Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Two officers from the Northbrook High School National Honor Society (NHS) have been busy this fall finding ways for their membership to give back to the community. 

Keeping detailed spreadsheets of the members’ volunteer credits, Miguel Jimenez and Isabel Gonzales (a student at YES Prep Northbrook High School) have steadily found and promoted opportunities for themselves and more than 90 NHS members to get involved with projects beyond the walls of the school or their homes.

Northbrook’s NHS faculty sponsor, Jonathan Claydon, noted that normally the students do a lot of volunteer work at elementary schools in the district to earn the 30 hours of service required by the organization. Since volunteering on campuses is not possible this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, Jimenez and Gonzales have had to seek opportunities to serve elsewhere.

“It has been difficult to get everyone together because of the virus,” said Jimenez. “Our goal is to get out there and help out. If everyone contributes some time back into the community that would be a positive.”

The officers have been resilient, making contacts with service organizations in the community and setting up volunteer activities such as:

• Helping at the Chapelwood United Methodist Food Pantry
• Collecting food donations for The Turning Point, a homeless shelter
• Donating blood
• Assisting Memorial Area Ministries in the donations warehouse and thrift store
• Helping to serve over 4,000 Operation Turkey meals on Thanksgiving Day at the VFW Hall in the Spring Branch area

“We should count our blessings, even if it has been a rough year,” said Gonzales as she volunteered alongside fellow NHS members Thanksgiving morning. “It is good to think about others.”

Jimenez, a senior at Northbrook, has applied to more than five colleges for next year and plans to study computer engineering. Gonzales, who is also a senior, will begin her journey towards a psychology/pre-med degree at a four-year university next year.

Overcoming barriers and pushing on to accomplishments beyond oneself are lessons these current and future leaders will put to use as they continue to develop hearts for service. Thank you, Miguel and Isabel, for your Collective Greatness. We are #SBISDProud of you.