National Honor Society

A black table cloth covered the table directly in the middle of the stage. A podium was strategically placed to the right hand side of the inductees seats.  There were seats neatly set- up to the left side of the table for the current members.  The table cloth was adorned with graduation cords for the graduating seniors, and a candelabra holding candles which represented the meaning of the Honor Society.

   The National Honor Society is a non-profit group which, throughout the course of a year, creates three community service projects and three fundraisers which help them raise money to perform their Induction Ceremony and community service projects.

   This year the National Honor Society created spring baskets for a craft fair at the Beacon Falls and Prospect Senior Centers, sang jolly holiday carols at both the Beacon Falls and Prospect Senior Centers, and held a wee bowling tournament, Seniors vs. Seniors, at the Beacon Falls Center.

   They also held three fundraisers which were selling tickets for a rocketts baseball game, creating and selling raffle tickets for various themed baskets, and putting together the Adivsory Olympics.

   Danielle Shove, the advisor for the National Honor Society, has expectations for next year’s National Honor Society.

   “I expect a group that lives up to the National standards for the society and has fun doing it,” she stated.

   The Induction Ceremony that   held on Thursday, May 7^th, was a fantastic and stupendous event which has the audience in awe.

   Dr. Arnold Frank started the festivities with a short prologue emphasizing what a proud night it was, and how he was looking forward to great things from the National Honor Society.

   Soon afterwards, the previous officers of the National Honor Society explained the four branches of the National Honor Society: leadership, character, scholarship, and service.

   The former president, Brandon Hayse, talked about leadership. He stated that leadership is the ability to coach others and have self-confidence in the decisions that are made.

   Ena Linton, former vice-president, talked about the importance of scholarship. She emphasized that a commitment to learning and education were important qualities that members of the National Honor Society should contain.

   Lynette Martinez, former secretary, accentuated the importance of service. She stated that service is the willingness to help others and help create a better world for all.

   Rebecca Ventimiglia, former treasurer, talked about character. Her topic focused on how members must prove their character every day, and that character is one’s individuality.

   Paul Geary, the guest speaker of the night, was next on the program. His speech stressed the importance of Woodland to the graduating students. He stated that each day should be an opportunity to do something all over again. He hoped that the graduating seniors would come back to visit Woodland, and that it will never change so the comfortable feelings that it used to bring will still be felt. He mentioned several times what an honor is was to be chosen, and how flattered he was. The audience cheered and clapped once the heart-warming speech was given.

   One of the most prestigious moments of the night was the distribution of the graduation chords to the seniors. This event seemed to heighten the words of Geary. Each senior was presented with a chord while their college and major was announced.

   Certificates and pins were then given the all of the new members of the National Honor Society.

   The Candlelighting Ceremony soon began after the chords, certificates, and pins were distributed. Each student lit his or her own candle and repeated the pledge. Then, slowly, each row on both sides of the stage rose and each individual exited on different sides of the stage. Shortly after, they were met by a graduating or current member and proceeded to exit the auditorium.