MEMBERSHIP

Welcome, we are pleased that you are seeking membership in duPont Manual’s National Honor Society. Any duPont Manual sophomore or junior that meets the requirements set forth in the duPont Manual Constitution and By-Laws may apply.  NHS is the most prestigious organization at most any high school in the Nation, and that is no exception at Manual. NHS members are the best of the best of best of the best...  We are looking for well-rounded, self-motivated students that are committed to academics & service. If you are interested in joining to pad your resume, NHS may not be the best organization for you. Closely evaluate your time commitments with respect to academics, extracurricular activities, employment & family obligations before seeking membership. NHS obligations combined with Junior & Senior level class work can be demanding and sometimes takes a toll on members. Manual’s NHS has a attrition rate of approximately 25% each year.

We encourage you to pay attention when you watch the presentation below.  In addition to the explaining the application process, it contains all the specific requirements to maintain your membership if selected. After watching the presentation, complete the application accurately & completely, hand write the indicated sentence, obtain the required signatures & turn the completed application in by 2:30pm on the last day that school is in session in February.  Of course we encourage you to complete all the required documents and turn them in early if possible.  Feel free to ask any officer or the sponsor any questions during the application process.  To help with the application process and facilitate questions, the officers will hold four meetings in room 206 during the last week of January and the first week of February. The 2012 information meetings are scheduled for: Monday, Jan. 23rd (2:30pm-3:00pm), Thursday, Jan. 26th (7:00am-7:30am), Tuesday Jan. 31^st (2:30pm-3:00pm) & Wednesday, Feb. 1^st (7:00-7:30). The meetings are NOT mandatory and will last about 30 minutes and parents are welcome to attend with the applicants.

In order to be considered for duPont Manual’s NHS, there are some general requirements all applicants must have: 

Scholarship: You must have a cumulative GPA above 3.5000 and explain any semester grades that you have received that were below C’s. The councilor’s office will verify all grades.

Leadership: You need to be able to show that you have been active in the classroom, school or community organizations during your high school years. You will be asked to list the names of organizations and any special recognition, awards, or honors (including scholarships) that you may have received. If you hold or have held an office or were a candidate for an office, be sure too include all the specifics on the application.

Service: Service is defined as a positive, non-self-serving contribution to the welfare of others. The selection committee will be looking for a track record of active school and/or community service during your previous years at Manual. You will be asked to list all of the service projects that you have completed or been involved in since you began the 9th grade, including the name of the project, relevant specifics of your involvement and the contact information for a person at the organization you volunteered for so that we can contact them to verify your service.

Character: NHS members must exemplify good character so you will be asked to write how you best exemplify character. Additionally, you will be asked to list the specifics of any referrals or other disciplinary actions (includes excessive tardies or absences) you may have had during your high school years.

You are required to submit three duPont Manual Teacher Recommendations (forms can be found on the Manual NHS Website). Make sure you give your teachers plenty of time to submit your recommendation forms by the deadline. You must have EXACTLY THREE recommendations from teachers who have had you as a student or as part of an extracurricular activity. The selection committee looks for three “Very Good” recommendations from these teachers and an exemplary discipline record.  The committee will only review recommendations that you & your parents have waived your rights to review.  While it does not prohibit acceptance in to Manuals NHS, expectations for members are quite high and any single mark in the highlighted areas of the recommendation form could be cause for denial into NHS (99.9% of candidates selected for membership have no marks in the shaded areas).  

Work Experience, Recognition & Awards: You will be asked to list any job experiences, job honors, or job recognition that you have received. You should be sure to include any summer jobs and the name of the employers, followed by the position you held, and then any relevant specifics you feel are pertinent to the selection committee. Working during your high school years is not a requirement for NHS; however, having done so while meeting all the other requirements of membership may help strengthen your application, or this may be a way of documenting leadership.

Extracurricular Activities: Dupont Manual’s NHS is looking for members that are well rounded, so the selection committee will be looking for members that are involved in at least 2 extracurricular activities, one of which is a duPont Manual extracurricular activity.

Review the general qualities that applicants for duPont Manual’s NHS are expected to have. If you believe you possess these qualities, then you are well on your way to becoming a member of the duPont Manual NHS chapter. Once you determine that you are a viable duPont Manual NHS candidate, there are several steps to the application process.

• You must complete your personal information on the computer in the front of Dr. Rash's room (name, grade, address, email, etc.).  There is an Excel File on the desk top named "NHS Info" & you may come into his class at anytime, quietly sit at the computer & fill out the requested information.  If you need help or have questions, you MUST do so before/after school, or between classes, NOT during his class.
• Watch the duPont Manual NHS presentation. The presentation can be viewed from the link just mentioned, or downloaded.  The presentation will be given all of the four application informational meetings held during the month of February mentioned above. You may also copy or watch the presentation on the computer in the front of Dr. Rash's room when you enter your personal information. 
• Read the entire duPont Manual Constitution and By-Laws and attend one of the information meeting to get any questions you might have answered.
• Download & complete the duPont Manual NHS application form (MS Word file). Applications that are not fully completed will not be reviewed.
• Verify that all of the information presented on the application accurately represents your achievements.
• Printout the completed application, print the required sentence “in you own handwriting” on the application where indicated, then take the application to a notary public where you & your parent or guardian will sign.
• Staple a check (made out to Manual NHS) to the completed application in the appropriate location indicated on the application (Your name must be on the memo line & you must sign a multiple receipt form when you turn in the application). 
• Turn in the completed & notarized application by 2:30 pm on the last day that school is in session in February.  Late applications will not be accepted, even if you have an excused absence from school on the day the applications are due.
• PLEASE NOTE: Applications can't just be dropped off as the candidate MUST sign a multiple receipt form.  Checks will not be deposited unless the applicant is accepted.  If not accepted, the check will be returned to the applicant.  There is NO way to pay online, so don't be fooled  by possible mailings you may receive from groups sounding like NHS.  The National NHS office will never send you material at home, nor solicit funds from you via mail or the internet.  We may email you, but we will never ask for money, etc. via email.

Please be aware that by completing & turning in the duPont Manual NHS application, you are agreeing to allow the NHS officers, sponsor, and faculty council members to review all information provided or that may be needed in the future to verify compliance with NHS membership requirements.  This includes seeing GPA information, discipline letters, referrals,  etc.

Applicants will be informed near the end of April, or first of May of their application status.  Applicants will be told that they are either an official applicant, or that their application for membership was not deemed sufficient.  If you become an official applicant/candidate, you will be informed of an additional meeting where the next step of your application process is explained; the summer project.  Summer projects are due by 2:30pm the 1st Friday that school is in session in the Fall semester.  With a successful project completion, maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, and not having any new blemishes that put in question your character, you will be inducted into NHS.  The 2009 Induction Ceremony is tentatively scheduled for the 1st week of September.  Attendance at the induction practice & ceremony is required for membership.  The induction practice begins at 5:00pm, inductions at 6:30pm & a reception will follow in the Senior Cafeteria.  

All decisions regarding acceptance or non-acceptance are final and there is no appeal process.

If selected & inducted, the basic overview of NHS requirements are:

• 26 total service hours during each school year of which 10 must be NHS sponsored hours
• A 15-hour project each summer (does not count towards the 26 yearly total)
• Maintain a 3.5000 or higher cumulative GPA
• 25 money points per year (Induction fee is different)
• Involvement in at least 2 extracurricular activities other than NHS (one must be @ Manual)
• Maintain a clean discipline record
• Attend monthly chapter meetings