National Honor Society Selection Process
The National Honor Society chapter of Ridgeland High School is a duly chartered and affiliated chapter of this prestigious national organization. Membership application is open during October each school year to those students who meet the required standards in four areas of evaluation: scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Standards for selection are established by the national office of NHS and have been revised to meet our local chapter needs. Students are selected to be members after careful consideration of academic status, behavior, & character, and are appointed by the principal, which bestows this honor upon qualified students on behalf of the faculty of our school.
For the scholarship criterion, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 90 or better on a 100 scale. Those students who meet this criterion may apply when the application window opens in October of each school year. Application is online and the link is posted on the Ridgeland High School website during the application window which is usually the last 3 weeks of October.
To evaluate a candidate’s character, the Faculty Sponsor uses two forms of input. First, school disciplinary records are reviewed. Second, members of the faculty are solicited for input regarding their professional reflections on a candidate’s service activities, character, and leadership. This information and the students’ responses on their applications are carefully reviewed by the Faculty Sponsor to determine membership. Candidates are then notified regarding selection or nonselection.
Following notification, a formal induction ceremony is held at the school to recognize all the newly selected members. Once inducted, new members are required to maintain the same level of performance in all four criteria that led to their selection. This obligation includes regular attendance at chapter meetings held periodically during the school year and participation in peer tutoring and chapter service projects. Students or parents who have questions regarding the selection process or membership obligations can contact the chapter adviser, Jennifer Brunetz, in Room 282 or by school email <jbrunetz@madison-schools.com>.
