May 2016

CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENT
We’re not sure what’s louder—the collective sigh of relief as the end of another academic year approaches or the thunderous applause over the many accomplishments of your chapter and members. There are many congratulatory and “thank you” messages to share. So here we go…

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

NHS Scholarship Winners Announced
The NHS Scholarship program saw a record number of applicants this year with a total of 300 award winners sharing $500,000 in scholarships. Winners received letters earlier this month and the recipient’s school received an email notification. A full list of winners will be posted on the NHS website in June. This is the first year that any senior member in good standing had the opportunity to apply. If you wish, you can download a Certificate of Participation to present to your applicants. Stay tuned for announcements in the fall about the 2017 NHS Scholarship application process with $1 million in award monies being disbursed among 400 winners.

NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award Winners Announced
The very first NJHS Outstanding Achievement Awards (OAA), announced in April, recognized 500 exceptional NJHS students with a $500 award each. The award will be placed in a college savings account, to be managed by OppenheimerFunds (OFI Private Investments) as part of the New Mexico Education Trust Board’s 529 college savings plan—The Education Plan. To help you recognize your OAA recipients locally, we’ve provided a certificate on the NJHS website. Thank you to the advisers and principals who nominated students. Be sure to nominate your outstanding NJHS members next year. Nomination information will be available on the NJHS website in the fall.

Note for NJHS advisers of OAA recipients: If you did not provide a parent email address on the nomination form, or if any parents have reported not receiving an email from ISTS with instructions for setting up their OppenheimerFunds accounts, please send the email address or have the parents contact the national office at [email protected] as soon as possible.

2016 Outstanding Service Project Awards Announced
Thank you to all of the schools that submitted applications for this year’s Outstanding Service Project (OSP) awards. Congratulations to the six NHS and five NJHS chapters selected as this year’s winners.

Here are the NHS OSP winners:

• Castle View High School, Castle Rock, CO
• Santiago Christian School, Santiago, Dominican Republic
• Hohenfels Middle High School, Hohenfels, Germany
• Maine West High School, Des Plaines, IL
• Indian Hills High School, Oakland, NJ
• Seneca High School, Erie, PA

Here are the NJHS OSP winners:

• American Academy of El Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador
• Lakeview Middle School, Battle Creek, MI
• All Saints Academy, Parsippany, NJ
• Academy of Saint Paul, Ramsey, NJ
• Gunston Middle School, Arlington, VA

Read full project descriptions on the NHS and NJHS websites. Applications will be available in November for next year’s awards.

State Summit Success
New Mexico made history, hosting the first NHS/NJHS State Summit in the nation on April 28. Approximately 300 participants led the nation in demonstrating #StudentsWhoLead (which you can see on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram). Now, this innovative one-day program aimed at student empowerment and leadership development will be rolling out to more states in the 2016–17 academic year. To get an idea of this dynamic model for student engagement, watch a video retrospective of the day here.

Call for Entries: White House Student Film Festival
Do your students have big ideas for the future? Do they love to make films? This summer, they have an exciting opportunity to showcase their ideas and talent in the White House Student Film Festival. This year’s theme is “The World I Want to Live In.” From now through July 15, submissions will be accepted from K–12 students across the country. Learn more here.

Before You Go…
Please complete the annual adviser survey by May 27 to be entered into a drawing to win an Amazon gift card. The national office has partnered with the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation in conducting this year’s survey. All advisers should have received an email from jkcf.org with a link to the survey. Your assistance in completing it is greatly appreciated. If you can’t complete the survey by May 27, please do so by June 30. All who complete the survey by June 30 will receive a code for a 20 percent discount from the NHS or NJHS store.

And One More Thing Before You Go
It is annual affiliation renewal time as well. Be sure one primary adviser is designated for your chapter. This primary adviser will be able to renew your chapter’s affiliation online. Visit the NHS or NJHS renewal page of the website to step through the process and renew before June 30 to be sure you get seamless communication as the 2016–17 school year begins.

PROJECT OF THE MONTH

English Book Donation
This project marks a National Student Project Database milestone as submission number 5,000! This spring, NHS members from DelCampo International School in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, visited the Escuela Brigadas de Amor Cristiano in Aldea Mateo to read books in English that they donated. During the visit, NHS students enjoyed reading the books in English, explaining the meaning of different words, and sharing their ideas and points of view of the themes in the books. Log in to see pictures and learn more.

Take some time this summer to add your projects to the National Student Project Database on the NHS or NJHS website so everyone can benefit from your chapter’s experience. Include project dates, details, and—if available—photos and supporting documents.

CHAPTERS DOING GREAT THINGS

The Mount Carmel School in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, inducted 66 new members into its NHS, NJHS, and NEHS chapters in April. The induction of the NHS members marked that chapter’s 20-year anniversary. Congratulations and welcome! Read a story about the induction, including their ceremonious “tapping” ritual, here.

Has your chapter been featured in the news recently? Let us know by emailing [email protected] and using CDGT in the subject line. Get tips for promoting your chapter by visiting the Adviser Resource Center too.

HONOR SOCIETY TIPS AND TOOLS

Logo Usage
To use the NHS or NJHS name and/or logo on products produced by a vendor not affiliated with the national office, a Logo Usage Request Form must be submitted. Please note the following:

• For apparel, include an image of the front and back of your design, even if one side is blank. Include any text or images that will accompany the trademarked name or logo.
• Requests are reviewed within five business days of receipt. Please submit your request in time to have your order filled for your event.
• Cake approvals are valid for 3 years.
• We do not approve requests for stoles and honor cords due to an exclusive agreement with our vendor.

Visit the Adviser Resource Center for more on logo usage.

Is there something you’d like us to include in next month’s Honor Society News? Email your ideas or suggestions to [email protected].

IMPORTANT DATES

ANNOUNCEMENTS

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

Weekly inspiration like this is available by following NHS and NJHS on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.