University View Academy (UVA) recently established a graduate profile for its students. This profile was produced through the collaboration of UVA leadership and represents the overarching desire for all graduates to be academically prepared, future-ready, and mentally and socially equipped for their chosen paths upon graduation. One existing opportunity at UVA that helps students achieve these goals is national service and academic achievement club opportunities.
This week’s feature focuses on the National Honor Society (NHS). The NHS program empowers and equips students with the knowledge and skills to be transformative leaders in their school, community, and beyond. In addition, it provides a necessary bridge between students and school leaders by helping school leaders to engage and hear what students think, feel, and need. NHS membership has been the true mark of student achievement for over 100 years, but it goes far beyond a report card. By empowering, championing, and recognizing well-rounded students, NHS provides schools with a value-based framework to elevate a culture of scholarship, service, leadership, and character.
At UVA, NHS members must complete service hours throughout the school year. Many of these hours come from the organization’s quarterly service projects. NHS members, along with DECA and Beta Club members, partnered with Marathon Petroleum to create care packages for troops serving overseas during October and November. The culmination of this project came when members from all three clubs recently gathered at UVA’s Conference Center to assemble the packages and create appreciation cards for the troops.
“These projects are important because they not only allow our students to strive to become greater, but it shows parents and the community that we can do greater things,” said NHS president Angel Pickering. “Don’t underestimate student passion for the community. We can help other people and make a difference.”
The Marathon Petroleum partnership is an annual project, but many other projects are organized by students. NHS members share notes of needs in their communities and bring them to the attention of their peers.
“We’re always looking,” Pickering explained. “But we can’t do what we do without support. We want everybody in the community to think of themselves as people who are part of NHS.”