Students applying to the National Honor Society are awaiting a response on who got into the prestigious organization after the recent application deadline. With rigorous submission and GPA requirements, getting into the National Honor Society, NHS for short, is no small feat. NHS adviser Ben Ruetten explains that both the application and actual activities in NHS revolve around what are called the Four Pillars, which are scholarship, service, leadership, and character.
“Those are kind of the big things that go into being a member of the National Honor Society,” Ruetten said.
The second of the pillars, service, is one thing the Berlin chapter has been trying to push. Not only does each member of the NHS need 30 hours of service, but they also have an Adopt-A-Highway on Highway 49.
“We do roadside cleanup twice a year. We’ll clean it as a group, and then you have to get your 30 hours, but that’s not together,” senior Ashlyn Strebelinski said.
Juniors who wish to become members must complete an in-depth application, a process that is anything but easy.
“There are questions about what you’ve been involved in, like community service, clubs, and then what other organizations you’ve been a part of. They reach out to other people to see if you’re a good person, like what your character is,” junior Kennady Bending said.
After applications are sent, each applicant is considered by the Faculty Council. After every individual is reviewed, applicants will be notified of their status.
“Now we’re reviewing that process. And once that’s all said and done, we can notify those who are in,” Ruetten said.
Though the club has many benefits, those who are already in the NHS are ready for new faces in the chapter. Seniors encourage underclassmen to apply in the years to come.
“Do it if you get the opportunity because it’s going to make you stand out in jobs, in college, and everything. It’s just exciting to be able to show that you’re a good student,” Strebelinski said.
