The National Honor Society (NHS), established in 1921, is a recognition program for American high school students who show achievement in scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

Students are selected for membership through an established school chapter in secondary public and accredited private schools by a five-member Faculty Council. Candidates must meet the chapter's requirement for scholarship, service, leadership and character in order to be selected for membership.  Continued participation in service projects is required to retain membership. Members must also maintain the chapter's required cumulative GPA. 

Four main purposes have guided chapters of NHS from the beginning: "To create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools." (from the NHS Constitution)

LASA National Honor Society

The LASA National Honor Society currently has about 175 members. The adviser is Neil Loewenstern, Social Studies faculty member. NHS meets once a month, usually the first Wednesday of each month in the library. 

Eligiblity is open to sophomores after their first semester and to juniors and seniors.  A student must have a GPA of 3.7 or higher. Once Mr. Loewenstern receives the first-semester GPAs (sometime in February), he will distribute membership applications to qualifying students through their English classes.  They will have one week to complete the application.  The application asks for them to detail their history of leadership and service in the school and Austin community. Students also write a short essay explaining why they want to be in NHS. 

An evaluation form is given to each member of the LASA faculty to evaluate the eligible students on the above-mentioned qualities. After the applications and faculty evaluations are received, a five-member faculty council reviews the applications and evaluations and determines whether the student has met membership requirements.  New members are notified through a "keying" ceremony at school during the school day. In late spring, a formal induction ceremony occurs, where students receive a membership certificate from the principal. 

To maintain membership, each member must perform 20 hours of service each semester with 5 of those hours at NHS-sponsored events.

You may contact Mr. Loewenstern at NLoewens@austinisd.org or 414-3066.