The National Junior Honor Society Outstanding Achievement Award recognizes middle-level students for their commitment to the five pillars of NJHS: scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship. The 500 NJHS students selected for the Outstanding Achievement Award receive a $500 college savings plan to support their educational aspirations.
3 Steps to Apply
Timeline
- November 2, 2026: Application opens
- January 29, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. (ET): Submission deadline
- April 2027: Applicants receive notifications
Eligibility
To be eligible, a student must be:
- An active and current member in good standing of a National Junior Honor Society chapter, meeting all membership requirements and obligations of the local chapter.
- An NJHS student account holder, verified by the NJHS chapter adviser.
Note: There are no limits to the number of applicants per chapter.
Testimonials:
“I chose to apply for the NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award because I am committed to making a positive impact in my community. Service is an important part of who I am, and this award gave me the opportunity to reflect on my efforts while representing the values I strive to uphold. Beyond recognition, the Outstanding Achievement Award motivates me to continue to put others first and grow as a leader. It will also support my future education, allowing me to expand my opportunities and continue making a difference.”
— Nadeen Batshoun, 2026 National Winner (Sammamish, WA)
“A strong leader is someone who shows up, acts, and is willing to do the work. Without service, the other pillars of NJHS remain empty ideas. Words only become meaningful when they are matched, or outdone, by action. It was a total shock to wake up to my acceptance email at 1a.m. Seeing it truly made my day. A lot of the service I do is behind the scenes, because I believe in helping without needing praise, but to be recognized for my efforts like this has been such a cool opportunity. As an international student, I sometimes feel out of place, but NJHS has helped me bridge that gap, allowing me to take bigger steps toward who I want to be. I’m proud of my growth and looking forward to what’s next, taking small steps to one day make a big world impact through the NJHS pillars.”
— Jolie Muteb, 2026 National Winner (Surabaya, Indonesia)
“I chose to apply for the NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award because it represents more than just academics. It recognizes leadership, service, character, and citizenship, which are qualities I work hard to show through robotics, music, service projects, and my involvement in my small business, Fearless Thirteen. While financial support for college is important, I was also motivated by the opportunity to be recognized for my hard work and for the person I am becoming. I am committed to continuing to grow, lead with purpose, and make a meaningful impact in my school, community, and beyond.”
— Matthew Green, 2026 National Winner (Pembroke Pines, FL)
“Winning the NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award means a lot to me. As I wrote the essays for this award, I was able to reflect on my growth and recognize what I have accomplished as a proud member of NJHS. Being selected as a winner feels both exciting and rewarding, and it motivates me to continue performing community service and helping the people around me. This recognition encourages me to keep striving to make a positive impact.”
— Jay Mody, 2026 National Winner (Phoenix, AZ)
Questions?
