National Honor Society

National Honor Society is a prestigious national organization created in 1919 by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Presently, its primary goals are both to recognize those secondary school students who possess outstanding scholarship, character, leadership, and service, as well as to encourage those students to perform needed service for their schools and their communities. Members of the STVM chapter make a commitment to engage in the service projects the chapter undertakes such as assisting with various school and community functions, peer tutoring, fundraising, outreach to local organizations, and making cards and crafts for the residents of St.Edward’s Nursing Home. 

At St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, membership in the National Honor Society is limited to juniors and seniors. To be eligible. students beginning with the Class of 2026 must be in the college preparatory track and have a minimum 3.9 cumulative GPA. Students in the Class of 2025 will be grandfathered to the previous standard of a 3.7, according to national guidelines. Students are notified of their eligibility in September of each year and must complete an information form and essay if they wish to be considered for membership. 

A Faculty Council appointed by the Principal selects students for membership following an evaluation process by the entire faculty. Teachers evaluate students in the four areas recognized by NHS as pillars: scholarship, character, leadership, and service. A student must be judged to be “above average” in each category to be selected for membership. Eligible candidates each year are notified in late September and informed of the application and selection process. The faculty selection process then takes place, and students are notified if they are selected for membership by mid October. Induction of new members usually takes place in late October or early November.