On Nov. 13, 12 juniors were assembled in the high school auditorium to join fellow senior peers in the ranks of the National Honor Society (NHS). The ceremony was attended by teachers, parents and students alike, and was anticipated among the inductees.
The NHS is a way for students who demonstrate hard work and perseverance to come together to create a bigger picture. Students must demonstrate scholarship, which means having a GPA of at least 93%, service, which means the work students put in for their community, leadership, which means that students are good role models and work well in groups, and character, the students’ abilities to show kindness, compassion, and a regard for the welfare of others. Being in the NHS makes one eligible for various scholarships, including one that is provided by the NHS itself through student fundraising.
Students who are qualified for the program are sent an acceptance letter, imploring them to write an essay about their character. Once they submit their application and essay, a board of teachers reviews them, and then members are selected from there.
“My favorite part of the induction ceremony is watching the students come up with seniors; the juniors are nice and they come up and get their certificates, and they have the teacher that they really like, but for me, it’s the seniors because they’re the ones who’ve done the year, they know what it takes…when they get their pins, they get to say ‘yep, I’m still here and going strong,’ that’s the part I really enjoy,” Mr. Kenneth Dickey, NHS advisor, said.
The newest junior inductees are Caden Beringer (11), Colton Blank (11), Helena Buli (11), Noah Carney (11), Bryson Deal (11), Addison Freeman (11), Abigail Hunter (11), Janna Kline (11), Mackenzie Mohrbacher (11), Calla Reynolds (11), Dominic Severin (11) and Trinity Vojtko (11). All of these students demonstrated that they are able to uphold the requirements of the NHS.
“I enjoyed lighting the candle and trying to keep the flame lit,” Severin said.
The induction ceremony itself began with a welcoming address, given by Christopher Denkovich (12), the president, Lainey Tuszynski (12), vice president, Payton Bickerstaff (12), secretary and Jason Mengel (12), the treasurer. Current students were given pins, and several more speeches followed.
The new students were then introduced to the crowd by Thomas Ward (12), Megan Ellis (12) and Brodie Falk (12). The candle ceremony then took place, while Claire De Lune was being played on the piano by Audrey Mooney (10). Mott, Denkovich and Tuszynski led current and new members in saying the NHS oath, and then the keynote speaker took the stage.
Ms. Courtney Anderson, the communications teacher, delivered her speech and was given a gift by the senior members of the NHS. Bickerstaff and Mengel gave a speech about the service activities that members of the NHS undertake, as well as a financial report. The NHS raised money for the Humane Society and collected food, blankets and clothes to help the community. Officers gave their oath, and then Denkovich and Tuszynski gave closing remarks.
“The induction ceremony was amazing. Being able to hear everything that is done and watching everyone there get inducted is something so meaningful,” Kline said.