HOULTON, Maine — Once again, the Houlton High School Chapter of the National Honor Society has had a productive and gratifying year thus far. Meetings were attended and a community service project is in the works to fulfill our mission of giving back to the community.
We began the year as a group of 15 seniors and were soon joined by 19 new juniors and seniors during the beginning of April. At the induction, the senior officers explained to the incoming members the responsibility that accompanies being a member of NHS and the importance of upholding themselves as admirable role models for underclassmen. In addition, each officer touched upon the four pillars of the National Honor Society: leadership, scholarship, service, and character.
Once the new members were inducted, they were met with the task of achieving ten community service hours before the school year concludes. Original members were asked to complete twenty hours from the beginning of the school year until graduation. There were few students who had even a slight bit of trouble reaching this goal, as many went far and above the requirement. National Honor Society students volunteered at community dinners, the elementary school, churches, blood drives, athletic events, and many other community activities throughout the year. It is fair to say, that our members have made themselves known throughout the community through our continuous service efforts.
Another highlight of the year for a small group of members was the National Honor Society State Convention. Chapters from all over the state gathered at the University of Maine to work on small service projects. While there, we listened to multiple guestspeakers highlight the theme of the convention: “Ordinary to Extraordinary.”
In addition to the individual service requirements, each year we are required to complete a large group service project. This year, we have chosen to enhance the appearance of our community by helping to plant flowers. As a group, we take pride in our town and are enthusiastic about receiving the chance to help in any way possible.
As the year draws to an end, the seniors of National Honor Society have done an admirable job in passing the baton on to the new members. Although this year is still not over, the juniors are definitely capable of carrying on the strong tradition of the National Honor Society next year.
