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About the Chapter

“Established in 1921, the National Honor Society (NHS) is the oldest and most respected student recognition organization in the United States. Membership in NHS distinguishes students who have committed themselves to the pursuit of academic excellence, community improvement, and personal development.”


In addition to demonstrating their abilities as exceptional students, those accepted into the National Honor Society must be young leaders willing to serve their communities and make a difference. Membership in the National Honor Society gives students opportunities to improve as scholars, leaders, and servants to others.

Members of the National Honor Society display excellence in all they do. They help their school in a variety of ways, working alongside their fellow classmates and members. They help their community through volunteer service, showing that even one person can make a meaningful difference. By serving in the National Honor Society, members build scholarship, character, lasting friendships, and a better world.


The Pope Leo XIII Chapter of the National Honor Society currently has around 150 active members. If you are interested in becoming a member, please read through Articles IV & V of our Bylaws or reach out to us on our contact page.

About the Chapter

Our Patron: Pope Leo XIII

Who is Pope Leo XIII?


Pope Leo XIII was born in 1810 and became pope in 1873, reigning as the Supreme Pontiff until his death at 93 years of age in 1903. During his papacy, he wrote the prayer to St. Michael, in addition to writing numerous encyclicals on the Holy Rosary and Catholic social teaching. Through Pope Leo XIII’s pastoral care and deep love for Marian devotions, especially the Holy Rosary, he furthered and strengthened God’s Kingdom here on earth, equipping Catholics the wherewithal to prepare to enter into the realm of glory into the Ages of Ages to come.

Why is our chapter named after him?

Laura Berquist, the founder of Mother of Divine Grace School, enlightens us into the motive behind this: "Pope Leo XIII was a visionary. He saw, clearly, what most of us see only dimly. He knew that the Church is called in every age to bring the message of Christ. The conditions of the world change, but the Church's message is unchanging. So, the unchanging principles and doctrine of the Church have to be articulated and disseminated to the world in such a way that those principles and that doctrine can be applied rightly to the changing conditions. Pope Leo saw that St. Thomas Aquinas had made this possible because he proposed those principles with a clarity never before equaled. In fact, Pope Leo said that St. Thomas' love for and knowledge of those who had come before him made it possible for him to say of him that he 'in a certain way seems to have inherited the intellect of all.' Here at Mother of Divine Grace School, we share Pope Leo's determination to bring the principles of the Church to the world. We are preparing our students to know and embrace Her principles and doctrine. It seems fitting to have Pope Leo as our model."

Four Pillars of the NHS