AN EXPLANATION OF THE SELECTION CRITERIA

The Faculty Councils of both NHS and NJHS select students for membership who demonstrate outstanding performance in all four criteria of scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

Scholarship

Each student must have and maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 90%.

Leadership

Leadership roles in both the school and community may be considered, provided they can be verified.  The student who exercises 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.
• 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 efficiently and effectively; demonstrates reliability and dependability.
• Is a leader in the classroom, at work, and in other school or community activities.
• Is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted.
• Is willing to uphold scholarship and maintain a loyal school attitude.

Service

Service is generally considered to be those actions undertaken by the student which are done with or on behalf of others without any direct financial or material compensation to the individual performing the service.  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.
• Does committee and staff work without complaint.
• Participates in some activity outside of school;  for example, church groups, volunteer services for the poor, elderly, or disadvantaged, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, etc.
• Mentors persons in the community or students in the school or other schools.
• Shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students.

Character

A person of character demonstrates the following six qualities:  respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring, and citizenship.  In addition, it can also be said of a student with character:

• Takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously.
• Consistently exemplifies desirable qualities of behavior (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 unwillingness to profit by the mistakes of others.
• Actively helps rid the school of bad influences or environment.