The National Honor Society, founded in 1921, is the nation’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding students. The St. Aloysius Gonzaga Chapter at Jesuit High School, like other NHS chapters throughout the country, fosters excellence through four pillars — scholarship, leadership, character, and service among its members.

Scholarship

by senior Eric Hartupee, Executive Aide

Scholarship is an essential quality one must possess in order to be a member of the National Honor Society. To become a member, a student must have at least a 3.75 GPA in their junior year or a 3.5 GPA in their senior year. He must also maintain that GPA for the rest of his tenure in the society. Each student should also be strongly committed to learning. The student must be willing to spend time cultivating his mind and expanding his field of thought. He should complete his work to the best of his ability. He should also approach learning with diligence and effort that goes beyond the obligations of his classes, and he should strive to understand those concepts, which are difficult to comprehend. Most importantly, he must strive to contribute a positive change to society with the knowledge that he has obtained through his hard work.

Character

by senior Richard Williams, Vice President

One of the four pillars on which the National Honor Society is based upon is character. Along with high academic standing and success, members of the National Honor Society are also encouraged to develop their unique personalities. As men of character, members should strive to act as distinctive individuals in their communities by utilizing their various talents. By more fully realizing their individual gifts, all members can better aid their fellow neighbors and community. In developing their distinct character, members of the National Honor Society are better able to succeed in the other pillars of Scholarship, Leadership, and Service.

Leadership

by senior Cullen Walsh, Treasurer

Members of the National Honor Society are expected to show qualities of leadership in order to further their service to the student body. By exhibiting character in the face of adversity, members lead by example and encourage similar actions. As upperclassmen that hold positions in other clubs, teams, and organizations, members of the honor society should demonstrate sound judgment and self-confidence. This entails self-sacrifice when appropriate and the ability to consider the concerns of others while decision-making.

Service

by senior Eugene Kim, Historian

All members of the National Honor Society are expected to commit themselves to serving the greater community. The Society holds several service opportunities, and each member is required to attend multiple of these hosted events. By learning to serve the community, each student in the National Honor Society is made more aware of the situations of their fellow man. By growing in awareness of the needs of others, each student will grow in love for his community, and will continue to serve for the remainder of his lifetime.