Becoming a Member

Membership Criteria

The National Honor Society (NHS) is the nation's premier organization, established to recognize outstanding high school students. More than just an honor roll, George Washington’s NHS recognizes students who have demonstrated excellence in Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character. These characteristics have been associated with membership in the organization since its beginning in 1921. 

• Scholarship: GW students who are entering their junior or senior year of high school and have a weighted cumulative grade point average of 4.0 or higher, meet the scholarship requirement for membership. These students are then eligible for consideration on the basis of service, leadership, and character.

• Service: This quality is defined through the voluntary contributions made by a student to both the school community and the community at large, done without compensation and with a positive, courteous, and enthusiastic spirit. Each member shall have the responsibility for choosing and participating in volunteer projects that reflect their particular talents and interests. This is in addition to the chapter projects to which all members contribute. Members are required to complete 30 community service hours per semester and participate in at least 3 of our chapter group projects each semester.

• Leadership: Student leaders are resourceful, good problem solvers, promoters of school activities, idea-contributors, dependable, and people who exemplify positive attitudes about life. Leadership experiences can be drawn from school or community activities. Once becoming members, students are encouraged to head and/or join committees.

• Character: The student of good character upholds principles of morality and ethics, is cooperative, demonstrates high standards of honesty and reliability, shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others, and generally maintains a clean disciplinary record. 

Selection Process 

Becoming a member of NHS is a five-step process.

1. Declaration of Intent — The first step in becoming a member of NHS is to declare intent to become a member by attending an informational meeting about the society and filling out a Student Information Packet. The information meeting will detail the goals and expectations of the society and explain what it means to be a member so that potential members have a clear understanding of the commitment they will be making. At the meeting, potential members will pick up a Student Information Packet, which they will fill out and return to the NHS sponsors for review by the Faculty Council. Submission of this packet before the deadline is the student’s declaration of intent.

2. Faculty Review — Students who deliver their Declaration of Intent by the stated deadline will go through a faculty review. This begins with verification of the student’s GPA. In addition, teachers, administrators, and staff are solicited to provide insight about the nominated students. The goal here is to give adults in the building the opportunity to speak favorably about deserving students. 

3. Faculty Council Review — After the faculty has an opportunity to speak on behalf of the potential members, the NHS Faculty Council then conducts a comprehensive review of each nominated student. This committee is comprised of a core group of designated teachers representing each of the school’s academic departments (five members total). The review examines each student’s GPA, essay responses, supplied additional information from the student, faculty comments, and any other available pertinent information. When conducting the review, the committee utilizes the NHS membership criterion as the key benchmark for evaluation: scholarship, service, leadership, and character. 

4. Invitation — Students who the faculty council and GWHS staff believe will be strong, positive, and committed members of the George Washington High School chapter of the National National Society will receive a letter inviting them to participate in the annual NHS Induction Ceremony. Letters are distributed at the beginning of the spring semester.

5. Induction — Students are not members of NHS until they attend an Induction Ceremony. GWHS holds one ceremony each year, and attendance is mandatory, so students should plan accordingly. The ceremony is a pleasant occasion, and family members are encouraged to attend. Specific information about the ceremony is included in the invitation letter.

Once a Member, students address the four pillars of NHS (Scholarship, Leadership, Character, and Service) by upholding the three Chapter Commitments:

1. Academic Initiative - Each semester, members are expected to participate in school or community-organized activities that facilitate higher standards of scholarship and academic performance. This may include tutoring, participating in regular study sessions, and advocating for greater academic integrity.

2. School Pride - Members are also asked to engage in fostering greater school pride, and community appreciation. This may include collaborating with other school organizations to improve school climate through bully prevention, participating in school beautification, or fostering positive character through diversity panels.

3. Chapter Service - Finally, members are provided with unique opportunities to participate in significant service projects extended to the entire chapter that may affect many people’s lives. These projects will vary in type and scope, but all involve a respectable contribution of time and effort as service to the community.

Members are also expected to fulfill the following member requirements:

1. Maintain a 4.0 weighted GPA (per semester) — members are expected to continually strive to improve academically and be the very best students possible.

2. Attend and participate in all regular NHS meetings and events — members foster community relationships through collaboration in service projects and regularly attending NHS meetings and events. When leaders regularly meet with other leaders, positive ideas and actions result for the benefit of the school and surrounding community. Meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month in the auditorium at 7:30 am.

3. Participate in at least three chapter service projects each semester—The executive committee (comprised of 10 NHS officers and 2 advisors) will create five service projects each semester that address one of the three chapter commitments: Academic Initiative, School Spirit, or Chapter Community Service. 

4. Assist in designing and participating in at least one committee service project (per semester) — members exercise their unique leadership skills by collaborating with other members to identify and solve a problem in the school or community. When leaders create their own service projects, they can better take ownership of the impact they have on the community.

5. Engage in at least 30 hours of community service (per semester) — if 30 hours of service are not met through fulfilling the prior two member requirements, the remainder may be supplemented by service hours accumulated doing any legitimate in or out-of-school activities.

Contribute a $20 membership fee (annually) — this fee will be used for annual chapter expenses like the Induction Ceremony, activities, and service projects.