Since 1946, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) has awarded more than $30 million in scholarships to outstanding NHS seniors. This year, we are awarding $2 million in scholarships to 600 students. Each year, scholarship recipients are selected based on their demonstration of the four pillars of NHS: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character.
3 Steps to Apply
Thank you for your interest in the NHS Scholarship. The application is currently closed.
Timeline
- September 3, 2026: Application opens
- November 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. (ET): Submission deadline
- Mid-January 2027: Applicants receive notifications
- Late February 2027: All-expense paid trip to DC for top 25 scholarship finalists and their advisers
Eligibility
To be eligible, a student must be:
- A high school senior and/or expecting to receive a high school diploma during the current academic year.
- An active member in good standing of a National Honor Society chapter, meeting all membership requirements and obligations of the local chapter.
- An NHS student account holder, verified by the NHS chapter adviser.
- Planning to pursue a degree at an accredited U.S. college or university, military institute, or trade school.
Note: There are no limits to the number of applicants per chapter.
Testimonials:
“The National Honor Society has been one of my favorite activities because it trains students to be multidimensional, just as the world is. It doesn’t just prioritize academic achievement. It cultivates students as leaders, community builders, and service-oriented individuals. I felt recognized across the NHS pillars, which motivated me to apply and demonstrate that I can contribute and make an impact in my own way across multiple disciplines.”
— Feven Tesfaye, 2026 National Winner (Savage, MN)
“Winning the scholarship made me realize that students from rural and small-town communities are so much more capable than we often believe ourselves to be. It means that we can accomplish great things, too! When I saw “Congratulations,” I felt incredibly awestruck. It really felt surreal to see “Roma High School” on a national platform.”
— Emma Escobar, 2026 National Service Pillar Winner (Rio Grande City, TX)
“The feeling of being selected was a dizzying collision of disbelief and absolute clarity. I had spent years trying to improve the lives of those around me, yet in one single notification, my own life was the one irrevocably altered. It felt like a prestigious high-five from the universe, the realization that while I was busy serving my community, the National Honor Society was busy watching, waiting, and ultimately betting on my future.”
— Nihar Patel, 2026 National Pillar Winner (Fairfield Township, OH)
“As president of my chapter, I have worked to uphold the four pillars beyond my own community. By serving as a role model, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to inspire my members and help them discover the many impactful opportunities NASSP provides.”
— Sloane Wolfe, 2026 National Character Pillar Winner (Morgantown, PA)
“I feel extremely privileged and honored to be selected as a winner of the NHS Scholarship! As NHS president, I have seen the transformative impact that the NHS pillars can have on exposing new interests, giving back to communities, and creating new networks. This scholarship allows me to connect with a community of motivated, service-oriented individuals from around the country and helps me make my dream of studying neuroscience and biology an exciting reality. It feels incredibly rewarding to be recognized for my advocacy efforts, and I look forward to furthering these passions in my future endeavors!”
— Pragna Yalavarthy, 2026 National Pillar Winner (Arvada, CO)
Questions?
