By Peyton Lutz
The National Honor Society hand-selects students annually to join the organization. This year, Louisville High School accepted 19 new students, growing the NHS to 33 students in grades 10-12. After asking four recently admitted participants what the National Honor Society meant to them, they all came up with similar claims. Their claims ranged from recognition to opening new opportunities.
“It’s a way to honor students who really try in school where they put a lot of effort in and get the results out of it,” says Keegan Witte.
“I see it as an accomplishment and a key to open more opportunities in the future,” adds Braxton Nebuda.
Overall, these sophomores, including Sophia Sanders, Keegan Witte, Braxton Nubeda, and Kylie Gaston, all have a similar idea of the importance of the NHS. It’s more than just thinking for yourself; it’s thinking about your future and the community you are a part of.
The National Honor Society isn’t just “for the smart kids.” Every year, the groups become more diverse and show that just about anyone can be a part of it. However, there are a few expectations that must be met. Four main pillars define the NHS: scholarship, service, leadership, and character.
The scholarship reflects on students and how they maintain a strong GPA. To apply, students must obtain a minimum of a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. While this seems harsh to some, it motivates students to do well in school and sets high standards for the organization.
“It’s a really good thing to put on your college applications,” sophomore Kylie Gaston says.
Gaston finds that the benefits of scholarship pay off in the long run. She is involved in over 6 school activities while obtaining a steady GPA. Scholarship is a major benefit of joining and displays how hard work is acknowledged.
Next, the service requirement means students must complete hours of voluntary acts. This can be throughout school, their community, or wherever help may be needed.
“If you’re serving your community, you’re serving things that you’re passionate about, and I think that shows a lot about your character. I try to live my life by the motto of ‘treat your neighbor as yourself’ and being able to serve and show my character through service, and not just saying a ton of words is probably what I live most by,” says sophomore Sophia Sanders.
Sanders is very open about her community service and is proud of what she has accomplished. She strives to do the right thing and help people or animals in need, as it’s one of her duties as a Christian. Sanders spends most of her extra time playing guitar and volunteering at several shelters.
In addition to volunteering, taking on the leadership role is a factor. Being a leader involves taking on responsibilities and being held accountable to a higher standard, while leading others in your footsteps.
¨Getting some minutes in, I had to learn to be a leader, and quickly. Even though I was an underclassman, that was a big thing for me,¨ explains Keegan. Witte was a sophomore point leader on the varsity boys basketball team and had to learn to lead on the court and in the classroom.
The last skill obtained from the NHS is character, which builds up who someone is. Students involved should have strong character and good morals in their lives.
¨Character, I try to make it the most dominant thing in me. I feel like character can take you pretty far,¨ Braxton adds. Nebuda is known for being a leader and having a strong character in whatever he decides to do, including the many sports he is involved in. By having strong character, students can display a good self-image and become well-respected.
Overall, the National Honor Society teaches many well-rounded skills for life. The students involved are honored to be a part of the worldwide program. At LHS, we are very fortunate to have been provided these opportunities and to have been surrounded by good people. The NHS proves how many different people can be involved, and it's an opportunity one can´t miss.