The National Honor Society is the leader among educational organizations and societies and works to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools. The Honor Society member exhibits excellence in these qualities—all of which indicate that the member is willing to use personal talents and skills for the improvement of both self and society.
Membership in the National Honor Society is one of the highest honors that can be awarded to a high school student. Our chapter and the more than 16,000 chapters in schools across the nation strive to give practical meaning to the Society’s standard of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. These four ideals have been considered as the basis for your selection. No student is inducted simply because of a high academic average. The National Honor Society strives to recognize the total student—one who excels in all of these areas.
The benefits to being an active member of the National Honor Society extend beyond an extra line on a college application. Through the national registration platform, NHS offers robust tools and resources for college admission and financial aid planning options that are only available to its members. The National Honor Society also offers help with financing college education through the NHS Scholarship program, which has awarded more than $13 million since 1946 to seniors who reflect the values of the Society. Less practically, but perhaps more importantly, service projects led by a chapter allow students to build teamwork capabilities, hone project management aptitude, and make friends. NHS also provides leadership development, motivation, and inspiration gained through a chapter’s work and some regional and state conferences.
The LCA chapter of the National Honor Society is working to establish itself by creating traditions and regular yearly expectations. One way in which the chapter has laid its roots is in creating the East TN ACT Essentials Day as a community service and academic outreach event to help high school students access ACT and college preparatory advice at an affordable price. The event sprouted from the recognition that students can have a multitude of doors open to them if they perform at a certain level on this standardized test, but typically access to help on the ACT is limited to those without ample funds. This event is largely organized and run by our chapter officers, and the work to facilitate this event is done by our members.
At Lakeway Christian Academy, our members are expected to fulfill several responsibilities to uphold the four pillars of NHS: scholarship, leadership, service, and character. LCA members of NHS attend regular chapter meetings, complete additional service hours each year, volunteer in the tutoring lab, participate in the planning and facilitation of the East TN ACT Essentials Day, and take initiative to be a positive influence both in and out of the classroom. It is our belief that the values of NHS are also supported in Scripture, and students who grow in these four qualities are growing in favor with God as well.