A Nationwide Commitment to Service

National Honors Society (NHS) has over one million members and chapters in all 50 states. NHS claims that, each year, an average chapter contributes about 1,000 hours of community service, $26,000 in charitable donations, 1,000 pounds of food to food banks, and 100 pints of blood every year. The program was founded in 1921 by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) to recognize, champion, and empower well-rounded students. It is built on the four pillars of scholarship, service, character, and leadership.

Central math teacher Marci Hecker is the advisor for the NHS chapter at BCCHS. She took over the club from English teacher Michele Mattix in 2012. “I was interested in helping out with NHS because I was a member myself,” said Hecker.

Now, Hecker helps organize numerous events and volunteer opportunities for NHS members. Seniors start out by helping unload Christmas trees in the first semester of the school year for the local parishes. Given that juniors do not have the opportunity to join NHS until their second semester, they generally do not participate in the event as members of NHS. During the seniors’ graduation at the end of the year, the juniors are asked to help fill various roles for the breakfast and the Mass.

This year, Hecker hopes NHS will be able to run a blood drive. Billings Central’s chapter of NHS has organized blood drives for several years. The club began doing so in 2016, but the program was put on hold when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Both juniors and seniors will be able to help with this event.

Students in NHS receive many benefits from the program. “Students involved in NHS graduate with a special emblem on their graduation diplomas, and I believe that it does help some kids when they talk about going to college, being part of National Honors Society,” said Hecker. Students also have the opportunity to win NHS scholarships and can attend LEAD conferences to receive leadership training.

To become a member of NHS at Billings Central, students must meet several criteria. First, they must have a 92% or higher GPA at the end of the first semester of their junior year. If they meet this requirement, they will be asked to provide a comprehensive list of the clubs and activities they have been a part of during high school and write an essay about one of the four pillars of NHS. With the help of assistant principal  Jim Hawbaker, Hecker will then read and evaluate each essay. Hecker said, “most of them are accepted.” Generally, about 40 students from each class at Billings Central become members of NHS.