National Honor Society

I may be off target here but, if you read the pam that comes with your "invitation" to this "elite" society, your elite membership comes with one thing....COST. Well it is nice to put on your resume, it is not such an exclusive club..it is for those who wish to "pay" to be in the "club". I applaud any kid who makes the honor roll and plays a sport or has extra cirricular activities, i certainly don't think this "club" is the end all. I'll brag and say that so far all 3 of my kids have been on the honor roll every sememster in H.S. and each one of them were invited to the "club", I chose not to pay the entry fee. This is just my opinion on NHS....it means we chose not to participate..sorry Mark don't mean to put it down, just explaining the membership comes with costs. Like anything else in life...the almighty dollar comes in to play..nothing in life is free

Tuzigoot, OFHS 198?

Sweaty....what do they charge for that at your HS? Are you sure you are talking about NHS?

It seems to me that it was either free or a very small charge was made when joining.

Mark, in this day and age, I think NHS Membership may be a factor in getting entry into schools and scholarships, but not any more than a bunch of other things.

Craig Rische - National Goofoff Society, Barrington High School 1973.

Ah yes...the NGS...I too was a member FBD. I remember the day I was inducted...I was out somewhere goofing off during the ceremony. I heard it was such a nice ceremony...outside on the loading dock next to the cafeteria. 'Past Date' milk and 'Day Old' bakery for everyone! In the pouring rain. What a bunch of goofs.

The best part about this group was that you didn't have to go to the meetings if the meeting interfered with goofing off. There are, after all, standards to maintain.

As with anything one gets out of something what one puts into it and choice decisions are what life is all about. If one chooses to be a GOOF, or take any number of actions or inactions then that is a choice decision one chooses to make.

The National Honor Society is by invitation only and an extensive application process is involved before a five person faculty committe determines those who are then invited. Not every high school has a NHS chapter. Acceptance is not guaranteed and the local high school honor roll at is not at all the same as induction into NHS.

The $45 dollars is a one time cost and if you can not afford to pay this amount it is waived. It is not about money it is about academic achievement and the other factors listed in the application.

At Barrington High School, New Trier and many other high schools I am quite sure that this mark of distinction is not dismissed as a meaningless endeavor. At Whitney Young NHS is an active group and the induction ceremony is not something that is skipped as failure to be in attendance disqualifies one for membership.

The high school experience at the top schools today does not allow for students to be hanging out on the loading dock. Those days are long gone.

There might be a little misunderstanding between the "National Honor Society" and the "National Honor Roll".

I don't think that there is a fee to join the National Honor Society. If there is, perhaps the high school pays it. The high school nominates you as a member of their chapter, and of course, there are stringent requirements for induction. As far as I know, the National Honor Roll application comes in the mail--along with a request for a fee--I think it is $45.00. I could be very wrong about it, but I think they get your name (from a national testing agency perhaps?) and then "honor" the student with a request for money to join.

The one little word makes a HUGE difference.....

If you wish to get educated about NHS go to their web site for information. The web address is http://www.nhs.us The website is extensive.

Check to see if your local high school has a chapter. NHS is nothing about mailing lists or money. Students first of all must have a cumulative grade point average of 85 percent, B, 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or equivalent standard of excellence, or a higher cumulative average set by the local school's Faculty Council, in order to meet the scholarship requirement for the privilege to apply for membership.

These students are then eligible for consideration on the basis of service, leadership, and character. The student must apply and complete an application that takes 15 hours to complete with many essay questions that are evaluated. Only a select few of the applicants are then awarded admission.

FYI.....Daniel Hoefler, a Social Studies teacher and NHS adviser at Oswego High School in Oswego, IL has been honored by the National Honor Society (NHS) and National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) as National Adviser of the Year. Hoefler was recognized for his dedication and many contributions to the students of Oswego High School, while attending the NHS/NJHS National Conference in Orlando, Florida on November 5, 2006.

