National Honor Society

To be eligible to join, you must:

• be a sixth-semester junior or eighth-semester senior;
• have a minimum cumulative 3.5 GPA;
• have been active in two (2) school sponsored clubs, teams, or organizations during Grades 9-12; one must be between grades 10-12
• provide proof of twenty (20) qualifying community service hours that take place between June 1st following the freshman year up through the time of application submission
• have taken on leadership positions within school or outside organizations;
• have maintained strong attendance; and
• have received a satisfactory faculty and staff evaluation of character.  

Applications are reviewed at depth by our NHS Faculty Committee, who make the ultimate selection of members.  All applicants will be notified whether or not they are selected roughly one week prior to the Induction Ceremony.

Note: Students will be responsible for tracking their own service hours and organization memberships, submitted documents to the faculty sponsor with the final application only.

Active members are responsible for attending all meetings and maintaining a 3.5 GPA and strong character record.  They must also perform a minimum of twenty (20) additional service hours while serving as an active member.  At minimum, five (5) qualifying hours completed after the student's induction date and an announced summer deadline must be submitted; five (5) additional hours must be completed and submitted by the winter deadline; five (5) additional hours must be completed and submitted by the spring deadline.  Of the twenty (20) total active hours, at least six (6) hours must be completed with NHS-sponsored service activities.  Active members, please refer to your bylaws for more specific information.  Should a member not meet the expectations set forth by the bylaws, their membership will be reviewed by the Faculty Council for potential probation or dismissal from the organization. Students on probation or dismissed at the end of the year will not be allowed to wear NHS honor stoles at the PHHS Commencement Ceremony.

• For applicants AND active members (to access, you must sign into Google Drive with PHSD log-in credentials): NHS Community Service Verification Form (Word) (paper copies also available on NHS Bulletin Board outside the counseling office)
• PHHS NHS Bylaws: NHS Bylaws (PDF) 
• For applicants (in addition to main application): Extra Activity Verification Form (PDF) 
• For applicants (in addition to main application): Leadership Verification Form (PDF)
• For applicants (in addition to FULL APPLICATIONS for the next selection season must be picked up at an official NHS informational meeting during applicant meeting season (late November 2025- January 2026) and must be returned to the counseling office by ______________. In December 2025, emails will go out to students encouraging them to apply. 

We are an organization that honors your academic achievement, leadership and community service.  If you are interested in joining our organization and meet the criteria below, you must complete the application by the deadline (TBD).  You'll receive an email from the sponsors with the application and all other information you need.

To be eligible for NHS a student must:

1.      Be a sixth semester junior or an eighth semester senior.
2.      Achieve a minimum 3.50 cumulative grade point average.
3.      Participate in at least two or more school-sponsored clubs, teams, or organizations                 during grades 9-12, one of which needs to take place during grades 10-12. 
4.      Take part in service projects during grades 10-12 (beginning June 1 following freshman            year) that total at least twenty hours.
5.      Receive satisfactory faculty/staff evaluations.
6.      Hold a qualifying leadership position in a school/community organization and/or in                 employment.
 

Spring 2026 application

Applications will be due on Monday, April 6, 2026 (this is an updated due date!!!).

Are you a sophomore or older student in need of advice to get started on your service hours? Here is an example selection of volunteer efforts NHS has been part of in the area:

• https://www.bridgingthegap.org/volunteer/
• http://kcpetproject.org/volunteer/
• https://www.harvesters.org/Give-Time/Volunteer-Sign-Up
• http://www.rmhckc.org/volunteering
• http://www.restartinc.org/get-involved/volunteer/
• https://www.parkhill.k12.mo.us/families/pta-clothing-center
• https://hillcrestplatte.org/volunteer/

When beginning, we advise finding a non-profit that supports an issue about which you are most passionate (i.e. hunger, shelter, medical needs, education, arts, animal care, environment, physical activity, etc.). Many service opportunities can even prepare you for a future career while making an impact on your local community.  A sampling of opportunities available locally for getting involved include but are not limited to the following:

• http://www.saintlukeshealthsystem.org/volunteer
• https://www.childrensmercy.org/Give_to_CMH/Volunteer/
• http://www.nkch.org/community/volunteer-info/
• http://www.kansascityzoo.org/node/481
• http://www.yvckc.org/
• https://www.volunteermatch.org/
• https://www.mymcpl.org/genealogy/mgc-information/volunteers
• http://www.olathelibrary.org/teens/volunteer-opportunities
• https://youthsymphonykc.org/volunteer/
• https://www.redcross.org/local/missouri/volunteer.html
• http://www.allforgood.org/
• http://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/foodbanks/MOfoodbanks.html
• http://www.kauffmancenter.org/support-us/volunteer/
• http://www.waysidewaifs.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Volunteer_new
• https://www.kcmo.gov/programs-initiatives/volunteer

Whatever you select to submit for NHS admittance, do make sure that the project is within compliance of our bylaws above. If struggling to get access or rides to service, please reach out to the PHHS NHS sponsors.
      
Thank you for your interest and we look forward to your application!