National Honor Society: Service with Self-Initiative

Greta Cunningham ‘23, Communications Intern
September 22, 2023

National Honor Society, a recognized hallmark of high school excellence, is a global organization with over 16,000 chapters. Started in 1921, NHS has helped students dedicate themselves to the four pillars of scholarship, service, leadership, and character for over 100 years. Traditionally, Cretin Derham Hall’s chapter has emphasized service as the primary focus for their students. 

“Both CDH and NHS incorporate service in their mission,” said Steven Tachney, CDH English teacher and NHS adviser. “CDH is open to a variety of student-led initiatives and ideas. Exposure to self-directed service truly creates leaders.” 

CDH students can apply for NHS if they have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 by the end of the second trimester of their junior year. If interested, qualifying students then submit an application and personal statement. A Faculty Council appointed by the Activities Director makes the final selection of group members. 

“I originally wanted to join NHS for the service experience. I have always enjoyed going out and helping with events, and this was a good way to get connected,” said Cameron Kawalec ’24, one of NHS’s co-presidents. “I was most interested in a leadership role because of the impact that could be made. I want this year’s NHS group to be remembered for a long time because of the difference we’ll make.”

Once the year’s NHS cohort is selected, admitted students then have the opportunity to run for the co-presidency, which the rest of the group elects. 

“Service is an important value for CDH because it is an opportunity to expand on our other Catholic values,” said Katie O’Donnell ’24, the class of 2024’s other co-president. “We are taught to love our neighbor and service is a way to do that.” 

NHS members must complete 75 service hours: 25 over the summer following junior year and 50 during their senior year. 

“While prescribed service is a part of every senior’s experience at CDH through their senior classes, NHS demands even more self-initiative and commitment,” said Tachney. “Serving during senior year is significant as students have more mobility, are more mature, and, most importantly, are defining what service best meets their skills, talents, and what they have to give back to others.”

While some service is accomplished as a group, such as those organized by co-presidents, students are called to find and create opportunities independently. 

“As an adviser, the best examples of service are those that generate a loving energy for those people being served. Some group projects that come to mind include planting community gardens and creating care baskets for needy, expectant mothers, or hospital and senior living caregivers,” said Tachney. “My all time favorite was a student who designed and created a prosthetic arm for a child using a 3D printer. Ultimately, it’s amazing to witness any volunteer who is personally moved and inspired by their service.”

Completing service hours may require independent initiative, but the network NHS provides allows students to hold each other accountable with regular check-ins and encouragement, find small groups to go to service sites together, and share ideas and resources.

“We are also integrated with student council and other service initiatives at CDH,” said Tachney. “NHS students should feel they are the best at fulfilling both NHS and CDH values.” 

NHS frequently partners with other CDH student groups, who might direct volunteer opportunities to their peers in NHS or ask for support in service and social justice driven initiatives, like a sustainability club trash pick up, Dorothy Day breakfast shift, or Letters of Love card writing session to support patients at children’s hospitals.

“Service is an important value at CDH because it brings us closer to our community,” said Kawalec. “It shows that we are more than students, while benefiting our own lives and environment.” 

Beyond the CDH community, NHS provides students with the resources to explore other needs in their neighborhoods. 

“In high school, it can be easy to think the world revolves around our own school, but service can open our eyes to the greater community we live in,” said O’Donnell. 

Each year’s NHS class chooses a theme to center their service; the class of 2024 has decided to focus on caring for the environment, both natural and those people create. 

“I hope we all see our service hours as an opportunity to enrich ourselves and our community,” said O’Donnell.