National Honor Society

The National Honor Society (NHS) is a nationwide organization that recognizes high school students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship, leadership, service, and character. ETHS is proud to host the Lighthouse Chapter of NHS, which empowers and recognizes students who make meaningful contributions to the school and community. Membership is a mark of achievement that goes beyond grades, celebrating well-rounded students who uphold these four pillars. To be a member has been the true mark of student achievement for over 100 years.

No. The Frosh/Soph Honor Society is unique to ETHS, and is not affiliated with the NHS. It helps underclassmen prepare for community service and maintain high academic standards, building a foundation for potential NHS eligibility in junior year.

Nicole Roubekas-Lane, Spanish teacher, serves as the NHS sponsor. She can be reached at lanen@eths202.org.

The NHS application is open to junior students only. Students may apply for NHS membership during the spring of their junior year. If inducted, membership continues through senior year. Students who are not eligible in junior year cannot apply as seniors.

Eligibility is determined by GPA and conduct:

• Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher after first-semester grades.

• Students must demonstrate positive conduct and uphold school expectations; major disciplinary violations may affect eligibility.

Eligible students are notified by email in late January and invited to attend a mandatory informational meeting.

Students who meet academic eligibility requirements will receive an email in late January. This email will include instructions for attending a mandatory informational meeting, where students will learn about the application process, pick up the application form, and receive guidance on completing all required steps.

Overview of NHS Application Process:

1. Students must attend one (1) informational meeting. Meetings will be scheduled during AM Support, lunch blocks, and after school in order to accommodate different scheduling needs. Dates and times will be sent via email.
2. Applications will be distributed at the informational meeting.
3. Students must complete the application, listing ETHS and community activities that they participate in throughout the year.
4. Students must submit a short essay along with the application.
5. Students must earn and submit documentation of a minimum of 15 total community service hours in SchooLinks.
6. The application and all supporting materials must be submitted in-person to Ms. Lane in E113 by the deadline provided in the informational meeting, usually the second week of April.

• End of January: Eligible juniors are notified via email.

• Mid-February: Informational meetings are held.

• Second week of April: Applications and service logs are due.

• Mid-May: Acceptance/denial notifications are sent.

Students complete the application by listing their in-school and out-of-school activities. They must also provide a printed Schoolinks report verifying completion of 15 hours of community service. Both the application and the service verification sheet must be submitted in person to Ms. Nicole Lane in E113 by the specified deadline, typically the second week of April.

Students will be notified of their application status in May. Students who demonstrate academic achievement, active involvement in school and community activities, and completion of required service hours are typically accepted.

Students may be denied membership if they:

• Have serious disciplinary incidents

• Receive negative feedback from teachers regarding NHS pillars (scholarship, service, leadership, character)

Negative teacher feedback does not automatically disqualify a student. If concerns are raised by a teacher, the student will have the opportunity to respond before any final decision is made. Many times, this does not result in a denial.

After acceptance, students must maintain good academic standing. They may begin accumulating service hours for senior-year requirements after the last day of junior year.

During senior year, students are officially inducted into the NHS in October. They are expected to maintain academic eligibility, with their GPA reviewed after first semester to ensure they continue to meet NHS standards. In addition, students must complete 15 hours of community service by March 1. These service hours are required for graduation with NHS recognition and must be logged in Schoolinks by the specified deadline. Completion of these responsibilities ensures that members graduate with the distinction of NHS membership.

Students who meet all requirements will receive a special tassel to wear at the graduation ceremony and have their names listed in the graduation program in the National Honor Society section.

During senior year, students are officially inducted into the NHS in mid-October. Additional details and information about the date/time and how to access the virtual ceremony will be shared via email.

Due to the large number of inductees and busy schedules, ETHS hosts a virtual induction ceremony on the ETHS YouTube channel in October. This ensures all students and families can participate and celebrate the achievement at their convenience. While some may find it disappointing that this important milestone isn’t in person, the virtual format makes the celebration accessible to many of our over-programmed and busy students.