Selection Process and Forms

Plainview Public Schools

National Technical Honor Society

Mission

To honor student achievement, character, and leadership, promote educational excellence, and enhance career opportunities for the NTHS membership.

Vision

To be the leader in providing recognition for excellence in Career and Technical Education and creating significant occupational opportunities for America’s top workforce education students.

Purposes

• To reward excellence in workforce education.
• To develop self-esteem and pride.
• To encourage students to reach for higher levels of achievement.
• To promote business and industry’s critical work-place values: honesty, responsibility, initiative, teamwork, productivity, leadership, and citizenship.
• To promote the school district’s Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, citizenship, and caring.
• To help build and maintain effective partnerships with local business, industry, and non-profits.
• To champion a stronger, more positive image for workforce education in the local area and in America.

Guidelines and Procedures for Membership

Plainview Public Schools recognizes and honors students for outstanding achievement in their career-technical programs. This recognition is achieved through a nomination, evaluation, and selection process based upon exemplary character traits of Skill, Honesty, Service, Responsibility, Scholarship, Citizenship, and Leadership. The highest recognition bestowed upon Career and Technical Education students is through membership in the Plainview Public School’s National Technical Honor Society.

Selection Criteria

The membership selection process for the National Technical Honor Society is:

• Student must be a junior, or senior.
• Student must have completed 3 courses in one CTE area or 4 courses in any CTE area
• Students must have an 90% or higher Overall GPA
• Students must have an 93% or higher in their Career and Technical Education program
• Students must complete the application process which includes writing an essay and submitting a resume.
• All students must submit 2 letters of support which detail: exhibition of the Six Pillars of Character, good attendance, positive work habits, safety consciousness, interpersonal skills, positive attitude, above average leadership, a good work ethic, and active participation in a student or community organization, if available.
• Students must pass the review process established by the staff review council. The composition of the staff review council will include all CTE teachers including the guidance counselor. The principal will serve as monitor during the review process.

The National Technical Honor Society nomination process and selection procedure has been approved by the Plainview Public Schools administration. It is through this approved selection process the Plainview Public Schools seeks to recognize those students who exemplify the high standards required for membership. With the honor of membership comes the obligation of each student to use their talents and skills for the betterment of others and to become active and productive members of society.

Membership Benefits

There are several intrinsic reasons a student may desire membership in the National Technical Honor Society. Membership in the NTHS is the highest honor that the Plainview Public Schools can bestow on a student in a Career and Technical Education program. Membership is an honor and a prestigious public recognition of outstanding student achievement. Members are recognized by employers, government officials, and college officials as possessing many of the qualities and characteristics which are indicators of future success.

Some of the immediate benefits for students include the following:

• Induction at a public recognition function
• A Certificate of Membership
• A membership card and pin from the national organization
• Active volunteer community involvement
• Eligibility to apply for NTHS-based scholarships during the member’s senior year
• Recognition at graduation including a special seal to be applied to the high school diploma and entitlement to wear the NTHS Honor Stole during commencement
• Up to three letters of recommendation for either employment, college admission, or scholarships from the National Technical Honor Society headquarters during the member’s lifetime

Selection Procedures

Selection procedures for the Plainview Public Schools Chapter of the National Technical Honor Society:

Step I: After the fourth week of the third quarter, the NTHS advisors will meet to determine which juniors and seniors have an overall GPA of 90% or greater, CTE GPA of 93% or higher, and have met the criteria of 3 CTE courses in one area OR 4 CTE courses overall. Students having met this criteria will be invited to apply.

Step II: All nominated students will be informed. Application procedures will be explained.

Step III: Candidate forms are to be submitted to the NTHS advisors on or before March 1.

Step IV: Students will be notified of their nomination status and informed of all selection procedures, requirements, and timelines.

Step V: Following final preparation of nomination and application materials, a meeting of the NTHS Committee will take place to determine final selection.

Step VI: Immediately following the NTHS Committee meeting, students will be informed of their status. Students not being inducted will meet individually with one of the NTHS Committee members to discussion application. Following notification, accepted students will be called to a meeting to outline the process for induction into the NTHS.

Step VII: New and present members and their parent(s)/guardian(s) will be invited to a recognition function which will include student participation in a formal induction ceremony. During the ceremony, new inductees will receive their certificates and pins.

