Arista is the New York City public school variant name for chapters of the National Honor Society (NHS). Arista began in 1921 and remained independent and active through the 1980s when nearly all schools converted into NHS chapters to avoid confusion on college applications.Brooklyn Tech Chapter of the National Honor Society 2007 constitution declaims its earlier variant name of Arista However, some chapters are still active as local honor societies and are not affiliated with the NHS.
History Arista began in 1921 in New York City public high and junior high schools as a variant of the National Honor Society (NHS). It remained independent and active through the 1980s when nearly all schools converted into NHS chapters, avoiding confusion on college applications.
As of 2018, several New York City high schools have Arista chapters. At least one chapter, upon discovering that they had been following the original Arista constitution and could not practically come into compliance with the NHS charter, chose to drop membership in the National Honor Society and continue as an independent Arista chapter. alternate URLMyra S Barnes 2016 ARISTA ceremony
Arista also has a junior honor society division that recognizes seventh and eighth-grade students.
Symbols The name Arista is derived from the Greek god Aristaeus and means "the best" or "most excellent".
The common insignia of the Arista chapters was an oval lapel pin, worn vertically and divided diagonally into the colors of the particular school. It is approximately 1/2 inch tall and 1/4 inch wide. Its pillars are scholarship, leadership, service, and character.
Membership High school students are admitted into Arista for excellence in academics, character, leadership, and service. Membership is open to juniors and seniors who have maintained an 85-grade average for three consecutive academic terms. Potential members must also complete fifty hours of community service. However, membership requirement vary between chapters.
Potential members of the junior division must complete ten hours of community service and have served in one leadership position, along with at least an 85-grade average.
Chapters Following is an incomplete list of Arista chapters. InstitutionLocationStatusReferencesBell AcademyBayside, Queens, New York City, New YorkActiveBenjamin N. Cardozo High SchoolBayside, Queens, New York City, New YorkActiveFrancis Lewis High SchoolFresh Meadows, Queens, New York City, New YorkActiveGeorge J. Ryan Middle School 216Fresh Meadows, Queens, New York City, New YorkActiveGeorge L. Egbert Intermediate School 2Staten Island, New York City, New YorkActiveHealth, Arts, Robotics, and Technology High School Cambria Heights, Queens, New York City, New YorkActiveHorace Greeley Intermediate School 10 QQueens, New York City, New YorkActiveJamaica High SchoolJamaica, Queens, New York City, New YorkInactiveJoseph B Cavallaro Intermediate School 281 Brooklyn, New York City, New YorkActiveJohn Bowne High SchoolFlushing, Queens, New York City, New YorkActiveFiorello H. LaGuardia High SchoolUpper West Side, Manhattan, New York City, New YorkActiveNewtown High SchoolElmhurst, Queens, New York City, New YorkActiveRichmond Hill High SchoolRichmond Hill, Queens, New York City, New YorkActiveQueens High School for the SciencesJamaica, Queens, New York City, New YorkActiveQueens Technical High SchoolLong Island City, Queens, New York City, New YorkActiveStuyvesant High SchoolNew York City, New YorkActiveTownsend Harris High SchoolFlushing, Queens, New York City, New YorkActiveWagner Middle School New York City, New YorkActiveWalton High School Jerome Park, West Bronx, New York City, New YorkInactive
Notable members
Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman to be elected to the United States Congress Clive Davis, music executive and founder of Arista Records Richard Feynman, theoretical physicist Lucille Fletcher, dramatist David Sholtz, 26th Governor of Florida
Legacy Clive Davis, a member of Arista during his time at Erasmus Hall High School, repurposed the name as founder of Arista Records in 1974.Netglimpse: Clive Davis Biography
References