Why on Earth is this even a thread. Most people come here to read about and discuss high school baseball. I would argue that most would consider a discussion about academics and athletics to be valid. Yet, I am clueless as to why this thread has even started.

Let's keep talking baseball and save your academic glory day preaching for class reunions.

yes Mr. Ormond what is the agenda here?

I don't understand the purpose of this post, either.

Here in the Southwest suburbs, each school has its own chapter of the NHS and have an induction ceremony each spring.

Doesn't every high school in the state have a National Honor Society chapter?

You might want to read some of the intro to this web site.........

For instance......."Wondering how to make the high school team, be noticed by pro scouts, or perhaps earn a college baseball scholarship?"

If the thread or discussion is frightening to you then so be it, but don't fool yourself or the kid who wants to play college ball.......To play in todays game as is the case in most of living in todays world it all comes down to education.

Those that have it and earned it are glad they have it and those that don't eventually wish they had it.

quote:

At Barrington High School, New Trier and many other high schools I am quite sure that this mark of distinction is not dismissed as a meaningless endeavor.

Mark,
With all due respect, please don't make assumptions. It was not looked upon with any regard when I was at New Trier.

I am with Bally on this one. This is a baseball website, this thread is out of place.

Apparently "Pretension thy name est Ormand"

Look pal, dont find some snotty way of telling the rest of us that we need to read some intro to this site. If you could have found the time to include your rationale (a way to improve chances of making the college roster) for this thread in your diatribe, manifesto or whatever you want to call your ramblings, then do so. Your thread would still be out of place and boring, but at least you would have been clear about whay and what you were posting.

sorry--"why and what you were posting"

Read the quote that has been excerpted from the recruiting section of this very web site.

You also might want to read through that entire section on the prerequisites of what it takes to actually get the chance to play college baseball. I have run into many players who tell me that they regret their lack of attention to the academics in high school until it was too late.

The game of baseball is changing and those who play beyond the high school level at a college are further developing their talent and it is college that is rapidly becoming the place WHERE and HOW significant new talent is being developed. To qualify for the numerous scholarship opportunities being offered academic success is required. Whether you like it or not, the game begins and ends with education.

If you are offended then I do not know what to say. There is way too much money in this game to pretend that SAT and ACT scores are non factors and all of this is meaningless and it is not a factor. Get real and look around to see what is happening!

From the list of articles on college recruiting......

"We look for kids who are very achievement and leadership oriented," Whelan said. "If a kid is highly motivated and has a high class rank with difficult classes, then that type of approach will carry over to the athletic field."

I cannot articulate this thought process any clearer than what is very succinctly stated by this college coach. Better to know the rules before the game begins......

Don't ya think?

Mark, I think most parents on this site know what it takes to get a kid into college. Some us even have been to college.

I didn't know that the NHS was a prerequisite to playing baseball in college. I agree that education is important.

quote:

"We look for kids who are very achievement and leadership oriented," Whelan said. "If a kid is highly motivated and has a high class rank with difficult classes, then that type of approach will carry over to the athletic field."

Add it up and connect the dots........

I still don't understand.

Every high school my kids, friends, family members that have ever attended, had their own chapter of the National Honor Society.

Induction ceremony every spring.

Not every high school has a National Honors Chapter.

Having a chapter requires a substantial commitment for a school with counselors and administrators who are willing to take on the national requirements of record keeping and running the chapter. The school principal is typically a strong advocate. There also needs to be a large enough body of students who are interested to participate.

The application process begins in January with with an early March deadline for applications to be submitted. Notification occurs in about mid April and Induction Ceremonies are in May. Whitney Youngs induction is May 1. Newspaper releases go out in May in the Sun Times and Tribune listing the senior scholarship recipents.

New Trier apparently does not have a NHS chapter although the school (this is according to the web site) has many honorary chapters for students to become active and involved within.

