The National Honor Society (NHS) stands as a beacon of intellectual rigor, a celebration of service, a paragon of leadership, and a champion of character.

In 1921, amidst an educational landscape caught between the balancing act of athletics and academics, Dr. Edward Rynearson, principal of the Fifth Avenue High School in Pittsburgh, PA, had a profound vision. He saw the future of an organization that would not only ignite the flames of scholarship but also fan the sparks of service, leadership, and character in the young minds of our nation. 

Unveiled over a century ago, the National Honor Society enshrines four pillars at its heart: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character. More than mere badges of honor for NHS members, these principles are transformative keys that unlock potential, enhancing every student’s educational journey, and ultimately empowering them to make profound, enduring contributions to our world.

Link to the Four Pillars of NHS:

https://www.nationalhonorsociety.org/about/everyday-pillars-of-nhs/

Link to the NHS National Constitution:

https://www.nationalhonorsociety.org/about/constitution-governance/nhs-national-constitution/

Eligibility:

1. Candidates eligible for selection to this chapter must be members of the junior or senior class. 
2. To be eligible for selection to membership in this chapter, the candidate must have been enrolled for a period equivalent to one semester at Elizabeth Forward High School
3. Candidates eligible for election to the chapter shall have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale based on end-of-year final grades from courses taken while enrolled as a student at Elizabeth Forward High School.
4. Upon meeting the grade level, enrollment, and GPA standards, candidates shall then be considered based on their service, leadership, and character.

Membership in this chapter is an honor bestowed upon deserving students by the faculty and shall be based on the criteria of scholarship, service, leadership, and character.  All students who are eligible scholastically (i.e., candidates) shall be notified and asked to complete and submit the candidate information eligibility form for further consideration.  The faculty council shall review the candidate information forms, student essays, external and internal recommendations, faculty input, and other relevant information to determine those who fully meet the selection criteria for membership.  Discipline records, including ISS and OSS, will be reviewed to assist the faculty in evaluating student character. 

**Please note that eligibility DOES NOT guarantee final induction into NHS. 

Contact our National Honor Society Advisor, Mr. Joe McManus, at (412) 896-2347 or by email at jmcmanus@efsd.net 

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