Membership Standards

The inductee shall subscribe and consent to the following membership pledge:

“As a member of the National Technical Honor Society, I pledge to maintain the highest standard of personal conduct. I will apply myself to continue a record of scholastic achievement, and I will strive for excellence in all aspects of my education.

I will invest my talents, my skills and my knowledge in a career of my own choosing, and shall always endeavor to uphold my obligations as a citizen of my community and my country.”

12th Grade

For students inducted their senior year, participate at least 5 hours of volunteer service before graduation.

11th Grade

• For students inducted their junior year:
• Maintain an Overall GPA of 90% or above
• Maintain an Overall CTE GPA of 93% or above
• Participate in volunteer activities (completed by May 1) by logging at least ten hours of individually chosen volunteer activity.

Failure to maintain any one or more of these standards will result in possible dismissal from the NTHS.

Procedure if standards are not met:

• Notify student and parent(s)/guardian(s)
• Student is given a nine-week probationary period to fulfill standards
• If standards are met, student is taken off probation
• If standards are not met, student is dismissed from NTHS and relinquished of all the rights and responsibilities of belonging to the organization
• During probationary, students will not be eligible for the benefits of NTHS

Procedure for reinstatement to NTHS:

If the student has been dismissed from NTHS, he/she must return to the original selection process of being nominated by his/her Career and Technical Education teacher.

I have read and understand the above Membership Standards. I agree to the Membership Standards and, to the best of my ability, will adhere to them. I understand that if I fail to keep to the Standards of NTHS Membership, I will be put on probationary status and may be dismissed from the NTHS. In signing below, I will keep to the Standards of Membership, and therefore, wish to be inducted into the National Technical Honor Society.

Student Signature_______________________ Date__________________________

Steps for Application for Acceptance into

NTHS

1. Paper of Intent

Using complete sentences, write a paragraph or two on each of the following

topics:

· Your educational and career goals

· The career-technical education (CTE) classes that you have taken and/or are enrolled in at the present time and briefly, how they’ve aided in your educational and career development

· How you demonstrate the seven character attributes of an NTHS member (The attributes are: Skill, Honesty, Service, Responsibility, Scholarship, Citizenship, and Leadership)

· Your reason for wanting to be accepted into NTHS

This paper must be keyed using Arial or Times New Roman font, size 12. It must be no longer than one page in length. Your name, year in high school, and the date must appear in the upper right hand corner of the page.

2. Resume

Juniors are given instruction on writing resumes. Update your resume, being sure to include your co- and extra-curricular activities and any paid or volunteer work that you do. Turn in one copy of your resume.

If you have not received instruction on resume writing, please talk one of the CTE teachers.

3. Two recommendations

Ask two people who have been significant in your life to each complete the letter of recommendation for you. When choosing these two people, consider your past and present employers, teachers, neighbors, community citizens whom you have volunteer worked with or for, or clergy. In other words, ask two people who know your character and could complete the letter about your attributes. Do not ask relatives. They are to send the letter of recommendation directly to the advisor, as listed on the page.

Be sure to send a thank you note to the people who have agreed to write a letter of recommendation for you.

Turn all required materials in to ________________________________

by _____________________________.

Letter of Recommendation/Support

Applicant’s Name ___________________________________________________________

The student named above has been nominated by a Career and Technical Education (CTE ) teacher for admission into the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS). NTHS is America’s highest award for excellence in career and technical education. Nomination is based on the student’s exemplary character traits of NTHS: Skill, Citizenship, Honesty, Leadership, Responsibility, Scholarship, and Service.

The student must now complete steps to personally apply for membership into this prestigious organization. We would appreciate your candid evaluation of the applicant’s personality, character, integrity, professional promise and work ethic. It is not necessary that your evaluation be long. In fact, we would like you to limit your comments to one page. Please attach your letter to this page and mail to the address below. (Please call or e-mail me at the number/e-mail address below if you have any questions.) We thank you for your cooperation.

Your Name ______________________________________________ Position/Title: _____________________

How long and in what capacity have you known the applicant?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

I recommend this nominee with:

______ no reservation ______few reservations _____ some reservations

Please return this form to:

Ronita Jacobsen e-mail: rjacobse@esu8.org

301 West Pilcher Phone: (402) 582-4991

Plainview, NE 68769 FAX: (402)