Membership in the National Honor Society (NHS) is based on a student's fulfillment of four requirements. Members of the junior and senior class who meet all four requirements and complete an application will be admitted to the National Honor Society.

The four basic requirements for membership are scholarship, leadership, service, and character. 

Scholarship

Students are eligible to apply for NHS membership if they demonstrate academic achievement through their grade point average.

Junior Year Induction GPA Requirement: A cumulative grade point average of 3.250 must be earned through the 3rd nine weeks of the 11th grade.

Senior Year Induction GPA Requirement: A cumulative grade point average of 3.250 must be earned through the 3rd nine weeks of the 12th grade.

Grade point average will not be rounded to meet the minimum requirement.

Leadership

The Harrison Central chapter of the NHS requires that each student has held a leadership position in some activity while in high school. By our standards, a leadership position requires that the student be responsible for overseeing a group of people. Leadership in organizations outside of school may count towards this requirement. Leadership activities may include:

• officer of an activity or organization
• editor of a publication
• team captain, coach, or manager
• crew chief or leader in a drama or musical production
• camp counselor
• church youth leader
• 4H Leader

According to the National Honor Society standards, the student who exercises leadership:

• is resourceful in proposing new problems, applying principles, and making suggestions
• demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities
• exercises influence on peers in upholding school ideals
• 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 effectively and efficiently; and demonstrates reliability and dependability
• is a leader at work and in school or community activities
• is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted

Service

The Harrison Central chapter of the NHS requires members to participate in a variety of school activities but also to serve the greater community outside of the school.

Junior Year Induction: Eligible students need to earn at least 8 activity points in grades 9-11 and complete at least 40 hours of service in non-compensated activities outside of school.

Senior Year Induction: Eligible students need to earn at least 10 activity points in grades 9-12 and complete at least 60 hours of service in non-compensated activities outside of school.

Activity points are awarded to students according to the time spent participating in various extracurricular activities: one point for activities meeting for approximately 40 hours, two points for 80 hours, and three points for 120 hours. No more than three points will be awarded per academic year for any one sport or activity. Activities that earn report card grades are not awarded activity points for class time. Members of musical ensembles who receive course credit may only count hours spent performing on nights and weekends towards their activity points.

Please note that these point values are approximate. Actual point values may vary according to an individual’s time commitment to an activity or sport.

The National Honor Society standards require that a student:

• volunteers and provides 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
• participates in some activity outside of school: Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, youth groups affiliated with religious institutions, volunteer services for the aged or disadvantaged
• mentors persons in the community or students at other schools
• shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students.

Character

Each eligible student will be evaluated by the faculty and administration according to the National Honor Society standards for good character, which state the student of character:

• takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously
• consistently exemplifies desirable qualities of behavior (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 standards of honesty and reliability
• shows courtesy, concern and respect for others; observes instructions and rules
• exhibits 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 rid the school of bad influences or environment

Character will automatically be questioned by events leading to suspension from school, consistent lateness, cheating, or other offenses brought forth by a member of the faculty or administration. If someone deems a student's character not sufficient, that opinion will be discussed with the student's current teachers, counselor, or dean, and the relevant information will be forwarded to the Faculty Council for consideration.

Application and Membership

Eligible juniors and seniors receive invitations to attend an informational meeting each April. They are responsible for completing an application and documenting their service/activity hours.

The Faculty Council will evaluate the requirements of scholarship, leadership, service, and character for each eligible candidate. Final selection of the National Honor Society is the responsibility of the Faculty Council.

All National Honor Society members are expected to maintain membership requirements of the National Honor Society, including GPA, and to take part in National Honor Society service projects. The Faculty Council may dismiss any member failing to fulfill these obligations. Dismissal will result in the removal of the NHS designation from school records and, depending on the severity of the infraction, possible notification of colleges to which a student applied.