For NHS advisers, a new school year brings fresh opportunities to develop the next generation of student leaders. Here, Kathryn Kula, a chemistry teacher and NHS and student council adviser at Jefferson Township High School in Jefferson, NJ, shares how she helps students better understand and uphold the four pillars of NHS.
1. Scholarship
The students inducted into NHS already meet a high standard of academic excellence. I celebrate their hard work with a candlelight induction ceremony held on an evening before Thanksgiving. Formal invitations are printed, families are included, and each student is encouraged to invite a teacher who has made an impact on their lives. My goal is to demonstrate that scholarship isn’t just about good grades; it also encompasses community and connections made through learning.
2. Service
Community service is a huge part of our chapter. From January to March, our NHS students raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) through ice cream socials, teacher vs. student volleyball games, and an NHS-sponsored 5K. We typically raise over $15,000 a year for LLS, even though our school has fewer than 1,000 students. Sadly, when one child in our school died of leukemia three years ago, my students were motivated to raise over $40,000 in his honor. Service is a wonderful way to provide an opportunity for students to contribute to something larger than themselves while also teaching them about networking, promoting their school, seeking sponsorships, and learning to deal with rejection.
3. Leadership
Right after our induction ceremony, two students are selected to participate in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Student Visionary of the Year Program, which teaches leadership through philanthropy. During the year, the students experience how to lead by planning a 5K for the Parkinson’s Foundation, organizing a blood drive, and setting fundraising goals. They oversee all the details, from how many cookies to order for the blood drive to asking local race timing companies to donate chips, finish-line mats, and tracking of participants. What I love about service is that it teaches so many important skills. Even better, I love it when kids feel genuine joy about helping others and making a significant impact in the world.
4. Character
Rather than speaking at the induction ceremony about what I think the four pillars of NHS are, I have each of our four officers give a two-minute speech about what scholarship, service, leadership, and character mean to them. They write from the heart, inspire their classmates, and gain courage by authentically showing up before a large group of people.