Northern Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) chapter has earned the national Chapter of Distinction Award, recognizing its record of leadership, service and community impact, according to Calvert County Public Schools.
Chapter members contributed more than 2,700 hours of community service this year across Calvert County and beyond. Projects included supporting local schools, food pantries, youth programs, environmental initiatives, animal rescues and hospitals, as well as assembling and delivering 65 hygiene-filled “go bags” to Project ECHO.
Chapter officers also took on leadership roles, planning and running meetings, engaging fellow members and taking part in workshops on communication, advocacy, teamwork and service.
National Principal Association CEO Ronn Nozoe said the award recognizes chapters that go beyond academics.
“The NJHS Chapter of Distinction Award celebrates chapters that truly embody what the National Junior Honor Society stands for, students who don’t just excel academically but actively strengthen their communities,” Nozoe said. “The Northern Middle School chapter demonstrates how powerful it can be when young leaders channel their talents toward meaningful service and positive change.”
Amanda Price, the school’s NJHS advisor, said the recognition reflects the scale of what students accomplished this year.
“More than 2,700 hours of service represents so much more than a number, it represents thousands of moments when our students chose to give their time, talents and energy to help others,” Price said. “Watching them grow as leaders while making a genuine difference in our school and throughout the community has been truly inspiring. These students embody what NJHS is all about: scholarship, service, leadership, character and citizenship.”
Dr. Cathy Sutton, the school’s principal, said she was proud to inherit the tradition as a new administrator.
“What an incredible accomplishment for our students and our school,” Sutton said. “As a new principal, I feel fortunate to step into a community with such a strong tradition of student leadership and service. I am so proud of what our NJHS members have accomplished and excited to see how they continue to build on this success in their pursuit of excellence.”
The NJHS Chapters of Distinction program is a national recognition created by NJHS to honor chapters that show strong leadership, sound operations and a deep commitment to the organization’s core pillars. Chapters must meet all Essential Standards and excel in areas such as student governance and leadership development to qualify.
