The quiet buzz of conversation drifted throughout the auditorium as students, parents, and families were welcomed to the annual National Honor Society (NHS) induction ceremony. 

On Nov. 21, NHS inducted more than 171 new students, recognizing their academic excellence, leadership, service and character. The ceremony featured speeches from the principal and current NHS officers, as well as the symbolic candle lighting tradition to highlight the core values of the organization.

“There’s so much excitement in the ceremony, and I love how it celebrates people who are making a difference,” NHS president and senior Sophia Minney said. “There are a lot of events to celebrate different talents such as in sports and clubs, so it’s nice to see recognition for students who are dedicated to their academics.”

Last year’s NHS inductees volunteered at the event, helping with everything from organizing the stage setup to greeting families as they arrived. 

“It was rewarding to help prepare for the induction and give back in a meaningful way,” senior Gabriella Guerra said. “We had a lot of planning to do, and having a committee for each part made a big difference in bringing the induction together as a whole.”

To prepare for the induction ceremony, a committee was formed that met twice a week after school for several hours. 

“At our first meeting, we went through what we needed to do for the induction and get accomplished to have it run smoothly and be successful,” Guerra said. “We had to decide the order of events and get the most important tasks out of the way first, so we could focus on decorations like balloon arches and photo backdrops.”

At the ceremony, after speeches from Principal Vincent Hawkins and the club’s officers, each inductee walked onto the stage to collect their certificate. They then lit a candle and recited the NHS pledge, officially committing to uphold the organization’s four pillars.

“I enjoyed seeing everyone cheer for each other when they walked across the stage, and I loved getting to speak at the ceremony and see the excitement in everyone’s face,” Minney said. “[This ceremony] marks the beginning of a new member’s involvement in the NHS in an exciting and welcoming way, while also introducing them to the four pillars and what it means to be a good leader.”

The application process requires students to write three essays about how they showcase the pillars of NHS and maintain an overall cumulative grade point average of 4.5.

“Being inducted is a milestone for me because it is a reflection of all the work I have put into my high school years,” senior Bernice Phoebe said. It’s nice to be a part of a community where there’s other hard working people to also talk to.”

This year, the NHS introduced a requirement that every member must complete at least one NHS affiliated event. 

“We were hoping it would build a stronger community, and we already had 40 volunteers this year for the induction ceremony,” Minney said. “Everyone there had a great time, from setting up the cookies to the event itself.”

Looking ahead, Minney plans to host an event with National Junior Honor Society chapters at local middle schools, involve them in NHS activities and encourage more outreach activities. 

“Planning such a beautiful event for the incoming members was very exciting,” Minney said. “It was so fun to get to work with the other officers, committee members and Ms. Osborne. I hope the new inductees continue to participate, as we’ve already seen their excitement and new ideas.”