PORTSMOUTH — National Honor Society NHS is reserved for students who meet the mark of academic excellence, possess leadership and other characteristics that set them apart from the rest. In light of this fact, a NHS Induction Ceremony was held Wednesday at East High School (EHS).
Michael Yeagle, Principal of EHS, said NHS members are selected by their teachers.
“We are having a National Honor Society induction for students that have been selected by the staff who have a 3.5 grade point average or higher,” Yeagle said. “There is an assessment done by their teachers on character, leadership, service, and those types of things to see if they qualify and the staff has chosen some students to be part of that Honor Society, and will recognize those students and their accomplishments.”
Jennifer Stapleton, a Language Arts teacher for grades 11 and 12 at EHS, said Pauline Walden Chapter of the National Honor Society membership is based upon specific characteristics.
“This is a way to encourage students that scholarship is important, and that they also need to work on areas of service, knowledge, leadership and character,” Stapleton said. “By having the ceremony attended by grades nine through 12, this teaches the younger students the value of developing those qualities early, and gives them an idea that if they start now working that it will be open to them within their junior and senior year.”
Service to their school and as well as the community is another part of the criteria for NHS membership.
“They are eligible based on grade point average, and then there are other requirements that must be met,” Stapleton said. “They are evaluated by teachers based on the areas of leadership, character, and then the students fill out activities forms describing service they perform in the school and in the community. Then, based upon all of that, they are given a numerical score and they have to meet a minimum requirement.”
As is the tradition, incumbent members of the Pauline Walden Chapter of the National Honor Society, Jasmine Aldridge, Erin Kingrey, Emily Martin conducted the Candle Ceremony, expounding upon and acknowledging the qualifying characteristics for NHS members.
Additionally, incumbent members conducted the Tapping Ceremony for the new members to be inducted. Yeagle introduced the new members of the NHS,
Yeagle introduced new members who were each applauded by the audience.
The guest speaker for the ceremony was Chad Monroe, owner of a successful business, Monroe’s Cleaning Services, and EHS graduate. Monroe shared an inspirational message of some challenges he has experienced in his own life, and his family’s resilience despite obstacles that he and his family have faced, and encouraged those in his listening audience that they can also rise above life’s challenges.
A reception was held in the school cafeteria immediately following the induction ceremony, with faculty, new NHS members and their families to celebrate the achievement of the students.
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