Dear Student:

Congratulations on your academic achievement!  Your grade point average qualifies you for eligibility into the National Honor Society.  If you choose to be considered for membership, you are asked to write an introductory typed paragraph stating why you would like to become a member of the Society.  Include in this paragraph any leadership programs you have attended, awards received, or experiences which demonstrate your leadership skills in both school and extra curricular activities.  

While the National Honor Society considers scholarship as one of the significant benchmarks, it is also looking for the consummate student who exemplifies the qualities of leadership, service and character.  Please select four of these areas from each of the categories listed below  and give specific examples which best describe your attributes.  A committee of teachers will review your paper along with assessing other qualities and you will be notified of your acceptance.  

Terese Burden
National Honor Society Advisor


Leadership: The student who exercises leadership:
- Is resourceful in proposing new problems, applying principles, and making suggestions.
- Demonstrates leadership in promoting school activities.
- 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, conducts business efficiently and effectively, and is reliable and dependable without prodding.
- Demonstrates leadership in the classroom, at work and in school activities. Is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted.

Service: The student who serves:
- Is willing to uphold scholarship and maintain a loyal school attitude.
- Participates in some outside activity: Girls Scouts; Boy Scouts; church groups; volunteer services for the aged, poor, or the disadvantaged; family duties.
- Volunteers 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  any requested service to the school
- Is willing to represent the class or school in inter-class and inter-scholastic competition.
- Does committee and staff work uncomplainingly.
- Shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students.

Character: The student of character:
- Takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously.
- Constantly exemplifies desirable qualities of personality(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 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.
- Esteems and manifests the Benedictine values of hospitality, stewardship and respect for others.


*Reprinted with permission from the National Honor Society Handbook