With the 2013-14 school year approaching its end, opportunities for students to join a new honor society have opened. Rho Kappa, the National Social Studies Honor Society, has become available for PHS sophomores and juniors to join next school year.

“It [Rho Kappa] emphasizes the Social Studies curriculum and the role it plays, and it stands partially as a service organization,” said Mr. Benjamin Schamber, history teacher. “It’s only been around for a couple of years, and a couple of larger schools offer the program.”

There is a GPA requirement of both a 3.0 in Social Studies and a 3.0 overall, notably lower than the requirements for other honor societies already at PHS. It is also required of students to have a good behavioral record.

“If these requirements are met, anyone who enjoys Social Studies overall should join. The program also acknowledges students who may not be recognized by NHS or SNHS,” Schamber said.

For the general order of the program next year, there will be two projects, one in the fall and one in the spring.

“In the fall, we will be enhancing the Veteran’s Day program, promoting more direct involvement with it. The spring curriculum is still to be determined, but it will be more history related. There is a wide variety of things we can do,” Schamber said.

Students that are even the slightest bit interested in history, economics, or any form of Social Studies are advised to join. Much of the program is student-led, and applications are due to Mr. Schamber by Friday, April 11.