National Honor Society
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Northwest’s first-ever National Honor Society is a student group that gives seniors the opportunity to serve their community.
NHS is made up of service-dedicated seniors at Northwest. Members collaborate on a variety of service projects and volunteering. This year, NHS has gift-wrapped for Single Parent Provision, packed with Meals from the Heartland, organized the Winter Formal, and now plans for Teacher Appreciation this spring. NHS Public Relations Coordinator Camden Habgood explained that these projects help members shine. Habgood stated, “Sometimes youth are a little underestimated in our abilities, so it’s been super cool to work with a group of really empowered people and make a change.”
Out of all the projects NHS coordinates, Winter Formal is the largest. Members organized details like venue, decorations, the DJ, and janitors. Winter Formal Co-Chairs Natalie Harris and Katelyn Lookingbill did much of the planning, but all of NHS helped out. Habgood added that NHS being in its first year made planning harder. She explained, “We started with nothing, we didn’t have a budget, we didn’t have anything to work off of… Winter Formal was a totally new scenario.” Similarly, Volunteer Coordinator Olivia Breheny commented on the challenge. Breheny described, “We worked really hard, and there were a lot of things that maybe didn’t go our way… [but] I was proud of how [Winter Formal] worked out.” The dance took place on January 29th. NHS donated the profits to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. NHS Co-Sponsor Jena Kline concluded, “It was a learning experience for sure, and I hope that next year it’ll be even better.”
NHS is based on four pillars: scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Marina Mihura, the NHS Vice President, noted the importance of values beyond scholarship. Mihura exclaimed, “Don’t just excel in the classroom… [also] excel in helping others, excel in volunteering.” For example, NHS members learn the value of service by volunteering. NHS President Aliki Kassioti said volunteering with NHS made her realize its importance. Kassioti explained, “When you’re working as a team and bonding… you just see a deeper value to it. You’re connecting with people but at the same time you’re giving back and doing good.”
As well as building these four values, NHS offers community and other lessons. Mihura added that volunteering builds community and friendships. She stated, “What’s fun about NHS is that you get to be with all your friends and [volunteer] at the same time.” NHS also teaches members lessons like teamwork and planning ahead. It offers an experience for students interested in management, planning, service, and more.
Every NHS member’s experience begins in junior year. If a student’s cumulative GPA is 3.5 or higher after term 2 of their junior year, they receive the NHS application. Students fill out the application, write an essay and collect teacher recommendations. If the selection committee accepts them, students are inducted in junior year. They begin service in NHS as seniors. Interested members can campaign for the 8-member NHS cabinet. The cabinet consists of a President, Vice President, Volunteer Coordinator, Public Relations Coordinator, two Teacher Appreciation Co-Chairs, and two Winter Formal Co-Chairs. Members elect their fellow students to these positions. Kassioti encouraged all interested students to apply. “It does not hurt to apply. It’s so much fun and I think everyone should try [joining NHS],” she declared.