National Honor Society Students Build Servant Leadership Through Impactful Projects

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The CAJ chapter of the National Honor Society is an active organization that meets weekly and engages students in a variety of service-based activities, including tutoring, assisting with events, and cleaning up the nearby river.

NHS selects members based on four key pillars: scholarship, service, leadership, and character. One major requirement of CAJ’s NHS chapter is the group service project, where students must plan and execute one event per semester that benefits the local or global community. The project challenges students to demonstrate all four pillars, with a particular focus on service and leadership.

In late November, seniors Nikki and Hannah teamed up to organize a bake sale benefitting St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

“[St. Jude’s] provides free healthcare for children and works to find cures for cancer, relying on donations,” Nikki explained. “I love kids and want to help in any way I can.”

The baking for the event took place on November 28, the day before the sale itself. To ensure everything ran smoothly, Nikki and Hannah tackled several logistical tasks, including submitting a fundraiser approval form, reserving spaces and equipment, and promoting the event to encourage student participation and community support.

Both Nikki and Hannah cited the opportunity to blend service and leadership as a key reason they applied for the NHS. While they had prior volunteer experience–Nikki through church and Hannah through both church and Scouts–they noted that those opportunities were often pre-organized for them.

“I wanted a place where I could learn how to [serve] more purposefully rather than just pitching in,” Hannah said. “You can serve at any time, but the leadership element has been eye-opening for me. I’ve learned time management and how to guide people to work in a professional manner.”

Now in her second year in NHS, Hannah reflects on how past experiences have helped her lead more effectively this year.

“I’ve made a ton of mistakes,” she admits. “But the skills I’ve learned from previous events have helped [this bake sale] turn out well.”