St. Louis High School’s National Honor Society, or NHS, held its prestigious introduction ceremony once again Wednesday, May 15.
NHS, an organization dedicated to recognizing hard-working high school students for their academic achievements, leadership, service, and character, inducts new members yearly based on GPA and teacher recommendation.
This year NHS inducted 17 new members, including Olivia Lane, Izabelle Stiffler, Maggie Allen, Kenzie Davidson, Ashleigh Devine, Grace Devine, Tess Farkas, Karli Hardy, Maya Massaway, Caleb Paez, Johnny Rodriguez, Molly Rule, Jackson Schulz, Emma Seleski, Elliott Turner, Courtney VanAlstine, and Lillyana Wing.
NHS advisor Bethany Kisser further expanded on what the induction ceremony entails. “We do a fairly traditional candle-lighting ceremony. After an introduction, the officers take turns speaking about each of the four pillars of NHS – scholarship, leadership, service, and character. When each officer completes their speech, they light a candle symbolizing that pillar. When all candles are lit, inductees are called one at a time to receive an NHS stole, sign our membership book; which has the signatures of every member ever inducted into the chapter going back to the charter members in 1964. They then receive a certificate of membership. Once all inductees have gone through that process, all members recite the NHS pledge.”
Newly inducted member, Izabelle Stiffler shared, “I think the ceremony went well, although I got really nervous right before, so much that during the ceremony I forgot to sign my name. I didn’t even realize it until my family was gesturing to me from the audience. I was happy when I first received the letter for the NHS . I asked questions about the NHS at the start of the school year and determined I would be doing it because I value good grades and such in school and I was super happy to receive it, I felt proud of myself.”
In the end, Kisser offered advice to all new NHS members. “Look around and see how you could help the school and community, then plan a way to make a difference and do it! We already have several projects, but can always add more service projects.”
