What does it take to be in

the National Honor Society?

The requirements have

changed, but the purpose

of NHS is still not about putting

in ridiculous amounts

of community service hours

or having a report card that

would put Einstein to shame.

It’s about having a genuine

desire to help the community

and make it a better place

for everyone to live.

As for those new requirements,

a GPA of at least 95 is

necessary for the senior class

of 2009 and later, as opposed

to a GPA of 90 in

previous years.

“We felt like we

were lowering

the standards in

comparison to

other schools,”

Marty Chapman,

NHS sponsor

said, “A 90

seemed low.”

Students who

are currently

juniors at Flour

Bluff as well as

those who will

be striving for

the new GPA

will also have to

have at least three advanced

classes.

“[They need] basically any

class that requires a prerequisite…

is an advanced class,”

senior and president of NHS

Mary Lewis said. “They do

not have to have the Pre-AP,

AP, or Dual Credit title.”

This year, current members

of NHS will have attended a

mandatory group event, or

an alternate event if they are

unable to attend the first, for

each semester.

“Last semester was the Ronald

McDonald House Christmas

party where we decorated

the house, made crafts

with the kids, and decorated

cookies,” Lewis said. “This

semester we will be helping

the Habitat for Humanity organization

by holding a car

wash to raise money that

will be used to help furnish a

house. We will also have the

option of going to one of the

work sites and helping with

the construction, landscaping,

and decorating of one of

the houses.”

Some students say the

process of applying for NHS

takes a great deal of time.

“It’s not all that stressful, but

it is time-consuming,” junior

Monica Leal

said. “We

have to get

a ton of signatures

from

our teachers,

s p o n s o r s ,

and employers

and then

write an essay.”

Prospective

NHS members

can

start early

on things to

put on their

applications,

which include

extracurricular activities,

honors and/or awards,

leadership positions, community

service, work experience,

and an essay.

“I’ve had good grades, good

behavior, and I’ve done a

lot throughout the past two

years involving community

service,” Leal said.

When it comes to being a

member of NHS, one needs

to show exemplary behavior

and competence. Whatever

qualifications potential members

decide to exhibit, they

must keep in mind the four

ideals of the National Honor

Society: service, leadership,

scholarship, and character.