CARIBOU, Maine — A total of 27 students were inducted to the Caribou National Honor Society during a ceremony held Thursday night at the Caribou Performing Arts Center. Of those 27, eight were from the class of 2018 and nineteen from the class of 2019.
Students and faculty enjoyed a dinner courtesy of Atcheson Farms and the Caribou High School Culinary Arts Program in the cafeteria before the ceremony, which began with a speech from NHS President and CHS Senior Meagan Dube.
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- National Honor Society Recording Secretary Evan Desmond gave a speech about the importance of scholarship during the society’s Nov. 2 induction ceremony at the Caribou Performing Arts Center. (Christopher Bouchard)
“The Caribou Chapter of the NHS was established in 1927,” Dube said, “After ninety years, it is the oldest continuously functioning student organization here at Caribou High School. The NHS is more than just an honor roll society, the NHS criteria for membership are based upon students’ outstanding performance in areas of character, scholarship, leadership and service.”
The traditional “pin and oath” induction ceremony began after Dube’s speech, and involved current members taking turns calling new members to the stage. Accompanied by their parents, incoming members would pause at the steps leading to the stage to receive their pin and pose for a photo.
Caribou National Honor Society President Meagan Dube opened the Nov. 2 induction ceremony with the pledge of allegiance and a speech about the virtues held by members of the society. (Christopher Bouchard)
Once an inductee took the stage, an existing NHS member would provide the audience with some brief background on the new member, describing their hometown, their parents, and detailing some of their positive traits.
Following a solo piano performance from CHS student Michael Kashian, Principal Travis Barnes asked all new members to raise their right hand and he led them in reciting the society’s oath of membership.
“I pledge to uphold the high purposes of the National Honor Society to which I have been elected,” Barnes said, with inductees repeating his words. “I will be true to the principles for which it stands. I will be loyal to my school. I will maintain and encourage high standards of character, scholarship, leadership, and service.”
Barnes then congratulated the inductees who, being deemed official members, proceeded with the flower ceremony, which involves each NHS member presenting a special person in the audience with a selection of flowers, courtesy of Noyes Flower and Plant Shoppe.
CHS student Michael Kashian entertained guests with a solo piano performance during the Nov. 2 National Honor Society induction ceremony. (Christopher Bouchard)
Several students gave their flowers to NHS Adviser Ken Atcheson, who will be retiring at the beginning of 2018, and subsequently asked him to speak on stage.
“We would like to honor our NHS adviser and beloved teacher,” Dube said. “Mr. Atcheson we take this time to acknowledge your dedication and service to all of these students, and all past and future NHS students at Caribou High School.”
Members of the packed auditorium applauded Atcheson for nearly a minute, cheering him on as he approached the stage.
“This, for me, is a very big day,” Atcheson said, visibly tearing up. “Teaching here at the high school has been a joy, a privilege, a calling, and an honor. All of you make it a wonderful day even when the day is a little more difficult, and I thank you, so very much.”
Guests once again erupted into applause after Atcheson’s speech, and the ceremony concluded after the inductees posed for photos with their families.
