About NEHS

The National English Honor Society (NEHS), founded and sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, is the only international organization exclusively for secondary students and faculty who, in the field of English, merit special note for past and current accomplishments. Individual secondary schools are invited to petition for a local chapter, through which individuals may be inducted into Society membership. Immediate benefits of affiliation include academic recognition, scholarship and award eligibility, and opportunities for networking with others who share enthusiasm for, and accomplishment in, the language arts.

America's first honor society was founded in 1776, but high school students didn't have access to such organizations for another 150 years. Since then, high school honor societies have been developed in leadership, drama, journalism, French, Spanish, mathematics, the sciences, and in various other fields, but not in English. In 2005, National English Honor Society launched and has been growing steadily since, becoming one of the largest academic societies for secondary schools.

As Joyce Carol Oates writes, "This is the time for which we have been waiting." Or perhaps it was Shakespeare: "Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer . . ." we celebrate English studies through NEHS.

The mission of NEHS is to:

• confer national distinction upon secondary school students for high achievement in the English language arts;

• build a national community of academic achievers;

• provide, through local chapters, cultural stimulation in high school environments; • encourage interest in the English language arts; and

• serve society by fostering literacy.

"Gelast Sceal Mid Are"

The NEHS motto, "gelast sceal mid are," is Old English for: "duty goes with honor." The motto represents one of the earliest forms of our language—it affirms and celebrates an obligation to use one's gifts in service to others. Service to peers, school, and community is part and parcel of the NEHS mission—and, indeed, in the grammatical structure of the Old English phrase, "duty" actually precedes "honor."

President

Lainey Sayers

The president presides at the meetings; initiates activities and sees that they are carried out; appoints committees and sees that they function; lends continuity to the chapter; and makes certain that the jobs are distributed among as many of the members as possible. The president should be aware of the importance of teamwork, and that the distinction of being elected president is an honor not to be treated lightly.

Public Relations Chair

Klariz Quijano

A good chapter should be as visible as possible. One member may be assigned the responsibility of keeping social media informed of programs, speakers, awards, and honors involving the local National English Honor Society chapter. This person should work closely with the yearbook staff. It is always important to keep the principal and other school and/or district administrators in the loop! The public relations chair also can make certain that fliers and banners are posted and that announcements concerning chapter events are made in a timely fashion.

Service Project Liaison

Alexandra Perry

This important role is responsible for designing, organizing, and presenting our projects' details to members and see that they are carried out. The Service Project Liaison works with the Chapter Advisors to help find rooms for meetings and events, make arrangements for food, ensure that invited speakers have the correct information, and check out equipment. School officials and staff generally appreciate working with one contact person, not many.

Membership Invitation

Membership in NEHS is by invitation, extended through a local chapter on behalf of the national organization. Membership in NEHS is an honor bestowed on individuals selected for their accomplishments in the field of English and in overall academic achievement.

The NEHS Constitution sets forth as minimum requirements for active membership the following:

attendance at the school the equivalent of one semester prior to being considered. (If special circumstances merit, the Faculty Advisory Council may waive the semester regulation);
completion of the equivalent of two semesters of English prior to induction as members;
the achievement of a minimum overall 3.5 GPA and English grade point average of a 3.7 (on a 4.0 scale) prior to induction as members; and
submission and payment of the new member enrollment via NEHS Connect.

Membership Fees

New NEHS members pay a one-time, $25 fee when enrolled into the Society, regardless of grade level when first selected ($15 of this fee is earmarked for NEHS membership dues). Returning members pay the $10 dues for the club. These fees, coupled with the annual affiliation fee ($65), fund all scholarships, grants, awards, and administrative costs.

Meetings:

Meetings are held in 5.214 on the first Friday of every month

Sponsors: Mrs. Nelson (room 5-214) and Mrs. Danielson (room 5-205)

NEHS-Bylaws-1.docx

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