Prior Lake

National Honor Society

The National Honor Society (NHS) is the nation’s premier organization that recognizes outstanding juniors and seniors.  More than an honor roll, NHS honors those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. 

Members of the PLHS chapter of the National Honor Society participate in over 30 hours of individual community service as well as 15 hours of NHS sponsored events.  Outside of volunteering  their time for organizations, members raise funds for a variety of charitable organizations.  Some of those NHS sponsored events/organizations include: Red Cross Blood Drive, Parent's Night Out, Salvation Army Bell Ringing, Build a Hand (raising money for prosthetic hands), Pennies for Patients (raising money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society), Spirit of the Holidays, Trunk or Treat (food donation for CAP), Captain of the Lake (fundraiser for Boys to Men), Hope Kids, Duck Race (fundraiser for Make a Wish), Stride for Students 5k (fundraiser for scholarships for PLHS seniors in need), and many many more.  

Selection Process

Packets for 2023 will be available toward the end of 4th quarter. A message will be sent out to all qualifying (cumulative 3.4 GPA or higher), current sophomores and juniors as to when and where packets will be available.

At Prior Lake High School, students who are academically eligible and interested in membership are asked to complete a selection packet that is made available to rising juniors or seniors with a cumulative 3.4 GPA.  In addition, high school faculty members are asked to rate these students in the areas of leadership and character.  Both the student packet and the staff ratings are then presented to the National Honor Society Faculty Council.  This Council has five faculty members and is appointed by the principal.  They are responsible for the selection, the discipline and the dismissal of all NHS members.  Following their selection, the NHS advisor (who meets with the Faculty Council but is not a voting member) presents the list of selected candidates to the members of the National Honor Society Executive Board and the high school principal.  Students are notified of selection results by letter.

Selection into the Prior Lake Chapter of the National Honor Society is open to qualifying juniors and seniors who have been a student at Prior Lake for at least one quarter.  The following four criteria for membership form the foundation upon which the organization and its activities are built.

Scholarship:Students must have and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.4 to be eligible for membership.

Leadership Only those positions in which you were directly responsible for directing, leading or motivating others should be included (paid or unpaid).  Be sure that your leadership hours are separate from community service hours.
A letter of reference, written and signed by a supervising adult (not a family member), describing leadership responsibilities must be attached for ALL leadership positions. 

The students who exercise leadership:

• Is resourceful in proposing new problems, applying principles, and making suggestions
• Demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities
• Exercises positive influence on peers in upholding school ideals and spirit
• Contributes ideas that improve the civic life of the school
• Is able to delegate responsibilities
• Exemplifies positive attitudes
• Inspires positive behavior in others
• Demonstrates academic initiative
• Successfully holds school offices or positions of responsibility
• Conducts business effectively and efficiently
• Is dependable in any responsibility accepted.
• Demonstrates reliability and dependability
• Is a leader in the classroom, at work, or in other school or community activities

Character: A person of high character demonstrates the following six qualities:  respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring, and citizenship.  In addition, the student of character

• Takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously
• Consistently exemplifies desirable qualities of behavior (e.g., cheerfulness, friendliness, poise, stability)
• Upholds principles of morality and ethics
• Cooperates by complying with school regulations concerning property, programs, office, halls, etc.
• Demonstrates the highest standards of honesty and reliability
• Regularly shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others
• Observes instructions and rules, is punctual, and faithful both inside and outside the classroom
• Has powers of concentration, self-discipline, and sustained attention as shown by perseverance and application to studies
• Manifests truthfulness in acknowledging obedience to rules, avoiding cheating in written work, and showing an unwillingness to profit by the mistakes of others
• Actively helps rid the school of bad influences or environment.

Service: In order to be considered eligible for membership, students must have 30+ community service hours to be considered.  Service hours cannot be part of a requirement for a class or other school club or organization here at the high school.  These should be any activities outside of school in which you participated in the improvement of your community.  Service hours cannot be overlapped with Leadership hours. 

The student who serves

• Volunteers and provides dependable and well-organized assistance, is gladly available, and is willing to sacrifice to offer assistance

• Works well with others and is willing to take on difficult or inconspicuous responsibilities
• Cheerfully and enthusiastically renders any requested service to the school
• Is willing to represent the class or school in interclass and interscholastic competition
• Does committee and staff work without complaint
•  Participates in some activity outside of school (e.g., Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, religious groups, volunteer services for the elderly, poor, or disadvantaged)
• Mentors persons in the community or students at other schools
• Shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students.

Requirements once selected:

• Attend required Induction on October 30, 2023
• Attend 85% of Tuesday morning meetings from 7:30-8:00
• Maintain acts of community service (minimum 30 hours during school year) See attachment for approved community service - Member Expectations.
• Volunteer time in NHS sponsored events (15 hours per year)
• Maintain a 3.4 GPA
• Maintain outstanding character
• Chair an event (seniors)

***Please note:  Selection to National Honor Society is a privilege, not a right.  Students do not apply for membership in NHS; rather they provide information to be used to support their candidacy for membership.  This is not an election, nor is membership automatically conveyed simply because a student has achieved a specified level of academic performance.  Students are reminded that to be selected for membership, they must show strength in all four of the society pillars as well as provide proper documentation of service and leadership.

Welcome to the Prior Lake High School
National Honor Society Page

Advisor: Maria Lecceardone-Brown

e-mail: mlecceardone@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us

Prior Lake Senior High National Honor Society chapter is part of a larger organization which was originally established in 1921. National Honor Society, serves to honor students that have demonstrated excellence in the areas of character, scholarship, leadership, and service. Today, over one million students throughout he United States, Canada, and U.S. territories participate in the activities of NHS. Members of the National Honor Society are not only recognized for their excellence but are also challenged to further develop through active involvement in school and community activities.

The National Honor Society was established by the NASSP (National Association of Secondary School Principals) with the goals of creating enthusiasm for scholarship, stimulating a desire to render service, promoting leadership, and developing character in the students of secondary schools. NHS also follows a set of guidelines under the NHS Constitution

The PLHS chapter of NHS is currently run by advisor: Ms. Lecceardone-Brown. The chapter also has five officers: Smriti Datta (President), Courtney Williams (Vice-president), Srushti Vaidyanathan (Treasurer), Alyssa Lam (Secretary), and Mahika Kandula (Historian).