Congratulations to SSCS senior Kirsten Kennedy (left) and juniors Isabella Perrotti (center) and Seth Mahoney who were inducted into the Sharon Springs chapter of the National Honor Society on Dec. 13. The three took their membership pledge administered by SSCS chapter President/senior Jayna Manko during an induction ceremony in front of their families, teachers, administrators and classmates.
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.
Anthony Leberto
Guest speaker at the induction ceremony was Anthony Leberto, head chef and owner of Brimstone Bakery and well-known activist in the Sharon Springs business and arts communities. Leberto 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 his life and success.
“Life is about progress not perfection,” he said. “When you wake up in the morning ask yourself, ‘How can I make the most of my day?’ It’s all of our responsibility as human beings to help build a world filled with light and hope.”
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.
Also honored at the ceremony were 2023-24 SSCS National Honor Society members/seniors Korawon Boonlert, Jayna Manko, Shivani Patel, Thomas Tessiere, George Nelson, Elijah Rechnitzer and Kirsten Kennedy.
View a Facebook photo gallery from the NHS induction ceremony
