The National Honor Society is closing up the school year with multiple service projects and community efforts, empowering future members and bringing the values of NHS into the Reno community. National Honor Society (NHS) is a student leadership program that is built on the four pillars of Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character. These principles unlock students’ potential to make contributions beyond the classroom and into the world. These profound changes brought by students are already happening in the NHS members at Bishop Manogue High School.
NHS members are required to participate in a service project and a set amount of educational tutoring to retain their membership to the program. This past month, numerous service projects have been hosted by local charities and organizations that so many students have taken part in. Some events have been through Keeping Truckee Meadows Beautiful, a local organization hoping for volunteers to help pick up trash at local parks, an event through Moms on the Run, as well as an opportunity through Revel Lake Tahoe Race. These events allow members to contribute their time, but also develop lifelong leadership skills for members to carry on throughout their entire lives.
Senior at Bishop Manogue Chloe Peacock stated, “I’ve been a member of NHS for two years now, and I really love it. Every event we do is really fun, and it is so great we can help the community alongside friends who are also members!”
Vice Principal Sarah Haeberlin-Cope emphasized the importance of gathering a group of NHS members to go out into the community for the projects, and members are certainly following along with this. The turnout of volunteers at these events has been astounding, with over 40 volunteers participating at a service event at the Reno Convention Center just a few weeks ago. Students continue to show up to these events, and the community continues to benefit each and every time.
The continued effort in the community by members after their time in the program is an important part of their membership, as it is a strong representation of the Service pillar in the NHS values. The values of National Honor Society reflect that service is a selfless act in which we help build a better world. Therefore, these efforts in the community do not stop with our membership, members must continue to embody Service, along with the other three pillars: scholarship, leadership, and character, throughout their lives. This long term mindset is also what makes NHS stand out compared to other service-based programs as an organization focused on what lies beyond educational plans or goals.
With each year bringing a new class of National Honor Society members, along comes a new class of personalities, stewardship, and ways to serve. NHS is not just a high school club, it is a lifelong commitment to serving the community in any way possible, as well as unlocking members’ individual potential and expanding their educational journey outside of the classroom.
