Left to right are Seth Mahoney (2023 inductee), 2024 inductees Hailey Cashman, Alexzina Merritt, Rock Lassky, Peyton Barbic, Yasmin Issa, Griffin Pizza, Ava Jump and Isabella Perrotti (2023 inductee).
Congratulations to seven SSCS high school juniors who were inducted into the Sharon Springs chapter of the National Honor Society on Dec. 18. These honorees took their membership pledge during an induction and candle ceremony in front of their families, teachers, administrators and classmates.
2024-25 school year inductees are Peyton Barbic, Hailey Cashman, Yasmin Issa, Ava Jump, Rock Lasky, Alexzina Merritt and Griffin Pizza. Leading the ceremony were 2023-24 inductees (seniors) Isabella Perrotti and Seth Mahoney.
The National Honor Society is the nation’s premiere organization recognizing outstanding high school students. NHS was founded in 1921 and recently celebrated 100 years of service. Any high school junior or senior who, after 10 weeks of their junior year, holds a cumulative academic average of 85 or higher, is automatically placed on the list of eligibility for membership in this chapter of the National Honor Society. After the initial placement on the list, the faculty evaluates the candidate further by examining their qualities of SCHOLARSHIP, SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, and CHARACTER. These four qualities are the determining factors of a student’s appointment to the chapter.
Guest speaker at the induction ceremony was Village of Sharon Springs Mayor and community activist Denise Kelly. Kelly spoke to students about the four pillars which guide the NHS (see below) – Scholarship, Character, Leadership and Service – and how these traits have helped shape her life and success.
More about the four pillars of the National Honor Society
SCHOLARSHIP is the goal towards which high school students have been striving. Knowledge is one great element in life which leads to the highest success. Learning furnishes the lamp by which we read the past, and the light which illuminates the future. Where there is no vision, the people perish.
SERVICE to others gives us the highest form of happiness in the world. Much has been given to us, and much will be expected from us. We have duties to others and to ourselves and we can back down from neither.
LEADERSHIP in school life is demonstrated in many ways; one of which is to hold office in either clubs or classes; another is to show leadership on the athletic field; and we can show leadership in our daily lives through our interactions with those around us.
CHARACTER represents a person’s unique qualities. It shows who a person is, and what makes them stand out from others. Character is achieved and not received. By demonstrating such qualities as respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring, kindness and citizenship, we may hope to prove by example that we value character. It is the quality of character that guides people through life and leads them to success.
