The National Honor Society (NHS) is proud to announce that Patty Hey, a veteran adviser and teacher at Valley High School in Las Vegas, NV, is the 2013 winner of the Edward Rynearson Award.
For 20 years, Patty has managed the NHS chapter at her school while also working as the student activities director and teaching science. Hey’s record of accomplishments provides an impressive display of caring, engagement, and service to her school and beyond. Hey’s experience is based on active participation in state and national conferences and workshops.
Two of her student leaders commented in their recommendation that, “Mrs. Hey is an incredible leader herself, but she does not keep her talents and knowledge to herself. Instead, she passes on these traits to others and encourages them to lead.”
Last year, she completed her three‐year term on the NHS and National Junior Honor Soceity (NJHS) National Council where she also served as the chairperson. She was a workshop presenter at the NHS/NJHS National Conference for more than 10 consecutive years. She has continued those efforts by presenting sessions at LEAD Conferences at various locations since 1999. Hey has also been an active presenter at the national conferences of the National Association of Workshop Directors (NAWD) and the National Association of Student Councils (NASC) since 1984, along with helping host the NASC conference when it came to Las Vegas in 2004.
Patty has earned no small amount of well‐deserved recognition for herself and her chapter through these efforts. She was the regional adviser of the year (Region VII) for the Warren E. Shull NASC Adviser of the Year award in 2010. Her NHS chapter received a national Outstanding Service Project award in 2001 and three similar state awards in 2005, 2007, and 2009. She earned her 30‐year advising award from the Nevada Association of Student Councils earlier this year. In addition, she has been recognized by Sam’s Club, Clark County School District, and KAM Education for her teaching expertise.
Deann Burnett, principal at Valley High School, in her recommendation for this award, noted that “Hey has made service a hallmark of Valley High School’s NHS chapter.” In addition to hosting conferences and workshops, the chapter has conducted blood drives since 1993, held the Happy Hearts Dance for special education students since 2000, provided holiday meals at the local senior center since 1997, and helped run the Nevada Special Olympics since 2000. In addition, the chapter has raised money for Special Olympics and local shelters, and conducted teacher appreciation activities for more than 20 years running.
This impressive set of service projects has helped teach NHS members at Valley High School some essential skills. In her essay for the nomination, Hey stated her belief that “a student in NHS who acquires the skills necessary to be a good leader (e.g. public speaking, compromise, delegation of authority, cooperation, and self‐confidence) is well‐prepared for life after high school, having developed character along with intellect.”
The Rynearson Award, named for the founder of NHS, Edward Rynearson, principal of the Fifth Avenue School in Pittsburgh, PA, annually recognizes an outstanding adviser in evidence of the service and dedication to NHS and for exemplifying the commitment and perseverance of the founder. Clearly, Patty Hey demonstrates all of these qualities in her work as chapter adviser and NHS is proud to honor her with this award.