Advisors: Mrs. Michelle Winship & Mrs. Peterson

President - Kendell Valvo
Vice President - Alicia Fiske
Secretary/Treasurer- Jillian Rea

The National Honor Society (NHS) is the nation's premier organization established to recognize outstanding high school students. More than just an honor roll, NHS serves to recognize those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. These characteristics have been associated with membership in the organization since its beginning in 1921.

Today, it is estimated that more than one million students participate in NHS activities. NHS chapters are found in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, many U.S. territories, and Canada. Chapter membership not only recognizes students for their accomplishments, but challenges them to develop further through active involvement in school activities and community service.

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) officially established NHS in 1921. Though many local and regional honor societies existed prior to 1921, no nationwide organization had been founded. Under the leadership of Dr. Edward Rynearson, principal of the Fifth Avenue High School in Pittsburgh, the organization grew from the original Alpha Chapter at the Fifth Avenue School to more than 1,000 chapters by 1930. Equipped with a constitution, an emblem and motto, and a group of dedicated principals as coordinators, the new NHS organization quickly developed into one of the country's leading educational groups.

Four main purposes have guided chapters of NHS from the beginning: to create enthusiasm for scholarship; to stimulate a desire to render service; to promote leadership; and to develop character in the students of secondary schools. These purposes also translate into the criteria used for membership selection in each local chapter.

Under the sponsorship and supervision of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the purpose of the NHS is to:

• Create enthusiasm for scholarship

• Stimulate a desire to render service

• Promote leadership

• Develop character in its members

To maintain membership in NHS students must keep their cumulative average above 89.5% (core subjects must be maintained at 85% or better); continue to show good character traits in and outside of school; participate in at least one group sponsored service project and at least one individual service project.

The National Honor Society chapter of Salamanca High School is a duly chartered and affiliated chapter of the National Honor Society.

Membership is open to those students who meet the required standards in four areas of evaluation: scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Students are selected for membership by majority vote of a 5-member Faculty Council, appointed annually by the principal, which bestows this honor upon qualified students on behalf of the faculty of our school each year.  The chapter advisor,

Michelle Winship is also appointed by the principal and approved by the Board of Education and facilitates all selection procedures and chapter activities during the year.

Students in their junior and senior year are eligible for membership. For the scholarship criterion, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 98.5 or better on a scale of 100. Those students who meet this criterion are invited to complete a candidate information activity form that provides the Faculty Council with information regarding the candidate’s leadership and service. A history of leadership experiences and participation in school or community service is also required. Each student also must complete a personal statement.

To evaluate a candidate’s character, the Faculty Council obtains additional professional input. First, official school disciplinary records are reviewed. Second, members of the faculty are requested to provide their professional reflections on a candidate’s service activities, character, citizenship, and leadership. These faculty rating forms and the candidate forms are carefully reviewed by the Faculty Council to determine whether each candidate meets the criteria for membership.  A majority vote of the Council is necessary for selection.  Following a review of the results of the Faculty Council voting by the principal, candidates are notified regarding selection or non-selection according to a predetermined schedule.

Once the notification process is completed, a formal induction ceremony is held  to recognize all the newly selected members.  Once inducted, new members are required to maintain the same level of performance (or better) in all criteria that led to their selection.  This obligation includes regular attendance at chapter meetings held monthly during the school year, and participation in the chapter service projects(s) and partake in individual service hours per the Salamanca chapter bylaws.  Students or parents who have questions regarding the selection process or membership obligations can contact the chapter advisor, Michelle Winship, by phone (&16) 945-2404, Ext. 6013 or by email at MWinship@salamancany.org .

1994 - Walter Clopp
1995 - Thomas Enright
1996 - Sally Olow
1997 - Carol Anderson & Patrick Callaghan
1998 - Debra Eysaman
1999 - Gerald Peinkofer
2000 - Vickey Zelazny
2001 - Timothy Baird
2002 - Christopher Siebert
2003 - Michelle Hill
2004 - David Doty
2005 - Lynette Magiera
2006 - Nancy Middaugh
2007 - Gerald Musial
2008 - Geoffrey Dietrich
2009 - Richard Morton
2010 - Rebecca Nannen
2011 - Kim Dry
2012 - Stacey Singer
2013 - Lisa Monacelli
2014 - Christopher Botsford
2015 - Alexis Roesser
2016 - Polly Hanson
2014 - James Grey Nannen
2015 - Alexis Roesser
2016 - Polly Hanson
2017 - Grey Nannen
2018 - Scott Bean
2019 - Michelle Hill
2020 - Richard Morton
2021 - Danielle Eaton