The National Honor Society has been recognizing student achievement since 1921, inspiring students to reach higher and dream bigger. The organization inspired students to strive for the central principles of Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Character. The National Honor Society's tenet of Service drives students engaged in the activities of the organization to seek volunteer opportunities both as individuals and as a club.

Individual Activities

Individuals can identify for themselves areas of key interest and pursue volunteer schedules that meet the club's requirements and maximize the opportunity for the student. Such projects often involve teaming up with other organizations. These projects can include bathing pets at a shelter before adoption fairs, visiting local senior centers, helping with a blood drive or volunteering on a mission trip.

Small Group Activities

Not all activities are interesting to the club as a whole. Accordingly, small group projects are useful tools to help students band together to make a bigger impact. Offering small, optional service opportunities can also be a great way to mitigate potentially divisive subjects. These projects can include holding a fund-raising drive for an international hunger relief organization, organizing volunteers for local political campaigns, initiating or staffing a voter registration drive, or holding an awareness campaign on bullying versus social acceptance.

Club Service Projects

Some projects are simply too big for even a small group of dedicated students. For those issues closest to your student population, organize service projects that involve the entire club. Examples of such projects are raising funds to help students who cannot afford to go to the prom, organizing food drives for a local food pantry, staffing after-school tutoring programs or putting together a career day at school.

Semester of Service Model

Youth Service America's Semester of Service model has caught on with National Honor Society clubs and other youth organizations across the country. This model involves preparation, execution, reflection and celebration of a major service undertaking. The model encourages individuals or groups to take on a single major project and devote 70 hours per student to the cause. These causes can include local health initiatives, human and civil rights issues, or ecological concerns. The Semester of Service platform can be used to help each student get behind an issue he cares about and challenge him to succeed.