What is the National Honor Society?
The National Honor Society (formerly known as ARISTA in New York City) is a group of accomplished high school scholars that thrive academically and are a big component in their communities. At LaGuardia, we are prolific in academia and community engagement as well as our artistic disciplines. The NHS is a place to not only celebrate your achievements, but to also build and grow upon them.
ARISTA HISTORY
ARISTA was the term for the National Honor Society (NHS) chapter primarily in NYC public junior high schools and high schools. Historically, the requirements for being and remaining a member of ARISTA vary from school to school, but all schools require that students maintain at least a GPA of 90 (our current GPA requirement is a 93) and complete community service hours.
The Four Pillars of National Honor Society
As a member of LaGuardia's National Honor Society, you are expected to maintain the following:
SCHOLARSHIP - academic achievement through attainment of knowledge from studies or research
As a member of NHS, maintaining your GPA above a certain cutoff and passing all your classes (including studio classes) represent your scholarship in LaGuardia High School. As an NHS scholar, however, you are also expected to have earned your grades fairly and honestly through diligence. Academic dishonesty is unacceptable in our prestigious organization and may lead to dismissal from NHS.
Being in NHS means that you have successfully accomplished the dual mission of LaGuardia High School: to provide to each student with professional preparation in their studio as well as a college preparatory academic education.
LEADERSHIP - guidance or direction of a group of people
We encourage all our members to take initiative in NHS events, other organizations, clubs, and local communities. Those in NHS who take charge are further improving the school environment at LaGuardia as well as the communities that we live in. Leadership qualities can be seen in activities as simple as tutoring, a requirement for members to stay in NHS; for example, tutors help guide students who are struggling in a path towards academic success.
As a member of NHS, push yourself to take that extra step to make the community a better place!
SERVICE - helping or aiding others that are in need or struggling
In NHS, service is an important requirement of members. At the end of the day, though, there is more to community service than just completing your hours for NHS. You are helping somebody who is less fortunate when you volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter; you are aiding patrons that cannot afford books and computers to attain resources when you volunteer at your local library; you are encouraging, motivating, and guiding struggling students in our school to become better students and to work harder (and maybe even become a member of NHS in the future!) when you tutor.
Serving your school and local communities is a very rewarding part of being in NHS because you are improving the lives of those around you by simply sacrificing a few hours of your own time to give back to the community.
CHARACTER - moral or ethical qualities distinctive to an individual
Characteristics NHS members should have: honesty, diligence, professionalism, ambition, dedication, integrity, altruism, respect, initiative, consideration for others.
Character is the most important pillar of NHS because it is ties into the other three pillars. In school, you are expected to have earned your grades fairly rather than through dishonest means; your grades should be a reflection of your responsibility and diligence in school, not how well you cheat on exams. You are also expected to respect others and act in a professional manner in which you do not offend fellow classmates or teachers. When you submit your tutoring and service logs, we expect that you have actually completed your hours (rather than making them up); serving your community is an honor, but lying about giving back to your community is simply unacceptable. We also encourage you to take charge in your community; your innovation and diligence will have a great impact on your community if you are willing to take that extra step.