Today, Huntley High School’s National Honor Society announced its newest members. Ninety to 100 hundred juniors and seniors who displayed leadership and had GPAs above 3.5 were selected to join the 66 existing members.
This large increase in members will mark the most students that National Honor Society has ever had, and means that elements of the program will be adapted in order to support so many students.
When math teacher Pam Stone began running the National Honor Society program 6 years ago, there were only about 30 students involved. The growth of the school and the addition of more AP and honors classes over the past few years have increased the number of candidates invited to apply for the program.
This year, out of 220 students invited to join, 130 to 140 applied. A council of faculty members was then placed in charge of determining who would be selected as part of the program. Letters declaring whether or not students were accepted were distributed to all of the applicants today.
“The faculty council was very impressed with this year’s applicants,” said Stone. “It was difficult for them to narrow down.”
The induction ceremony for new members will take place Tuesday, Jan. 15. Members of NHS are expected to regularly attend meetings, complete 15 hours of community service per semester, and organize at least one service project for the school to participate in.
Once the new members are inducted, Stone plans on stressing unity throughout the program. She would like to have the students select one or two large projects that all of the members can participate in and promote around the school. An inspiration for this plan was Crystal Lake Central’s large annual leaf raking project.
Stone, along with senior Gail Malecki, NHS president, and senior Katherine Hamilton, NHS vice president, is planning on meeting with the new members to decide what projects they would like to focus on.
“I’m really hoping to organize a lock-in in early February, which will be good for [the students’] bonding experience,” said Stone.
National Honor Society will have more plans organized once meetings resume in two weeks.