by Claire Carter | editor-in-chief

With the end of semester creeping up on students, seniors are ready to open a letter and check “YES.” But when your phone vibrates with the Edmodo message from NHS reading, “Don’t forget! Service hours are due December 12!” chaos ensues.

‘How many hours do we need?’ ‘Does mowing my own lawn count?’ and ‘Wait, we need group projects?’ are questions that ring through the hallway at this time of year. That’s right, if you don’t make the cut (10 individual and one group service hour), you may be put on probationary status. AKA: no precious blue stoll at graduation.

“NHS is not only about getting scholarships but it’s also about service and support and giving back to our community,” NHS officer Emma Eatman said.

These hours are not intended to be a hassle for students the week before their due date, but rather allow for students to become involved in community outreach projects and represent the program in a positive way.

“I think it’s good just for high school students to see that there are people in need, and knowing that they can make other people feel good for the service that they do,” NHS sponsor Brenda Vanek said.

With finals in mind for seniors, the ultimate purpose of NHS should also be a forefront of these students’ minds. The four pillars of NHS are scholarship, leadership, character, and service. Service being a representation of its members giving back to the community and school at large.

“Around the end of semester we do Project Linus and Toys for Tots service projects. We also combine with other groups on campus for different events,” Eatman said.

Seniors who neglect to follow these nationally set standards may face eventual punishments, which are made clear upon induction.

“If they don’t turn them in they get put on probation and dismissed from NHS. We try and give [our members] the chance to turn them in and then if not they could get dismissed,” Vanek said.