Throughout 2025, the National English Honor Society is commemorating its 20th anniversary, celebrating two decades of dedication to promoting excellence in English language arts among high school students and educators worldwide. Since its inception, NEHS has grown to become the world’s biggest discipline-specific high school honor society and a vibrant community that fosters a love for literature, writing, and language, providing a platform for academic recognition and creative expression.
Reflecting on Two Decades of Growth and Achievement
Established in 2005, NEHS was founded with the mission to honor and support exceptional students and educators in English language arts. Over the past twenty years, the society has expanded its reach and impact through various programs, including university scholarships, chapter leadership opportunities, innovative awards, and professional support for educators. These initiatives have empowered members to engage deeply with literature and language, fostering intellectual growth and community involvement.
20 for 20: A Commitment to Community Service
To mark this significant milestone, NEHS has launched the “20 for 20: Social Service Project,” challenging each student member to contribute at least 20 hours of community service throughout the anniversary year. With over 85,000 members worldwide, this initiative has the potential to amass an astounding 1.7 million hours dedicated to community improvement. The project encourages chapters to identify and address unique local needs, whether through literacy drives, tutoring programs, or support for marginalized groups. This collective effort not only honors NEHS’ legacy of service but also demonstrates the profound impact of leveraging language and literature for social good.
Building a Global Network of Little Free Libraries
In partnership with the nonprofit organization Little Free Library, NEHS aims to establish a worldwide network of book-sharing boxes as part of its anniversary celebrations. Chapters are encouraged to set up these libraries in their communities, promoting literacy and providing free access to books for all. This initiative reflects NEHS’ mission to foster a love of reading and writing, creating lasting resources that serve as hubs for literary exchange. By sponsoring Little Free Libraries, chapters can ignite a passion for reading and make a tangible impact on their communities.
Honoring Literary Excellence with Honorary Memberships
To celebrate two decades of literary advocacy, NEHS invited chapter advisors and students to nominate outstanding individuals for honorary memberships. This recognition honors distinguished figures who have made remarkable contributions to the world of letters and literacy, embodying the society’s core values and mission. By bestowing these honorary memberships, NEHS not only celebrates exceptional achievements but also seeks to inspire its members to pursue excellence in their own literary endeavors.
Engaging with Works by Honorary Members
As part of the anniversary festivities, NEHS encourages chapters to explore and engage with the literary works of its honorary members. This esteemed group includes authors and literary advocates whose contributions have significantly shaped English language arts studies. By delving into these works, members can gain insights into diverse narratives and styles, enriching their appreciation for literature and inspiring their own creative pursuits.
Learn more about our Honorary Members’ texts on our Bookshop page.
Looking Ahead: Continuing the Legacy of Excellence
As NEHS celebrates this milestone, it remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing education and fostering a love for English language arts. The 20th anniversary serves as both a reflection on past achievements and a catalyst for future initiatives that will continue to inspire and shape the literary and academic excellence of students and educators worldwide. With a robust lineup of activities, including community service projects, webinars, and the establishment of Little Free Libraries, NEHS is poised to make its 20th year a memorable and impactful celebration.
More information about the NEHS 20th anniversary is available on the NEHS website.
National English Honor Society
The National English Honor Society (NEHS), founded and sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, is the only international organization exclusively for secondary students and faculty who, in the field of English, merit special note for past and current accomplishments. Individual secondary schools are invited to petition for a local chapter, through which individuals may be inducted into Society membership. Immediate benefits of affiliation include academic recognition, scholarship and award eligibility, and opportunities for networking with others who share enthusiasm for, and accomplishment in, the language arts.
America’s first honor society was founded in 1776, but high school students didn’t have access to such organizations for another 150 years. Since then, high school honor societies have been developed in leadership, drama, journalism, French, Spanish, mathematics, the sciences, and in various other fields, but not in English. In 2005, National English Honor Society launched and has been growing steadily since, becoming one of the largest academic societies for secondary schools.
As Joyce Carol Oates writes, “This is the time for which we have been waiting.” Or perhaps it was Shakespeare: “Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer . . .” we celebrate English studies through NEHS.
National English Honor Society accepts submissions to our blog, NEHS Museletter, from all membership categories (students, Advisors, and alumni). If you are interested in submitting a blog, please read the Suggested Guidelines on our website. Email any questions and all submissions to: submit@nehsmuseletter.us.
