Frequently Asked Questions

Please refer to Frequently Asked Questions below:

1. What is the minimum or maximum number of community service hours required for me to submit in the application process?

• The minimum number of hours is 30, but students may submit more than that. The NHS Faculty Council loves to see more than the minimum!! 

2. How far back does my Community Service Count when applying for NHS?  

• You are allowed to submit hours that you have earned from the day after 8th Grade Graduation up until the day before the deadline of your application. 

3. If I am accepted into NHS, how many hours must I submit each Marking Period? 

• Those students induction during the g 2023-2024 school year will need to complete a total 50 hours prior to June 1, 2025. Current NHS Members will submit 25 hours semester 1 & 25 hours semester 2 to equal the 50 hour community service in addition to attending all CNHS NHS events*. Please refer to the Bylaws about Probation and Dismissal if a member fails to complete the hours or grade requirements. 

4. What is a Letter of Participation? 

• A  Letter of Participation is a certified letter for a non-profit origination validating the NHS Member/Prospective Members hours outside the building. The letter must have official letter head, explanation with dates and times the hours were completed, contact information with a phone number and email and a original signature. This is how hours are submitted/validated for both when applying for NHS and when NHS Members submit hours.

5. How do I know my Community Service is valid?

• The FRHSD has created a List of Valid Community Service Organizations, which is located in the Volunteer Opportunities Page on our website. These are subject to change from year to year. Please review and make sure your hours are valid. 

6. When applying for NHS, how many recommendations do I need? 

• You need a total of 7 recommendations which are from Howell High School Teachers/ Guidance/Advisors/Coaches. Any CNHS Staff member completing a recommendation must receive a copy of your resume. The Teacher will complete an online survey sent to their FRHSD Email and will fill out the recommendation. 

7.  When applying for NHS, the two essays must be in what format? 

• Students applying for NHS must write two essays and are required to meet or exceed the required word count. Students must write in MLA format.  Any paper plagiarized or copied in any way will result in immediate removal from consideration for the candidate AND removal from NHS of the current member, if applicable.

8. Can I Peer Tutor if I am NOT an NHS Member? 

• Only Current NHS Members can Peer Tutor and earn official hours.

9.  If I participate for Relay for Life can I earn NHS Hours? 

• Attending our Relay for Life event at school does NOT count towards your NHS service hours, as this is simply a school event. However, if you are on the committee, these hours would count as you are helping to plan/run the event.

• Certain hours in preparation of the event MAY count towards service hours, if you were running an event at a non-profit organization (must be documented properly by the organization) where all of the proceeds went to the American Cancer Society.

10.  Does being a Manager of a Sports Team Count as community service? 

• The NHS Faculty Council does not consider being a manager of a team as community service.  Please review the valid hour section of our website.

11.  Does teaching younger students at a dance school count as community service? 

• Dance schools are a for profit business and as such does not count as community service. Participating in a community event with the dance school does count as community service.