Club Spotlight: National Honor Society

The National Honor Society (NHS) has been revived at Champaign Central this 2022-2023 school year under two new advisers, Senora Thompson and Senora Cornelius, after its lull during the pandemic years and Mr. Zorn’s resignation as adviser. Four officers have been elected and the first group of applicants have been accepted. Meetings will be held in the morning of every first Tuesday of the month in the Library Lecture Hall.

As for what the NHS is, new NHS adviser and Central Spanish teacher Senora Thompson says, “It’s a national organization for some of the best students all across the country. It’s an opportunity for them to show leadership skills, qualities that students should demonstrate both in their school and their community. It also affords them the opportunity to earn scholarships.”

The NHS, however, is not open to the entire student body at Central. Senora Thompson says, “It’s for juniors and seniors. They need to demonstrate a 3.5 GPA and they also have to have a recommendation from teachers… First, they have to get invited, and then they have to complete the application process.”

As for what that application process looks like, newly elected treasurer of the NHS, senior Allison Hobson, says, “...You get sent the application in your email and you have to write your qualifications and service hours or volunteer work you’ve done in the past.” Additionally, guardians of the student must sign a form to allow them to dedicate their time to the society.

From there, members will be inducted into the society during a formal ceremony that is set to take place this December. Senora Thompson said, “We will induct in December the incoming juniors and seniors but we will also have the formal ceremony for current members as well… that never really got that ceremony because of the lingering ramifications of the pandemic.”

NHS meets every first Tuesday of the month in the Library Lecture Hall. Out of the 9 total meetings to be held this year, members are required to attend 5. The advisers expressed excitement for the project planning that will take place during officer meetings, held weekly in Senora Thompson’s room at the same timings.

Two solid ideas that may be pursued by the NHS include Toys for Tots and a thrifting shop at Central. Senora Thompson said, “Right now we’re talking about Toys for Tots through the Marine Corps, which Central has posted boxes before, but it’s never really gotten the attention…” As for the thrifting idea, Hobson said, “We have a really cool fundraising idea that we’re probably going to do. We wanna set up a thrifting-sort of thing that we’d set up in the gym; everybody’s going to bring clothes. This would raise either money for us or another charity.”

As for why the NHS has been quiet previously, the old adviser, Biology teacher Mr. Zorn had resigned from the position after a decade (and possibly longer) of sponsorship. Senora Thompson said, “...I get it, after 10 years it’s time to pass the torch. Maybe he’s exploring some other committees to lead. That’s great and it brings in new, fresh ideas, and fresh minds to explore what else is in the community and how else we can grow the National Honor Society. I would say I’ve been interested in the position. I wouldn’t wanna do it by myself. I think Ms. Cornelius was thinking the same thing and we’ve been known to take on ventures and projects together, and we work really well together.”

Senora Cornelius added, “Part of the reason that we didn’t have one was the pandemic- meeting with people.” Yet, NHS did indeed exist as an option at our high school. Senora Cornelius said, “It just wasn’t active in terms of meeting and volunteering, being held responsible for volunteering hours, and your grades staying up.”

Overall, NHS has lots of enthusiasm going into the 2022-23 school year. Senora Cornelius said, “I think I speak for both of us when I say that we hope it becomes an organization that allows students the opportunity to give back to their school and their community. It’s a chance to foster new relationships, to develop leadership skills further, and to continue with their academic excellence in school as we’re doing this.”