It need not be NHS; there are numerous honorary organizations for students to gain recognition and become active. It mattters not what is being done that is good, but the doing of good things is that what matters most.

"Coach there's a kid at Acme High with a weak arm, and he can't hit worth a darn. But, he's a member of the National Honor Society.I think you should go down there and check him out."

Mark,

As a father of a NHS student, I understand everything that you are stating. What I do not understand is the way you are stating everything. I hope all is well.

Larry Smithers Class of 1978 Crete Monee high school NHS member and still proud of it to this day. I wore my pin and medal to the corner tap the other night just to get conversation started and it really worked.

NHS in itself is not a huge deal...perhaps an induction night with an itchy suite and tie when you have a paper and a test the next day...I haven't heard about NHS since then. However, don't look at NHS as the prize, but rather as a marker to let you know that you are involved in school activities and doing at least decent (you only need a 3.0 I think) in classes and you have a shot at getting into a fairly good college and maybe receive a scholarship. It just lets you know that you are on the right path.

As for baseball... I think any help that NHS membership might confer to you as a baseball player is miniscule at best unless you are talking about the possibility of getting recruited at a top-notch academic school. But then you are talking about the issue as a student-athlete and not simply a baseball player.

Lets sum up: do well in school, play well on the diamond. No more soliloquies necessary.

Well Put Agallan

It is encouraging that this thread has gotten so much interest and debate.

Make no mistake about it, NHS is the Varsity of student academics. With tens of millions of high school students in attendance around the nation only about one million high school students are making the grade nationally to qualify as NHS members. As a parent with a son involved with both NJHS and now with NHS (as a Sophomore) making the grades is a big deal and believe it or not a 3.0 does not cut it and grades alone do not make one eligible for membership. The NHS application process is arduous and requires a significant amount of time. With Advanced Placement courses the requirements at Whitney Young have students needing above a 4.0 for consideration to be in NHS. This is not taking anything away from the honor roll students or those involved in other distinguishing activities and accomplishments which earn a high school student recognition. For those not making NHS at a school like Young it is as disappointing as a junior not making the varsity athletic team in their given sport.

For those students that DO qualify it is a Big Deal and means more than wearing an itchy suit; and if you are at all in step with the times, today's student who is being inducted no longer even wears one and likely does not even have on a tie. But there will always be those who mature later in life and believe that the larger impact comes from being the class clown, bagging classes to hang out on the dock or a being a goof. So be it. Once again it is all about making choice decisions.

Believe it or not the high school experience is a lot different than that vintage pin you wore in 1978. I am sure you are glad you saved it, but it is NOT the sixties, seventies or even the eighties, it is a brand NEW world. At a selective school the competition is fierce and at high schools around the country it is the GIRLS who are outperforming the boys in almost every academic venue and especially in the sciences and math. This is now being seen with high school graduation rates and college enrollments for boys at an all time LOW. So wake up guys because very soon you might be working for a Woman and it is going to be mine or someone else's Daughter.

I have debated this issue for many years and am amused that there is even a debate.

Make no mistake about it.......Being the best separates one from the rest.

Being involved in the executive search/recruitment industry for over 25 years and closely watching academics and its impact on the world of work all of these markers are important. I have been in the business of recruiting students nationwide since 1982, and believe it or not the world has changed and there are many more major changes yet to come, whether you want to hear this or not.

Accept the inevitable. It all starts and ends with performance wihin the schools.

____________________________________________

"You won't get anything unless you have the vision to imagine it." ~ John Lennon

Mark, is is it your point to educate the readers here or to promote your son? Because if it's the latter I don't think many scouts or recruiters are gonna come take a look at your kid based on the stuff you write about him on this site

Read the objective of this web site. He is a sophomore and things will work out as they will.

The possibility that some are missing this shift of social tetonic plates raises a question worth asking....How is it possible that so many do not see what is going on around us? The biggest obstacle for many is that they still have that old black and white loop tape playing in their heads that dates back to the early sixties or even the fifties. Like it or not, times are a changing.

