ASL Honor Society Requirements

*See application information below.

The American Sign Language National Honor Society recognizes outstanding students whose academic achievements encourage language proficiency, establish Deaf cultural connections and promote exceptional moral character that contributes to life-long learning and Deaf community advocacy.

It was created specifically to recognize those exceptional students who aspire to high academic achievement and encourages them to pursue a life-long enjoyment of a beautiful visual language and a unique and special culture.

The ASLHS provides an opportunity for interested students to improve their ASL language skills and cultural knowledge, and to share that information with peers, classmates, and the larger community. The mission of the ASL Honor Society is similar to honor societies for other languages:

• To promote academic achievement   
• To encourage student use of American Sign Language
• To improve awareness and understanding of Deaf culture
• To expose the school community to various aspects of ASL and Deaf culture, such as ASL literature, Deaf art, and ASL storytelling.

Established in 2006, the American Sign Language Honor Society (ASLHS) is an official program of the national American Sign Language Teacher's Association. 

National ASL Honor Society Requirements

The four basic requirements for membership are scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

Scholarship

The student who demonstrates scholarship:

• Must have completed at least two courses in ASL 
• Maintained a grade point average of 3.5 or better in their ASL classes 
• Holds an overall academic grade point average of 3.0 or better. Grade point average will not be rounded to meet the minimum requirement.

Leadership

The student who demonstrates leadership:

• Exemplifies positive attitudes 
• Inspires positive behavior in others
• Demonstrates academic initiative
• Successfully holds school offices or positions of responsibility
• Demonstrates responsibility and dependability
• Is a leader in the classroom, at work, and in school or community activities
• Is willing to uphold scholarship and maintain a loyal school attitude
• Models culturally appropriate behavior in all ASL related activities.

Character

A student of character:

• Consistently exemplifies desirable qualities of behavior such as maturity, honesty, cheerfulness, friendliness, and reliability
• Complies with school regulations, including respecting the property of others, avoiding cheating on assigned work, and showing unwillingness to participate in the negative acts of others
Regularly shows courtesy, concern and respect for peers and staff
• Demonstrates a respect for the Deaf Community, its values and culture 
• Takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously
• Character will automatically be questioned by events leading to suspension from school, consistent lateness, cheating, or other offenses brought forth by a member of the faculty or administration. If someone deems a student's character not sufficient, that opinion will be discussed with the student's current teachers, counselor, or administrator and the relevant information will be forwarded to the Faculty Committee for consideration. 

Service

The student who serves:

• Volunteers and provides dependable and well organized assistance, is gladly available, and is willing to sacrifice to offer assistance
• Works well with others and is willing to take on difficult and inconspicuous responsibilities
• Cheerfully and enthusiastically renders any requested service to the school 
and/or the Deaf community
• Does committee and staff work without complaint
• Participates in a minimum of 5 hours of service activities outside of school, giving service to the Deaf community
• Mentors persons in the school, community or students at other schools in ASL

Application and Membership

Applicants for the ASLNHS please complete one of the application packets below. Applications MUST be received by 3 PM, Wednesday, May 10, 2023.

• Application Packet - Word Doc
• Application Packet - Google Doc

Eligible students are responsible for completing an application and documenting their service/activity hours. The Faculty Committee will evaluate the requirements of scholarship, leadership, service, and character for each eligible candidate. Final selection of the ASL National Honor Society is the responsibility of the Faculty Committee. 

ASL - Honor Cords

Membership will be recognized at graduation by an honor cord, representing the following achievements:

• Completion of 2 years of ASL studies
• An overall GPA of 3.5 in ASL coursework
• An overall GPA of 3.0 in all other subject areas  
• Participation in a minimum of 5 hours (per school year) community service activities that benefit the Deaf community
• (Effective 2016-17 school year) Student must be an active* member of the FHS ASL Club for a minimum of 2 years.

Note: Student must demonstrate Culturally Appropriate Behavior at all times while completing ASL coursework.

Laurent Clerc Medal

• Additional recognition will be awarded to exceptional students who meet the following achievements:
• Completion of 3 years of ASL studies
• An overall GPA of 3.7 in ASL coursework
• An overall GPA of 3.5 in all other subject areas
• Participation in a minimum of 10 (cumulative) hours community service activities that benefit the Deaf community
• (Effective 2016-17 school year) Student must be an active* member of the FHS ASL Club for a minimum of 3 years.
• Student must serve in an ASL Club leadership position for a minimum of one year (may include one or more of the following - President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Committee Leader).

Note: Student must demonstrate Culturally Appropriate Behavior at all times while completing ASL coursework.

IF you qualify, you must contact an ASL teacher BY MARCH 1ST of your graduating year and ask if the ASL teacher can order the medal or cord for you.   However, if between March and graduation, your grades no longer qualify, you will forfeit the monies paid for the honors and not receive them.  Check with the ASL teacher for cost of materials.

* Definition of "active" ASL Club member:​

• Must attend 80% of club meetings (as a member and/or leader).

• Must attend 50% of club activities (homecoming decorations/parade, silent dinners, bowling, and so on).

• Must participate in ASL awareness activities on campus and/or at school functions.

  • Examples of awareness activities may include signing the national anthem for at least one school activity, signing the Pledge of Allegiance during assemblies or other school functions, creating at least one way to incorporate signs into your other classes/clubs (such as signing songs in choir, creating and using a cheer or victory yell in signs, incorporating signs into a drama performance, and so on).

Please note, to be inducted in April each applicant must:

• Attend 80% of all meetings. No more than 3 unexcused absences.
• Complete three (3) hours of Deaf community service by induction.

All ASL National Honor Society members are expected to maintain membership requirements of the ASL National Honor Society, including GPA, and to take part in ASL National Honor Society service projects. The Faculty Committee may dismiss any member failing to fulfill these obligations. Dismissal will result in the removal of the ASL NHS designation from school records and, depending on the severity of the infraction, possible notification of colleges to which a student applied.