Prior to 1984, little was being done to lift up outstanding career and technical students, and this, often as not, was too little and too late. In spite of all the rhetoric about the poor, negative image associated with career and technical education and the critical need for student recognition, no national initiative existed.
While our vision was small, my colleague, Jon H. Poteat and I were determined to do something, motivated out of concern for our outstanding students at H.B. Swofford Career Center, Spartanburg County, South Carolina. We wanted to lift them up, proclaim their success to the people of our community, and establish a higher standard for excellence in workforce education. The results of our first, stumbling efforts were extraordinary. We had no idea that recognition could be so powerful. Our hope was that the education community would see the need for a national honor society for career and technical students.
Word began to spread and in a short time, a small group of educators and business people who shared our concern and vision joined with us, lending their names and influence to launch the National Vocational - Technical Honor Society.
Over the years, thousands of education leaders have seen the Society quietly at work, lifting up students, advancing excellence in career and technical education, and raising the bar for student achievement. They have witnessed NV-THS helping them build a strong, positive image in their local community and know the difference the Society has made for their students and programs.
Member schools have brought significant recognition to hundreds of thousands of Americans who have paid the price to achieve a record of excellence. Today, the Society serves over 1,800 member schools and colleges and is growing, honoring more individuals for their achievement and leadership every year.
In the spring of 2003, the National Board of Directors unanimously agreed to change the name of the organization from the National Vocational-Technical Honor Society to the National Technical Honor Society.
Today, the National Technical Honor Society continues to carry out its mission to lift up and publicly recognize ordinary heroes, men and women committed to excellence, values, courage, and achievement - the tested and true fabric of a great nation. NTHS is also leading the way to introduce America's top career and technical students to staffing professionals of America's top corporations.
