By Sarah Voots
Image via Unsplash
February 2026
Over the month of January, NHS and NJHS opened their applications once again for students who were interested in joining their club. Applications were announced to students coming back from Winter Break, and closed on January 26, the last day of the semester.
The National Honors Society is centered around high-achieving students who value academic achievement and giving back to their communities, helping them practice leadership skills and demonstrating their good character through service. NHS and NJHS require that their members commit to their four pillars: Character, Scholarship, Leadership, and Service. The National Honor Society accepts students from grades 1o to 12, while the National Junior Honor Society is essentially the same, but for 6th to 9th grade students.
Students applying over January had to apply for membership through a forum given by the club. The forum asked for your standard email address, name, and grade level. For students curious about joining the club next year, the forum also asked for:
Personal reasons for wanting to be a member.
Service activities in which applicants have participated.
Elected/appointed leadership positions related to school, community, and work.
Other school-based activities and accomplishments in them (such as clubs, groups, or sports teams).
Finally, any other non-school activities or jobs and related accomplishments.
After completing these forum questions, students would then submit the form and await a response about their membership.
In order to qualify initially for the club, however, students must be open to participating in group meetings and activities and maintain a 3.3 or higher GPA. Applicants were also required to demonstrate at least 100 hours of community services for NHS, or at least 50 hours of community services for NJHS, respectively. Members must also commit to these matching these volunteer hours each year in order to keep their membership.
Even if application season has passed for the NHS, it is always something great to keep in mind for next year if you’re considering applying then. You can talk with your advisory teacher if you have any questions or if you’d make a good fit in the future.