National Honor Society Martha Pennington Chapter Fall 2016 Applicants

Welcome & Congratulations! ● Remember– you are in NO way guaranteed membership in the National Honor Society! ● You are currently being considered and reviewed for membership in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NHS and the local chapter’s bylaws. Sign-In for Attendance

Finding the Online Application Typed applications are necessary because they are neater and more professional. If you need help please Ms. Diercksen or Ms. Teehan directly at

The Application Process Page 2- Student Activity Information Form School Sponsored Activities Example– Activity Baseball Year9 th -12 th Accomplishments Highest Average, 20 steals, 4 wins, 3.02 era Signature of Coach/Advisor Mr. Scala PLEASE– You must obtain a signature for each activity in order to verify your participation!!! Other school sponsored activities may include but are not limited to… Mock U.N. Bottlecappers Color Guard Viewpoint Search Club FBLA Math Team Mock Trial Student CouncilWrestling Academic Team Chess ClubTrackCheerleading

The Application Process Page 3- Student Activity Information Form Leadership Positions Example– Leadership Position Spanish Honor Society President Year12 th Explanation Responsible for running meetings, organizing service projects Signature of Coach/Advisor Ms. Zinc PLEASE– You must obtain a signature for each activity in order to verify your participation!!! Leadership positions are all and any elected or appointed leadership positions held in school, community, or work activities. May include… Elected Student Body Representative Class/Club Officer Committee Chairperson Team Captain Newspaper Editor Work Area Manager Community Leader

The Application Process Page 4- Student Activity Information Form Community Service/ Volunteerism Example– Activity Habitat for Humanity Year9 th -11 th Total # Hours Worked = 39 ExplanationHelped build houses for poor families Signature of Coach/Advisor Mr. Cusick PLEASE– You must obtain a signature for each activity in order to verify your participation!!! These should be any activities outside of school in which you participated for the betterment of your community. For example… Church groups Boy/Girl Scouts Volunteer groups Community Art Endeavors Tutoring Elementary Students in Reading Youth Group Leader

COMMUNITY SERVICE EXPECTATIONS -Community service should be completed within a credible organization. -You should have a certificate or letter with letterhead verifying community service hours from that organization. -Unfortunately, parent verifications are not accepted. -If you don’t have completed record forms with contact information to verify hours, those hours won’t count. -If your contact can’t be reached for verification, then those hours won’t count. -Only hours starting from the summer before freshman year count.

COMMUNITY SERVICE EXPECTATIONS CONTINUED… -Volunteer hours that take place during the school day do not count. -Volunteers hours that are required in order to fulfill duties as an active member of a club do not count. -Volunteer hours that may be viewed by the council as an unpaid internship should appear in the work experience section of the application. -The quality of service hours is at the discretion of the faculty council.

The Application Process Page 5- Student Activity Information Form Recognitions & Awards Example– Recognition or AwardGirls Basketball MVP Year/Grade2007/ 11 th grade Explanation Received plaque & certificate as team Most Valuable Player Signature of Coach/Advisor Mr. Jones PLEASE– You must obtain a signature for each activity in order to verify your participation!!! Be sure to list and honors or recognitions that you have received which support your bid to be selected for membership in the NHS.

The Application Process Page 6- Student Activity Information Form Work experience Example– Job/ Location Cashier/ Pathmark Middletown Year7/ /2008 Duties Ring up customer orders, restock shelves, and price check Signature of Supervisor Mr. John Smith PLEASE– You must obtain a signature for each activity in order to verify your participation!!! Remember to list any and all work experience you have. This may be paid or unpaid!!!

The Application Process Page 7- Student Activity Information Form Required Personal statement It is vital that candidates devote their attention to the personal statement. Type an essay ( words), which highlights important experiences and achievements in your high school years. As you write, keep in mind the four cornerstones of the National Honor Society and focus in on supporting one through the telling of a story: Character Leadership Scholarship Community Service

The Application Process Page 8- Consideration for Membership Remember that you must read and sign a statement pledging that you do indeed wish to be considered for membership. As indicated by the page in your packet, your parent/guardian must sign this portion as well. This will ensure that both the applicant & the applicants parent/guardian have read and understood all of the directions and procedures involved in the selection process.

The Application Process Page 9- Community/ School Service Record Form All applicants must submit a record of their service hours, totaling no less than 100 hours. In order to ensure that your hours count make sure you include the following— Organization Name Description of Services Total Number of Hours Accrued Supervisor ’ s Name (ensure that this is legible) Supervisor ’ s Contact Information Home/Cell/Work # Address Supervisor ’ s Signature Each service must have its own individual sheet! Make copies if necessary!

The Application Process The application is due NO LATER THAN: 2:30 on Tuesday, October 18 th Any application submitted after the deadline will not be considered for membership. If you attempt to hand an application in at 2:31 on the day of the deadline it WILL NOT be considered– NO EXCEPTIONS!!! YOU MAY ONLY SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION TO MS. DIERCKSEN IN 2127 OR MS. TEEHAN IN 1418 (or 3A in 2125). AT THE TIME OF SUBMISSION YOU MUST SIGN OFF THAT INDEED THE APPLICATION WAS TURNED IN. ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS MUST BE DIRECTED TO ONE OF THE ADVISORS.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTES -Your name should NOT be anywhere on the application or the personal writing statement. The only place your name should be is the consent agreement form, record forms, or attached service confirmation letters/certificates. -You should submit all contents of the application in a folder without your name. -You also need to have a self-addressed envelope in your folder. -Do NOT staple your application. Simply place all pages in order in the folder.

THE SELECTION PROCESS Copies will be made, numbered, and distributed to the five member Faculty Committee. The five faculty members will read your forms and essays and decide who will be accepted as members in NHS. Acceptance must be majority decision by the members. As advisors, Ms. Diercksen and Ms. Teehan will sit in on and record deliberations, but do not decide or have a vote in the process. Those accepted will be notified by mail. The Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, November 2 nd at 6:00p.m. and it is mandatory that all members must attend.

Rules and Regulations Membership Dues are $10.00 Members are required to attend all NHS meetings and events. Members must fulfill 50 documented hours of community service while part of NHS. Members must participate in our tutoring service. Members must maintain a 3.5 GPA. Members must uphold the cornerstones of NHS Any breach of the rules and regulations will result in a review of your status by the Faculty Committee. The Faculty Committee can revoke your membership and all interested parties will be notified, i.e.. Colleges and scholarships you have applied to using NHS as an activity.