NHS puts focus on service

Scholarship, leadership, character and service.
Though often thought of as a recognition for outstanding students, National Honor Society is based on those four pillars. Jay County High School is striving to put a focus on the last.
Over the last few years, service efforts by the JCHS chapter of National Honor Society have grown from one large project for the year to four projects led by officers with all members required to participate.
The first of those for 2015-16, led by NHS treasurer Emma Laux, will kick off this week with an event in conjunction with the Patriots’ football game against the Blackford Bruins.
“Fill Our Hearts for Hospice” will focus on raising money and awareness for State of the Heart Hospice, which provides medical care and other services to patients with terminal illnesses.
“I chose State of the Heart because of my grandma. She passed over spring break,” said Laux. “I just want to kind of give back to the nurses and really showcase … the programs and how amazing it is.”
That effort will include a sky lantern release following the football game against Blackford.
About 20 lanterns, filled with paper hearts with messages in honor of loved ones, will be sent skyward about 9:30 p.m. Hearts will be available for purchase at a cost of $5 this week at JCHS and will be sold at the football game.
NHS will also raise money at the game by offering face-painting — hearts of any color — for a $1 donation.
There will be a Sept. 16 card-making day, during which NHS members will make cards for hospice patients and their families, as well as the nurses and other hospice staff. When those cards are distributed, they will include gift cards to local restaurants and stores as a thank you and a way to provide to those in their time of need.
Laux is also planning a breakfast on Oct. 9 at State of the Heart’s Portland offices to honor the nurses who helped her grandmother and so many others.
“I feel like it gives us a chance to really show how much we care about other people,” said Laux of all of the NHS service projects. “It gives us a chance to give back to our community. And I think it’s a great thing. I’m humbled for the opportunity.”
Service projects for the rest of the school year are already in the planning stages.
Vice president Abby Saxman will focus on Forgotten Children Worldwide, a Bluffton-based organization that helps children in developing countries by building orphanages and donating clothing. Her activities will include a service day at the facility in Bluffton, the sale of bracelets to support the organization and possibly a clothing drive as well.
President Matt Blackford chose to support World Vision, a non-profit organization that sends farm animals to impoverished villages in an effort to build a sustainable food source. He’s planning a dance around Valentine’s Day and a fundraising competition among JCHS teachers.
Treasurer Robert Myers, who wanted to help military veterans, will close the school year with an event in support of Wounded Warrior Project. He would like to hold a color run Hudson Family Park as part of a fundraiser for the organization.
Each of the projects include making presentations to the entirety of NHS in order to help inspire members to get involved. All of the officers said they were interested in service before becoming part of NHS, but the group has provided them the opportunity and support to make their efforts a reality.
“It’s really important to have goals and people keeping you accountable to those,” said Blackford. “They’re super passionate about it and we’re all really supportive of one another.”
They also credited advisor Chrissy Krieg as a leader who will do anything to help them with their projects.
The students’ involvement has expanded, Krieg said, with many NHS members working on one project as required and then volunteering to do more. And she was brought to tears — a regular occurrence, her students say — while talking about the dedication the officers have displayed.
“It’s awesome,” she said. “Usually they all choose something that’s pretty personal or something they’re passionate about. And either way it’s a big deal.”