HOULTON, Maine — Thirteen seniors at Houlton Middle-High School were inducted into the school’s National Honor Society in a virtual ceremony Oct. 21.
Traditionally, the school inducts its new members each May, with both juniors and seniors included in the mix. That ceremony was not held, however, because the school was closed due to COVID-19.
Newly inducted members to the Houlton NHS for 2020 are seniors Emma Ardel, Isabel Cyr, Emmalyne Drake, Gabriel Fitzpatrick, Drew Foley, Hannah Foster, Morgan Graham, Dina Koretsky, Sidney Peabody, Raegan Perfitt, Alexandra Reed, Christopher Violette and Quinn White.
All 13 seniors were selected to the NHS as juniors, but were not formally inducted until their senior year.
“Due to the restrictions on indoor gatherings, we decided on a virtual induction because it would allow for more family members and loved ones to be able to attend,” Houlton NHS adviser Danielle Thibodeau said. “The students could surround themselves with their families at home. An in-person event would have had to limit those who could attend.”
Last spring, Amelia Findlater and Dynel Shannon of the Class of 2020 were also inducted during a virtual ceremony as part of the school’s “Last Chapel” event to release the scholarship recipients.
Thibodeau said the school has plans to induct junior members to the NHS in a ceremony in May of 2021, which will also include the seniors.
During the virtual ceremony, Thibodeau stated the incoming inductees achieved a 90 or better average for their grades and demonstrated the four pillars of the National Honor Society — scholarship, service, leadership and good character.
According to the NHS website, the four pillars are defined as follows:
Everyday Scholarship is a commitment to learning and growing on an educational path. It means making the most of the educational opportunities provided and seeking out learning, not only in school or similar settings, but also personally. Everyday Scholarship doesn’t require a minimum GPA — but it does require effort. More importantly, it stems from a desire to contribute to this world in a positive way by building on one’s own knowledge, skills, and talent through different experiences.
Everyday Service is seeking out and engaging in meaningful service. It calls for a service mindset, the desire to seek opportunities to help others as well as acts of service. As Honor Society students, many young teens and young adults at local chapters are required to meet minimum service participation requirements. Although hours are important, Everyday Service is seeing a need and fulfilling it voluntarily. Sometimes it’s driven by a passion for a specific cause or people in need. Other times, it’s driven by personal or family need, like taking care of siblings or other family members, or maybe even working part-time to help with family finances.
Everyday Leadership builds on Everyday Service. Service and leadership oftentimes look very similar. Everyday Leadership is carrying oneself with dignity and taking ownership and responsibility for one’s own actions and participation. Being a public speaker, playing quarterback, or having an official title is not required for Everyday Leadership. Everyday Leadership means being an agent — someone who takes action and responsibility — of your own pathway.
Everyday Character is valuing diverse cultures and building relationships that reflect love of self but also concern for others. There are endless attributes to good character: perseverance, respect, integrity, honesty, sacrifice — the list goes on. Good and noble character is a high calling. Oftentimes we don’t “see” character unless there is a public display of self-sacrifice, or more often, a very public mistake. Everyday Character is not about praiseworthy or blameworthy behavior but the personal commitment to ethical and compassionate decision making that affects oneself and others.
A family member of each inductee was asked to light a candle while the candidates recited the NHS pledge. Sashes, which will be worn during graduation next spring, were also presented to the new inductees.
