graduation will need to have the Full Scholarship membership.)  Up to 6 hours done at a community of your own choice may count towards this.  (Make sure you turn in your Hour Sheet in time.)  We will have plenty of NHS santioned events for you to sign up for.

    What happens if one of the 4 pillars of excellence is not met? 
    Depending on the violation, you will either be placed on probation with a given period of time to correct, or you will be dismissed.  Depending on the violation and the severity of the violation, student may be able to re-apply.  Under no circumstances can a semester of membership can be "made-up" if you were dismissed.

    What does NHS do for me beyond the school? 
    NHS is not only a valuable addition to a college application, but gives you many leadership opportunities which is great for both college and life in general.  Alumni members have achieved success in all walks of life.  Below is just a small handful of the many well-known entertainers, politicians, athletes, and other respected figures who got their start in the NHS programs. 

    • Troy Aikman (former football Quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys)
    • Jack Bradshaw (Commander of War Strategies)
    • Katie Couric (Journalist/TV anchor/producer)
    • Cindy Crawford (Model/Activist)
    • Elizabeth Dole (former President of American Red Cross)
    • Gloria Estefan (Singer/Entertainer)
    • Tina Fey (Actor/Writer)
    • Gerald Ford (US President #38)
    • William H. Gray (President of the United Negro College Fund)
    • Mark Hatfield (Oregon Senator)
    • Judith Resnick (Astronaut)
    • Dr. Bruce Ricker (IA Doctor of the Year)
    • Fred Rogers (Pastor, producer and star of the Mr. Rogers show)
    • Karen Silkwood (Union Activist)
    • John Stewart (Actor/Anchor of The Daily Show)
    • Carrie Underwood (Country Musician)
    • Robert Penn Warren (Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author/Poet)
    • ...