NHS Selection of Members will be a five step process.

First
The selection of membership to this chapter shall be by a Faculty Council consisting of five members of the Girard High School faculty representing various disciplines, supervised by the NHS adviser. The selection of each member shall be by a majority vote of the Faculty Council. The NHS adviser does not have a vote in the process.

Second
A letter and Student Activity form will be sent to all junior and senior students who have attained the minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 at the end of their sophomore year for juniors, and at the end of the junior year for seniors, to apprise them of their eligibility for NHS.

Third
A morning announcement will be made to apprise students that eligibility letters were sent out. Any student not receiving a letter, but believing he/she is eligible, may seek to be considered for eligibility by having his or her grade point average checked by a guidance counselor. The counselor shall report his/her finding to the NHS Adviser. If the student is indeed eligible, the student in question will receive all forms immediately. It is the student’s responsibility to begin this inquiry within 5 school days from the time eligibility letters were sent out. Returning the form with the student and parent/guardian signature within two full weeks from the mailing of the eligibility letters acknowledges the student’s interest in pursuing possible membership in the organization.

Fourth
The Student Activity Forms will be reviewed by each member of the Faculty Council and rated on a scale of 1-4 in the area of Service. In order to be awarded service points, candidates must show a commitment to service both in our school and in our community. Candidates must demonstrate service in the community that is done without any direct financial or material compensation during their high school career. Points will be scored as follows: One point for 1-20 hours of service, two points for 21-30 hours of service, three points for 31-40 hours of service, and four points for over 40 hours of service.

Fifth
A list of all students who have returned their student activity forms will be compiled by the NHS adviser so it can be forwarded to the entire Girard High School teaching faculty for evaluation in the areas of leadership and character.
- Each student shall be rated separately in the areas of character and leadership by each teacher who has had professional interaction with the student via the classroom, clubs, teams, or other functions of the school on a scale of 1-4 (four being the highest).

The National Honor Society handbook describes Character and Leadership in the following ways:

CHARACTER: Character is the force within each individual, which distinguishes that person from others. It gives each one individuality. It is that without which no one can respect oneself, nor hope to attain the respect of others. It is the force of character, which guides one through life and, when once developed, grows steadily. Character is achieved and not received. It is the product of constant action, daily striving to make the right choices. By demonstrating such qualities as reliability, honesty, and sincerity, we may hope to prove by example that we value character.

LEADERSHIP: Leadership should exert a wholesome influence on the school. In taking the initiative in class and school activities, the real leader strives to train and aid others to attain the same objective. The price of leadership is sacrifice – the willingness to yield one’s personal interests for the interests of others. A leader has self-confidence and will go forward when others hesitate. No matter what power and resources may exist in a country, they are ineffectual without the guidance of a wise leader. Leadership is always needed; thus, to lead is a substantive charge to each of our members and to the candidates.

Students receive a separate rating in the areas of Character and Leadership. The ratings will not necessarily be the same in both areas. A basic scoring guide is provided below in order to standardize the responses from the staff. Each student’s scores will be averaged separately in Character and Leadership.

4 = Student always demonstrates qualities that are reflective of Character/Leadership.
3 = Student usually demonstrates qualities that are reflective of Character/Leadership.
2 = Student rarely demonstrates qualities that are reflective of Character/Leadership.
1 = Student never demonstrates traits that are reflective of Character/Leadership.

-Those rating sheets will be returned to the NHS adviser. All of the ratings for each student will be totaled and an average rating in both leadership and character will be entered on the student’s point worksheet.

-The final selection of members will be made by the Faculty Council after a thorough review of all relevant information pertaining to the candidacy of each student, after which a vote will be taken and those students receiving a majority vote will be invited to join, per Article IX, Section 3 of the national constitution. The role of the Chapter Adviser during these proceedings shall be strictly as an advocate for the candidates and not as a voting member of the Faculty Committee.

 Members