Armuchee High School’s chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) recently finished for the Fall 2024 semester of service projects and volunteer opportunities. Students were required to have 15 hours of community service, and volunteer opportunities ranged from working at the concession stand for basketball games to helping out at church.
Sophia Gulledge, sophomore, is a new inductee to NHS. She was inducted in October of 2024. Gulledge enjoys the community service aspect of National Honor Society. She said, “It makes me feel productive and like I’m making an impact.” Service is a requirement for all chapters of National Honor Society, as well as, maintaining exceptional grades and behavior. Gulledge has learned a lot from volunteering. She said, “I learned that I can make a huge impact even if it’s only a small thing that I’m doing.” Her favorite memory from serving her community was at her church’s Christmas party. She said, “I got to make ornaments with the children’s faces in them. It was really messy and the kids had a lot of fun.” Gulledge spent most of her volunteer time at her church in the children’s department. However, her service journey did not start because of NHS. She has been a children’s helper for four years. She does not view volunteerism as a requirement, rather, she sees it as an opportunity to make a difference.
Braden Therber is a senior member of National Honor Society, and he uses the service aspect of NHS as a way to learn. He said, “I have grown better at communicating with people and I can apply that in the future when I have a job.” Therber also gains volunteer hours from working at church, however, he earns them in a different way. He said, “Most of my hours came from Winshape and I also work the camera during services and take pictures at events.” The events he takes photos at include Youth worship nights, Vacation Bible School, and Winshape Camps. His favorite memory was doing photography at Vacation Bible School. He said, “I get to work with good people in a good work environment.” He sees volunteerism as a way to become a better part of the community. He said, “I see it as a way to better the community you’re in. It also gets the school out there and it’s good to be involved.” Therber has become a huge part of the media team at his church because of the volunteer hours that are required for National Honor Society.
One sophomore member, Ellie Wolfer, gained a lot of her hours while working in the concession stand at the home basketball games. She said, “I learned a lot about multitasking because I had to be a cashier, take orders, and grab food.” She also learned how to work well with others. Wolfer will be able to take both of these skills into her adulthood and career.
There are many opportunities to be a volunteer outside of opportunities given by NHS. These students have become significant helpers at their place of service. The most important part of volunteerism is the chance to learn. These members have learned leadership skills by becoming involved in their community.
