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Niki McClure, Managing Editor
The induction into the National Honor Society (NHS) awarded students that showed scholarly attitudes and leadership with entrance into one of the most prestigious high school organizations in the nation.
Each year, new members are invited to apply to Penn-Trafford’s NHS. A council of five undisclosed teachers review the applications and vote on the members that get in. Advisor Kathy Kelly-Garris is a nonvoting sixth member of the council and does not have a final say in the admittance of new inductees.
On Thursday Nov. 3, each of the NHS officers participated in running the ceremony along side Kelly to honor the new members. Senior Julia Marturano gave the opening remarks and welcome to begin the ceremony.
The rest of the officers then spoke on behalf of each of the pillars of NHS — scholarship, service, leadership and character. These pillars were designed when the NHS was originally established in 1921.
Treasurer Riley McNally talked first about scholarship. She explained that scholarship means having a commitment to learning.
“That’s what being a scholar is all about: not giving up because it seems useless right now, but putting your effort forward and into school and learning because you see how it will help you,” McNally said.
Secretary Natasha Patkar then spoke about service. Doing what is right and lending a hand when students see the need is how she described service. Patkar said that what matters in the end are “the things you do when nobody’s watching.”
President Jessica Deutsch talked about leadership next. Deutsch defined roles of leadership students can can take everyday As well as specific qualities that students should have while being in a position of leadership: determination, self confidence and passion.
Vice president Kaylie Shojaie talked about the last pillar, character. Shojaie said that a major aspect of defining character is personality. She pointed out that even though the NHS students share integrity and a drive for success, their unique individuality shows their character.
“They are all their own people and have all earned their way here tonight,” Shojaie said.
The candles of the new inductees were then lit before Deutch led them in the NHS pledge. The pledge signifies that the new members will follow the principles that NHS stands for.
“I pledge myself to uphold the high 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.”
The new members then went up on stage to receive their member cards and to sign the register.
“The register has been here since the beginning of the school — we have names going back that far,” Kelly said.
The guest speaker is chosen each year by the NHS officers. “They [the officers] talked about it and they thought Mr. [Phillip] Moses would be a great speaker,” Kelly said.
Moses started off by admitting that the composition of his speech had a fault shared by many students.
“I did what any of these students have done when assignments are due — I waited until last minute,” Moses said.
His message gave students advice on their journey through life and how they should carry themselves as students, a citizen of this country and a respectable member of society. A social studies teacher, Moses related his message to government and democracy to further show his point.
“Democracy never promises equality of condition. Their will be physical barriers and mental barriers that limits our ability to be successful in certain fields… Democracy does promise equality of opportunity,” Moses said.
Moses wanted the students to understand that because everyone has equal opportunity and each person can make what they want to out of life, depending on the amount of work put into it — leading to success.
After giving his advice on how to find success to the students, Moses expressed how he views success in his own job everyday.
“I consider myself extremely lucky for the opportunity to teach at Penn-Trafford. Not many can clearly witness their success develop every year. As an educator, we are lucky because our success sits before us everyday,” Moses said.
As the induction ceremony drew to a close, NHS service projects are just beginning.
NHS members take on two main projects throughout the school year, the veterans drive and Toys for Tots. Each of these service projects involve members either donating their time or specific items to the drives.
The honor of being inducted into NHS does not end with the ceremony, but continues throughout the school year as those students exhibit the principles of the National Honor Society in their school day.