Freshmen | 9th Grade
Freshmen are not yet eligible to apply for NHS membership. Students will first have the opportunity to apply during their sophomore year.
Freshman year is a great time to start building the foundation of your four pillars. You have plenty of time! Explore your interests, get involved, serve your community, develop as a leader, and build strong academic habits.
PILLARS OF NHS: Scholarship • Service • Leadership • Character
SCHOLARSHIP: Focus on your classes and maintain a strong GPA. A 3.75 cumulative GPA is required to be eligible for consideration for NHS membership. Once accepted, members are expected to maintain this GPA.
SERVICE: Get involved! Join service-centered clubs, volunteer, participate in service opportunities and donation drives, and begin building meaningful service experience. Need ideas? Explore the NHS Service Project Database for inspiration.
LEADERSHIP: You do not need a title to be a leader. Take initiative, be dependable, get involved, and look for opportunities to develop your leadership skills. Learn from students already in leadership roles. What makes them effective leaders? What kind of leader do YOU want to become?
CHARACTER: Demonstrate honesty, responsibility, respect, accountability, and integrity in your everyday choices. You will need two recommendations from TERRA faculty or staff as part of your future application, so start building positive relationships and making a good impression!
IMPORTANT: Meeting the academic requirement or participating in service, clubs, leadership positions, or extracurricular activities does not guarantee selection for NHS membership. Students will receive complete eligibility and application information when they become eligible to apply.
QUESTIONS?
Students: Join the NHS Interest WhatsApp, run by our chapter officers, to ask questions, connect with current and future members, and hear about service opportunities and NHS events.
- NHS Interest WhatsApp: [LINK PENDING]
- The WhatsApp is for TERRA students ONLY. Joining is optional and has no effect on NHS eligibility or selection.
Parents/Guardians: Please contact Ms. Alvarez, NHS Adviser, directly with any questions at ms.alvarez42@dadeschools.net
Sophomores | 10th Grade and Juniors |11th Grade
Students may apply to NHS during their sophomore or junior year. Applications are released in December and are due in February. Students who are selected for membership will participate in the NHS Induction Ceremony in April/May.
NHS MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Membership in NHS is an ongoing commitment. Once accepted, members are expected to meet the following requirements throughout the school year:
- SCHOLARSHIP: A 3.75 or higher cumulative unweighted GPA.
- LEADERSHIP: Demonstrate that you can take initiative, accept responsibility, motivate and support others, solve problems, and positively influence your school or community. Look for opportunities to step up, follow through, and make a meaningful contribution.
- CHARACTER: Follow all school and district policies. Academic dishonesty, plagiarism, suspension, or other Code of Student Conduct violations may jeopardize acceptance.
- SERVICE : You must have an individual service project which demonstrates originality and meaningful initiative. It may not simply replicate an existing program without significant independent leadership and implementation. Merely participating as a regular volunteer in an existing organization does not meet this requirement. The project must address a genuine school or community need, include active, hands-on involvement, and demonstrate meaningful and measurable impact. A donation drive alone does not meet the requirement.
You are expected to maintain these standards throughout your membership.
Application Packet will be available on December 1st, 2025 at 11:59PM
- Invitations will be sent by email to qualified students by December 1st, 2025 at 11:59PM
- Formal Invitation Certificates will be delivered to your homeroom by November 4th, 2026 2:20PM
Applications are DUE February 19th, 2026 by 2:20PM
Seniors | 12th Grade
If you are already a senior and are not currently a member of NHS, you are no longer eligible to apply. NHS applications are completed during a student’s sophomore or junior year, as membership is intended to continue into the following school year.
We know many seniors have built wonderful records of scholarship, service, leadership, and character, and we encourage you to continue seeking other opportunities at TERRA to serve your community, lead, and be recognized for your accomplishments.
