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 Columbia, Puerto Rico, many U.S. 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.

Eligibility and Selection Process

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for membership, the candidate must be a member of the sophomore or junior class. Candidates must have been in attendance at Central the equivalent of one semester.

Candidates must have a cumulative scholastic average of at least a 95% for credit earned based upon semester grades beginning with the ninth grade year to the time of selection. A student having one individual semester grade below 70% will be considered. Any student with two or more semester grades below 70% in any subject(s) will automatically be excluded.

SELECTION PROCESS

The following is an outline of the procedure used to select new National Honor Society

1. After the second quarter, students are selected based on cumulative average of 93% or higher. Those selected are notified by a sheet on the office door giving student numbers of those selected and instructions including deadline dates.
2. Students will be notified of the posting of the list above via the a.m. and p.m. announcements and must pick up information packets by the deadline given. They must completely fill out the packet and return it by the deadline given.
3. Teachers of the students fill out rating sheets rating the students on character, service, and leadership on a scale of 1 to 4. These are filled out and returned to the advisor who then adds the discipline rating based on recorded discipline reports. All of these are averaged based on categories for each student, and the category averages are then averaged for one rating number. Students with a rating number of less than 3.0 are likely to be excluded from membership.
4. When student packets are returned, they are read by each member of the Faculty Council. The Council then convenes and votes on the acceptance of each student into the National Honor Society.
5. Students are then notified of their acceptance. As the final part of the selection process, they are informed again of the duties and responsibilities of the National Honor Society. They then sign a contract accepting the offer of membership and agree to abide by the National Honor Society rules.
6. Students become members of the Central Catholic High School National Honor Society when they are inducted at the Honors Banquet in late April.

The following guidelines will be used in the selection process.
These will also be used in determining warnings and dismissals.

LEADERSHIP
The student who exercises leadership:

• Is resourceful in proposing new problems, applying the principles, and making suggestions
• Demonstrates leadership in promoting school activities
• Exercises influence on peers in upholding school ideals
• Contributes ideas that improve the civic life of the school
• Is able to delegate responsibilities
• Exemplifies positive behavior in others
• Inspires positive behavior in others
• Demonstrates academic initiative
• Successfully holds school offices or positions of responsibility, conducting business efficiently and effectively and, without prodding, demonstrates reliability and dependability
• Demonstrates leadership in the classroom, at work, and in school or community activities
• Is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted

SERVICE
The student who serves:

• Is willing to uphold and maintain a loyal school attitude
• Participates in some outside activity: Girl Scouts; Boy Scouts; Church groups; volunteer services for the aged, poor or disadvantaged; family duties
• Volunteers dependable and well-organized assistance, is gladly available, and is willing to sacrifice to offer assistance
• Works will with others and is willing to take on difficult or inconspicuous responsibilities
• Cheerfully and enthusiastically renders any requested service to the school
• Is willing to represent the class or school in inter-class and inter-scholastic competition
• Shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers and students

CHARACTER
The student of character:

• Takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously
• Consistently exemplifies desirable qualities of behavior (cheerfulness, friendliness, poise, stability)
• Upholds principles of morality and ethics
• Cooperates by complying with school regulations concerning property, programs, office, halls, etc.
• Demonstrates the highest standards of honesty and reliability
• Shows courtesy, concern and respect for others
• Observes instructions and rules, punctuality, and faithfulness both inside and outside of the classroom
• Has powers of concentration and sustained attention as shown by perseverance and application to studies
• Manifests truthfulness in acknowledging obedience to rules, avoiding cheating in written work, and showing unwillingness to profit by mistakes of others
• Actively helps to rid the school of bad influences or environment