Central's First Year of National Art Honor Society

National Art Honor Society, Champaign Central’s latest Honor Society addition, will provide students the means to volunteer through art. Monthly meetings are required for members, where projects will be planned.

Last November, art students grade 10 and above were selected to be invited into the program through paper forms. Sophomore and now NAHS member, Evelyn Schuchart, said that “the form included getting recommendations from 3 teachers (1 from art) and suggesting ideas for projects”.

Ms. Carol-Lynn Comparetto, Central Visual Arts Instructor and Co-Faculty Advisor to NAHS with Ms. Enrika Stulpinate Maldonado, said that the program’s goal is “to recognize and provide leadership and service opportunities for students who exhibit art scholarship”.

The first meeting was held on January 6th, 2022. NAHS member Abigail Davis revealed, “the meeting was in room 1425A, in the painting room…we went upstairs to the library to look, and talk about our ideas for a mural on the wall. We also talked to the librarian”.

This program will focus on “projects that improve and impact our school community,” according to Comparetto. As for what those service projects may look like, she mentioned, “two specific things we have planned this semester are a mural in the Den, an art show for all students- we have more projects in the beginning stages that we can not share yet”.

Close to 30 active members have signed up for this program, and are experiencing “opportunities for national/local recognition, gain leadership experience, participate in service opportunities, connect with other NAHS students worldwide, may apply for special NAHS scholarships/awards, and have potential to have their work published in the National Art Education Association news,” as said by Comparetto. Member Schuchart looks forward to volunteering through art: “something that interests them [students]”.

NAHS at Central, like other Honor Societies, is a part of a larger organization founded by the National Art Education Association, and therefore has special membership requirements. Comparetto lists those requirements: “all members must have taken at least one art class, have a certain GPA, complete an application and have letters of recommendation”.

She also mentions, “Applications to join for next year will be available next August, so if you're interested in joining next year be on the look out or email me!”