Woodland’s National Honor Society (NHS) chapter is entering the new school year under the guidance of a new leader, humanities teacher Casey Stevens, who is eager to steer the organization toward deeper community involvement.

“This year for NHS, I would like the students to get more involved in the local community,” said Stevens. “NHS is more than getting good grades; it’s also about following morals and wanting to serve the community.” 

One major event on the chapter calendar is the annual American Red Cross Blood Drive, the society’s biggest community service event. Society members as well as other students and staff are eligible to donate blood for hospitalized patients in need of blood transfusions. 

“We’re excited to work with the Red Cross again this year. It’s something students looked forward to last year and the society felt that they made the most lasting impact during that service event,” Stevens added. 

Stevens took on the advisor role after witnessing the society’s commitment to community service.

“I didn’t have any after-school extracurriculars, and now that I’ve been here a few years, I decided to take charge,” explained Stevens. “I worked closely with the previous advisors, and saw what they had done; I wanted to be a part of it.

As an advisor Stevens tries to be hands off and let the society members take control of the planning and execution of events. She emphasizes that a student-led approach is the best for learning how to lead. 

“As an advisor, I try to be as hands-off as possible. The students elected into NHS are more than capable,” said Stevens. 

Looking ahead, NHS is also launching an ambitious new service partnership with the CJK Foundation to promote mental health awareness. The key project involves constructing a memorial flower garden dedicated to Woodland alumni, John Holsworth. Stevens hopes to expand the project by involving Woodland’s Best Buddies program, allowing both groups to collaborate on the garden’s maintenance and upkeep. 

With strong student leadership, a renewed focus on local service, and the guidance of Stevens, Woodland’s NHS chapter is set up for a successful and impactful year.