Eta Sigma Alpha National Home School Honor Society
Requirements of Membership in the Psi Gamma Chapter of the Eta Sigma Alpha National Home School Honor Society
1-) Must be from a NICHE member family; 2-) Must be a high school junior or senior; 3-) Must have a minimum of either a test score of 1800 (SAT) or 26 (ACT) or 180 (PSAT) or a 90% on the composite battery on the IOWA, Stanford, California, MAT, or other nationally normed standardized achievement tests (as required by Eta Sigma Alpha); 4-) Must have a written recommendation by a pastor or elder of a church; 5-) Must provide a record of community service; 6-) Must pay $10/school yr membership fee. Honor Society Membership Application and Renewal
"The purpose of Eta Sigma Alpha National Home School Honor Society shall be to recognize and encourage scholarship among home school students. To achieve this purpose, Eta Sigma Alpha National Home School Honor Society shall provide opportunities for the development of leadership and service. Eta Sigma Alpha shall encourage the development of an intellectual climate that will stimulate the exchange of ideas and ideals, foster scholarship, and promote academic excellence. Eta Sigma Alpha shall also advocate homeschooling as a viable and successful educational methodology and act as a liaison for home schooling to the general public, colleges/universities, and the media."
History
Eta Sigma Alpha is the first honor society established exclusively for home schooled students. Founded in 1999 by Joanne E. Juren, M.Ed., Executive Director of the Home Education Partnership of Texas, it has grown into a national organization.
As a former public school administrator, Juren contacted the National Honor Society with the intent of forming a homeschool chapter for her sons and others in a local support group in 1997. When told that NHS did not accept homeschool students, Juren decided to start a new honor society for home schoolers. Over the next two years, the idea for Eta Sigma Alpha was refined and the "Alpha" chapter was started in 1999 through the Home Education Partnership of Texas. Barbara Gorman served as the first lead sponsor along with Joanne Juren and Terry Arnold as co-sponsors.
Chapters
Today, there are 73 chapters in 30 states and one chapter in Mexico!
Eta Sigma Alpha- History of the name
Eta, the Greek letter that is shaped like an “h” and Sigma, the letter for “s” were chosen, along with Alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet. Thus Eta Sigma Alpha means the “first home school” honor society.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A LOCAL CHAPTER CHARTER
If
your local support group is interested in forming a Home School
National Honor Society chapter, please contact HEP of Texas at
281-922-0478 or via e-mail at: bjgorman@flash.net. Barbara Gorman is the national chapter coordinator and will be delighted to answer questions about starting a new chapter. There is a small chapter charter fee and yearly dues for renewal of membership. Each chapter will receive a Charter Certificate and be assigned a chapter name. A student may be a member of both a local chapter and the NICHE chapter.
Serving Families Homeschooling in Iowa - Since 1992 Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators - Box 158, Dexter, IA, 50070 - (515) 830-1614 - (800) 723-0438 in Iowa
