By Allie Campbell
Calendar Editor
This year, under its new advisor, English teacher Nicole Wachell, Mira Costa’s National Honor Society has the potential to grow into an organization that performs substantial community service with increased member participation.
The organization’s new leadership must take advantage of its opportunity to re-establish its reputation as one of Costa’s most influential programs.
In 2004, current English Department Chair Pam Jenning re-established NHS at Costa. In the first few years under her leadership, NHS held several successful community service projects, such as mentoring a newly founded charter school in Crenshaw.
Two years ago, Jenning became English Department Chair. In her second year as chair, Jenning realized that with her increased workload, she needed to pass the leadership of NHS on.
According to current NHS president Nick Zobel, few members substantially participated in the organization’s community service project last year, a book drive, giving NHS a reputation as a college application filler that requires little work.
Under new leadership, NHS hopes to host multiple successful community service projects and achieve greater member participation. However, progress will not be made if members are not pushed to become more active.
Creating multiple community service projects throughout the year for members to choose from would be a great way to increase member participation. This policy would enable members to pick community service projects that they find appealing.
Students would be more likely to participate and take their commitment seriously if they saw disciplinary action. The NHS by-laws state, “A member of the National Honor Society is expected to…take an active role in service and leadership to his or her school and community.”
Furthermore, they state, “Any member who falls below the standards of scholarship, leadership, character, or service may be dismissed from the Mira Costa chapter of the National Honor Society.” Enforcing this policy of member dismissal would strongly encourage NHS members to fulfill their responsibilities.
This year, Wachell has sent slips to NHS members during class to ensure information is successfully delivered. To further parlay information, NHS could create smaller councils led by officers as they have in previous years.
NHS can increase its member participation through more diverse community service projects as well as the enforcement of their by-laws on members who don’t participate.
With assertive leadership and members who step up and set an example, NHS could become one of Costa’s most influential student programs.
Leave a Reply