Wallkill Valley HS approves National English Honor Society

HAMBURG — The Wallkill Valley Regional High School Board of Educationo recently approved the National English Honor Society.

Going into effect immediately, the honor society will be the first chapter of its kind in Sussex County.

With a Wallkill English teacher and four AP English students in attendance, board members had no hesitations approving the society.

“To me, (approving the society) is a no-brainer,” Board President Guy McHugh said.

With a new committee comes the hiring of a chapter adviser. Although the society has been approved, the co-curricular and activity stipend is to be determined, as well as who will head it. According to the official National English Honor Society website, the adviser must be an English teacher.

The appointed adviser must then submit a chapter application as well as a one-time $100 charter fee. To maintain the chapter, Wallkill must annually induct new members, pay a fee of $65, and submit a chapter activities fee.

In order for a student to be eligible for admission into the society, they must have an overall GPA of at least 3.0. After a teacher’s recommendation, the student would pay a one-time $10 induction fee, which would cover national registration and a membership certificate. The fee also allows the member to be eligible for free society benefits.

To add to the fun, each new chapter can choose its own name. Often, a group will name themselves after literary objects, such as authors or characters in books. Other popular choices are team mascots and well-loved teachers. However, chapters must choose wisely — once selected, a name is permanent.

There are 30 chapters established in New Jersey, however, none exist in Sussex County.