HOULTON, Maine — Houlton High School welcomed 19 new members to its chapter of the National Honor Society during the annual induction ceremony and academic awards evening April 1.
Founded in 1921, the National Honor Society was created to recognize outstanding students throughout the country, explained Houlton’s NHS President Emily Mooers.
“Today, NHS has grown rapidly to include areas in all 50 states, with over one million students involved,” she said. “Since its creation, NHS has focused on four main purposes when considering the applicants. (Those purposes are) to create enthusiasm for scholarship; to stimulate a desire to render service; to promote leadership; and to develop character.”
To be a member of the NHS requires students to adhere to a code of conduct that is set forth by the council at school to represent the pillars of character, scholarship, leadership and service.
“A candidate lacking in any one area could potentially be prevented from being selected,” Mooers said. “The responsibility also continues long after the pledge is taken tonight. Members are expected to uphold these four pillars of the National Honor Society for the rest of their high school career. NHS should not simply be a line on your resume, but an organization you take pride in being a part of.”
The 2015 inductees include Amira Abouleish, Samuel Astle, Lexi Bartlett, Adam Casillas, June Choi, Cameron E. Clark, Megan Collett, Katie Condon, Ryan Dee, Erika Fitzpatrick, Emma Gallop, Chelsea Gentle, Connor Grant, Natalie Hill, Janelle Levesque, Morgan Nelson, Rachelle Provost, Aaron Sewell and Olivia Winslow.
Mooers challenged the incoming inductees to take their inclusion in the group very seriously.
“I encourage you all to ponder what this induction means to you,” she said. “Membership in NHS is a privilege and you have all demonstrated you are capable of handling this responsibility. But it can be taken away at any time. NHS comes with a price and brings a challenge. You will be expected to remain an honorable citizen while conducting yourself in a way that leads others to look up to you.”
The incoming class then recited the following pledge during the ceremony:
“I pledge myself to uphold the highest purposes of the National Honor Society to which I have been selected; I will be true to the principles for which it stands; I will be loyal to my school; and will maintain and encourage high standards of scholarship, service, leadership, and character.”
Other senior members of the Houlton NHS include Vice President Haven Rhoda, Secretary Danielle Provost, Madelene Anderson, Laura Beals, Kyle Bouchard, Christian Crane, Keegan Fitzpatrick, Hayley Flewelling, Dakota Gramour, Noah Holmes, Jill Howland, Natalie Rush, Caliegh Sullivan, Tessa Winship and Morgan Wotton.
The evening concluded with Houlton High School Principal Marty Bouchard listing the first and second quarter principal’s awards for students earning a 90 or above.
