Honors Cords are the representation of all you have done during your high school years. Draped upon your shoulders on graduation, these colorful cords recognize a student’s achievements and involvements. The different cords represent different National Honor Societies, which are organizations for high school students of high academic accomplishment.
Honor cords are not just handed out; certain expectations and standards are needed. Students who receive these cords typically need to demonstrate their strong academic record, which can be measured by their GPA. However, some National Honor Societies have different requirements. Senior Hannah Waterson talks about her involvement in Assumptions most popular Honor Society, Beta Club. Waterson states, “Beta Club takes up a lot of time and effort. Since you need two hours of group service and 18 hours of independent service, you need to make sure you plan accordingly.” Beta club is not the only Honor Society that requires service, The National Honors Society also requires, four hours of Group service and 16 hours of independent service.
Assumption goes to great lengths to provide a variety of different Honor Societies. Most if not, all can be joined during a student’s sophomore year of high school. These societies include National Honor Society which a student needs to maintain a 3.7 GPA and, a certain number of service hours each grade year. Another one is National English Honor Society; a student must have a 3.5 average in all English classes and attend monthly meetings.
Additionally, assumption offers not one but two Foreign Language Honor Societies, French and Spanish. Students are chosen for Foreign Language Honors Societies through their academic achievement in those courses. Mu Alpha Theta is a Mathematics Honor Society, and it requires students to have taken a semester of geometry, members are selected. Other National Society’s assumption offers National Art Honor Society, Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society, where a student needs to maintain at least 3.0 GPA. Science National Honor Society requires a student to maintain a 3.5 GPA and members must be in all advanced level science classes. Finally, there’s Tri-M Music Honor Society which a student must maintain good character, B-average in music classes, and C average in other academic subjects.
While honor cords, academically have a significant worth to them, they also hold a great meaning to the students. Waterson mentions, “To me the cords show my involvement and my academic value.” Assumption students put time and effort into these different clubs, while also maintaining their extracurricular involvement. The decoration use of these cords shows a graduate’s recap on their time here at Assumption.
