Honor Societies

The National Honor Society (NHS) is a nationwide organization for high school students in the United States. Selection is based on four criteria: scholarship (academic achievement), leadership, service, and character. St. Thomas Aquinas High School maintains strict requirements for students who wish to be accepted into NHS, including a 3.9 GPA, annual service hours, outstanding character, and strong leadership.

Requirements

At the end of the 1st semester of the junior year those students who have a minimum of a 3.9 cumulative grade point average will be invited to participate in the National Honor Society selection process. Students are expected to demonstrate service by volunteering a minimum of 50 hours each school year. Service that is not recorded with Religion Service person in adherence to the specific dates, i.e., summer hours submitted in September, will not be honored at selection time. It is noted that meeting deadlines is the responsibility of the student. The requisite junior hours must be completed in the first semester and submitted prior to mid-term exams for the selection process which takes place early in the second semester. Not meeting deadlines will eliminate the student from the selection process. Students transferring to STA must have service documented through the chairperson of the Theology Department.

The Society honors those students who have demonstrated throughout their high school years, superiority in Leadership, Service, Scholarship, and Character. As an honor society, issues of academic integrity and non adherence to school policy will negatively impact candidacy. Examples of superiority in these areas must be evident and verifiable for each of the three years before induction and must be maintained throughout the senior year. Periodic review of members’ Leadership, Service, Character and Scholarship is taken to ensure good standing. Students falling below the required GPA will be placed on probation with the Society and be reviewed after one marking period.

The following list should be of help to students and their parents in understanding what is meant by Leadership, Service, and Character.

Leadership: The student who exercises leadership:

• Is resourceful in proposing new problems, applying principles, and making suggestions
• Demonstrates leadership in promoting school activities
• Exercises influence on peers in upholding school ideas
• Contributes ideas that improve the civic life of the school
• Is able to delegate responsibilities
• Exemplifies positive attitudes
• Inspires positive behavior in others - Demonstrates academic initiative
• Successfully holds school offices or positions of responsibility, conducting business effectively, and without prodding, demonstrates reliability and dependability
• Demonstrates leadership in the classroom, at work, and in school or community activities
• Is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted
  N. B. Students are expected to demonstrate leadership through school clubs, sports and activities.

Service: The student who serves:

• Is willing to uphold scholarship and maintain a loyal school attitude
• Participates in some outside activity: Girl Scouts; Boy Scouts; church groups; volunteer services for the aged, poor, or disadvantaged; family duties
• Volunteers dependable, 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 any requested service to the school
• Is willing to represent the class or school in interclass and interscholastic competition
• Performs committee and staff work without complaint
• Demonstrates courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students
  N.B. Students are expected to demonstrate service by volunteering a minimum of 50 hours of service each school year. The requisite junior hours must be completed and submitted prior to mid-term exams. Students transferring to STA must have service documented from the previous school. All service hours must be documented through the Service Coordinator
  of the Theology Department.

Character: Students are expected to uphold the rules of the school and the laws of society. Members, as leaders, are expected to be role models for their peers and the underclassmen of STA. Academic integrity issues will be viewed as serious violations of the Society resulting in elimination from the selection process or dismissal if occurring after induction.

The student of character:

• Takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously
• Consistently exemplifies desirable qualities of behavior (cheerfulness, friendliness, poise, stability)
• Upholds principles of morality and ethics
• Cooperates by complying with school regulations concerning property, programs, office, halls, etc.
• Demonstrates the highest standards of honesty and reliability
• Shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others
• Observes instructions and rules, punctuality and faithfulness both inside and outside of the classroom
• Has powers of concentration 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 to rid the school of bad influences or environment
  N. B. Students are expected to demonstrate character by acting maturely, morally and ethically in all situations.