National Honor Society

NPLHS is proud to provide its students with a local chapter of the National Honor Society, an organization formed in 1920 in order to encourage academic excellence.

The faculty council of the local chapter selects students who demonstrate outstanding performance in all four criteria of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. According to the principles outlined in Article IX, Section 2 (of the National Honor Society Constitution), the faculty council should first identify students with the prerequisite GPA and then evaluate the candidates’ performance in the areas of leadership, service, and character. At NPLHS, students must also be a sophomore, junior, or senior.

The scholarship requirement set by the National Council is based on a student’s cumulative grade point average. Students are identified for consideration by having a minimum grade point average of 93 percent in the Southern Tioga School District. The faculty council may raise the required cumulative grade point average. Students must also have attended the school for one semester. Once it has been determined that a student has met the scholarship criterion, it cannot be revisited.

The leadership criterion is considered highly important for membership selection. Some faculty councils may wish to interpret leadership in terms of offices a student has held in school or community organizations although it is important to recognize that leadership also exists outside elected positions including effective participation in other co-curricular activities offered on campus. Leadership roles in both the school and community may be considered provided they are verified.

The student who exercises leadership:

  • Is resourceful in proposing new problems, applying principles, and making suggestions
  • Demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities
  • Exercises positive influence on peers in upholding school ideas
  • Contributes ideas that improve the civic life of the school
  • Is able to delegate responsibilities
  • Inspires positive behavior in others
  • Demonstrates academic initiative
  • Successfully holds school offices or positions of responsibility; conducts business effectively and efficiently; demonstrates reliability and dependability
  • Is a leader in the classroom, at work, and in other school or community activities
  • Is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted
  • Is willing to uphold scholarship and maintain a loyal school attitude

Service is generally considered to be those actions undertaken by the student which are done with or on behalf of others without any direct financial or material compensation to the individual performing the service. In considering service, the contributions this candidate has made to school, classmates, and community, as well as the student’s attitude toward service can be reviewed.

The student who serves:

  • Volunteers and provides dependable and well organized assistance, is gladly available, and is willing to sacrifice to offer assistance
  • Works well with others and is willing to take on difficult or inconspicuous responsibilities
  • Cheerfully and enthusiastically renders requested service to the school
  • Is willing to represent the class or school in inter-scholastic competition
  • Does committee and staff work without complaint
  • Participates in some activity outside of school, for example, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, church groups, volunteer services for the elderly, poor, or disadvantaged
  • Mentors persons in the community or students at other schools
  • Shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students

Character is probably the most difficult criterion to define. The faculty council should consider the positive as well as the negative aspects of character. All judgments in this and other selection criteria should be free of speculation and rumor. The National Honor Society is a member of the Character Counts! Coalition. Through this activity, the society supports and recommends the use of a multi-faceted definition of character known as the “Six Pillars of Character.” A person of character demonstrates the following six qualities: respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring, and citizenship. Schools are encouraged to take this model, modify it to meet their local needs, and utilize it frequently in the work of their chapter.

In addition, it can also be said that the student of character:

  • Takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously
  • Consistently exemplifies desirable qualities of behavior (cheerfulness, friendliness, poise, and stability)
  • Upholds principles or morality and ethics
  • Cooperates by complying with school regulations concerning property, programs, office, and halls. etc.
  • Demonstrates the highest standards of honesty and reliability
  • Regularly shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others
  • Observes instructions and rules, is punctual, and faithful both inside and outside the classroom.
  • Has powers of concentration, self-discipline, 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 the mistakes of others
  • Actively helps rid the school of bad influences or environment

Once selected for the National Honor Society, students must maintain their high standing in the four areas used for selection. Violations in the area of scholarship, character, leadership, and service are subject to review by the faculty council. Once reviewed, a dismissal or warning will be issued. In the case of dismissal, the student’s membership card and pin will need to be turned in to the local advisor. A warning is not required, especially in cases of violations of school rules or the law.