The National Honor’s Society at South Shore conducted their annual induction ceremony last night in the library at the school.  This year, five students in grades 11 and 12 were welcomed into the exclusive scholastic organization.  The new inductees were Roger Branham (11), Emma Ostrenga (11), Hayden Suo (11), Rachael Teeter (11) and Caitlyn Thompson (12).  The 2015-2016 membership has increased dramatically, doubling from last year’s three members.

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) officially established NHS in 1921. Though many local and regional honor societies existed prior to 1921, no nationwide organization had been founded. Under the leadership of Dr. Edward Rynearson, principal of the Fifth Avenue High School in Pittsburgh, the organization grew from the original Alpha Chapter at the Fifth Avenue School to more than 1,000 chapters by 1930. Equipped with a constitution, an emblem and motto, and a group of dedicated principals as coordinators, the new NHS organization quickly developed into one of the country’s leading educational groups.

Four main purposes have guided chapters of NHS from the beginning: to create enthusiasm for scholarship; to stimulate a desire to render service; to promote leadership; and to develop character in the students of secondary schools. These purposes also translate into the criteria used for membership selection in each local chapter.  [http://www.nhs.us/about-us.aspx]

At South Shore, students who apply and are accepted into the NHS chapter must meet extremely rigorous standards that included maintaining a 3.25 GPA, volunteering, service and leadership. During the ceremony they take a pledge to continue to meet the NHS’s four qualities of members.  Alyssa Kavajecz, the only NHS from the 2014-2015 school year, began the ceremony by reading a description of NHS and inviting the members to read each of the four qualities.

“Scholarship means a commitment to learning.  A student is willing to spend hours in reading & study, knowing the lasting benefits of a cultivated mind.  We should continue to learn even when formal education has ended, for education ends only with the end of life.  Knowledge is one great element in life which leads to the highest success & it can be acquired in only one way – through diligence & effort.  Learning furnishes the lamp by which we read the past & the light, which illuminates the future.  Candidates have the charge to continually expand their world through the opportunities inherent in scholarship.”

“My office is service.  Service can be described in various ways.  In the routine of the day’s work, many opportunities arise to help others.  Willingness to work for the benefit of those in needs, without monetary compensation or without recognition, is the quality we seek in membership.  We are committed to the idea of volunteering our time & abilities to the creation of a better tomorrow.”

“Leadership should exert a wholesome influence on the school.  In taking the initiative in class & school activities, the real leader strives to train & aid others to attain the same objective.  The price of leadership is sacrifice – the willingness to yield one’s personal interests for the interests of others.  A leader has self-confidence & will to go forward when others hesitate.  No matter what power & resources may exist in a country, they are ineffectual without the guidance of a wise leader.  Leadership is always needed; thus, to lead is a substantive charge to each of our members.”

“Character is the force within each individual which distinguishes that person from others.  It gives each one individuality.  It is that without which no one can respect onself, nor hope to attain the respect of others.  It is this force of character, which guides one through life & when once developed, grow steadily.  Character is achieved & not received.  It is the product of constant action, daily striving to make the right choice.  The problem of character is the problem of self-control.  We must be in reality what we wish to appear to others.  By demonstrating such qualities as respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring & citizenship, we may hope to prove by example that we value character.”

The evening’s ceremony ended with the new NHS members serving their parents and friends cake and punch.  Many thanks go out to their parents, the NHS committee and Mr. Martin. Congratulations to all!