Buckingham County Elementary School’s second annual induction ceremony for the National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS) was held on Dec. 8, 2017 at 2 p.m. in the school gym. A total of 32 new students were inducted into the school’s chapter to join the 37 students who were inducted as fourth graders last winter. Bryan Jackson, principal at BCES, said, “It is my great honor to welcome our second class of inductees to this prestigious group. The National Elementary Honor Society allows Buckingham County Elementary School to recognize and continue to foster the leadership, scholarship and citizenship of our student members.”

To be eligible for membership consideration, students must have a cumulative academic average of B and receive good grades for conduct. Additionally, candidates must meet high standards of responsibility, service and leadership. Leadership is based on the student’s participation in community and school activities or election to an office. To meet the service requirement, the student must have been active in service projects in the school and community. A student must also show responsibility in home and school life. Students are reviewed by a faculty council appointed by the principal. Susan Halliday, the parent of a newly inducted member, said, “NEHS is a wonderful opportunity for our kids to excel at leadership and academics.”

As members of NEHS, these students will now engage in a number of chapter service projects such as a Veteran’s Day outreach program, a food drive and creating cards for nursing home residents. Linda Ruffner, faculty adviser for the chapter, explained, “Last year our members engaged in four service projects. In addition to the food drive and card project, they spend two weeks reading to primary students during lunch and worked to restore the school’s garden. We look forward to repeating these activities and to adding new projects this year.”

NEHS is modeled on its companion organization, the National Honor Society (NHS), which is the nation’s oldest and best-known student recognition program. NEHS was founded in 2008 by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, which is also the parent organization for NHS, in partnership with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) Foundation. Visit www.nehs.org for more information.