For some ignorance is bliss; make your choice.

Last comment on this. There are parents on this site who have BEEN through the process. And some have sent their sons to the best colleges and universities in the country. And those folks always seem willing to help with advice when asked.

Mark I suspect many of the posters here know as much or more than you do about NHS and perhaps a lot more than you about what it takes to get into a great College or University. Many have been there and done that with older children. Where my kids go to school, there are plenty of boys (NHS) and others as well who are doing as well as or better than the girls.

I also think some of the guys giving you a hard time have kids who are doing quite well and may have been pretty good students themselves. Not even mentioning that they are doing quite well at what they do.

It's great that your son is doing well and you are laying out things for him to follow. As far as this thread and how it relates to baseball, I don't know except some kids who may not be NHS Members will take the hard work and competition they gain through baseball and use it as a tool for success in the future.

A majority of my team belong to National Honor Society. I'm very proud of them. Several of our Valedictorians have also come from young men that have been in our baseball program. Kevin Hoef and Luke Leder are two that quickly come to mind!

quote:

Originally posted by mark ormond:
Read the objective of this web site. The possibility that some are missing this shift of social tetonic plates raises a question worth asking....How is it possible that so many do not see what is going on around us? The biggest obstacle for many is that they still have that old black and white loop tape playing in their heads that dates back to the early sixties or even the fifties. Like it or not, times are a changing.

For some ignorance is bliss; make your choice.

Mark,
In spite of your overwhelming arrogance, there is a lesson here, but instead of you teaching it to all of us, perhaps you are the one that needs to learn it.

That is, generally, in the face of overwhelming difference, I have generally found it better for me to re-examine my position, rather than tilt at the plethora of windmills opposing me. When reason finally takes over, perhaps you'll learn that you were not put here to show us all the errors of our ways.

I will never let go of my old eight track player from the seventies . I just listened to some Foghat and some Kiss on it and it sounds just as good now as it did back then . ( maybe just a wee bit scratchy though )

I doubt my kid will end up in any National Honor Society , but i believe he will turn out just fine wherever he goes to college and beyond. Its what you have in your heart that matters , not some piece of paper hanging up on the wall.

O.K.

My son was a member of the NHS, finished in the top 1% of his class with a +4.0/+5.0 unweighted/weighted GPA. 33ACT. Dean's List in first semester of college with a 3.93 in a Biomedical Engineering curriculum caring 17 hours this semester, with 16 last. Plays baseball, as the starting centerfielder for a D3, highly ranked academic university.

I'm not bragging about his accomplishments, and it might be another line item on his resume, or job application, but kindly explain to me what the NHS did for him?

The standardization for comparing student's scholastic aptitudes are the ACTs and SATs. A student can have straight As at a dog **** school, and can't break a 20 on the ACT. Versus a student with above average grades in a school with a very rigorous curriculum scoring in the high 20s. NHS, JETS (Junior Engineering Techical Society) etc., I don't know how any of these societies help your ACT/SAT scores.

Mark,
Back in my day (Class of 2005) we did dress up for NHS inductions. Anyways, I do take offense if you were referring to me as one of those who "mature later in life"... I think I am doing just fine for myself and will make a fine doctor when my collegiate baseball career is over.

To be sure, I wore my NHS pin to my organic chemistry midterm today...don't think it helped lol!

-Alex

Boomer....The NHS...It celebrated and recognized his academic effort in high school....which was spectacular.

Got another golden braid for his graduation gown.

A feel good kind of society.

I loved the candle lighting ceremonies.

Guys, we received a letter from Lincoln Way East High School today. My SO son was selected for membership to the school's chapter of the National Honor Society.

I have to tell you, we feel real proud.

2z.

Tuz,

Congrats to your son and his family for their support. You should feel proud.