The Nathan Hale chapter of the National Honor Society at Huntington High School welcomed 63 new members during the organization’s 64th annual induction ceremony this past Tuesday evening.
The teenagers have compiled outstanding academic records and captured the respect and admiration of their teachers. The new inductees join 64 continuing members, increasing the group’s ranks to 127. Chapter members are committed to pursuing numerous projects this year, including organizing the Relay For Life in the spring, which will raise monies for the American Cancer Society.
Principal Brenden Cusack addressed the new and continuing members along with a crowd of about 200 parents and family members. Superintendent James W. Polansky, Assistant Principals Joseph DiTroia and Gamal Smith and several Huntington School Board members also attended the induction ceremony.
Nina Danseglio, Alyssa Sorensen and
Ashlyn Case are happy new NHS members.
The new inductees include Tyler Abedin, Yaidelis Acevedo, Katherine Aparicio, Hannah Bailin, Christian Bellissimo, Quinn Blackburn, Erin Bontiz, Mia Breitbarth, Madison Buchholtz, Katherine Burton, Isabella Cahill, Henry Cartwright, Ashlyn Case, Michelle Castillo, Christopher Chang, Hadley Clayton, Payton Coneys, Benjamin Conner, Nina Danseglio, Katherine DeGennaro, Sophie Dellecave, Christopher Engle, Emma Farrell, Jack Farrell, Luke Farrell, Sara Frawley, David Fredericks, Nathaniel Gamboa, Emma Grassi, Mathew Hearl, Ryan Hoffmann, Mackenzie Joseph, Yasmin Khilji-Neal, John Langton, Timothy Low, Matthew Magerle, Meagan-Elise Malone, Candido Martinez, Michael McCooey, Grace McKenna, Cameron Mills and Morgan Minicozzi.
The ceremony also featured the induction of Noah Morris, David Mosden, Christina Nigro, Mia Nitekman, Shaye O’Beirne, Kolby Rappel, Katie Riley, Kaitlyn Sage, Arashdeep Singh, Alexis Smith, Casey Smith, Alyssa Sorensen, Katherine Stock, Ariana Strieb, Erika Varady, Amy Visser, William Vollack, Nicole Walsh, Phoebe Walther, Kelly Warren and Jenna Yabroudy.
“Your academic effort, your stellar character, your dedication to service and your outstanding leadership are all shining examples of what Huntington High School strives to represent. Students like you make our institution stand out,” Mr. Cusack told the inductees. “This evening, you will join the ranks of those who have gone on to do great things in their respective fields. The roster of National Honor Society inductees includes presidents, senators, authors and athletes, surgeons, scientists, musicians, astronauts and actors, among many others. It is likely that these individuals began their trajectory of success early on, just as you are doing now. I have great confidence that you, too, will go on to do amazing things beyond high school and in so doing you will continue to make us all very proud.”
The National Honor Society’s motto is “Noblesse Oblige,” a French term that translates in English to “nobility obligates.” The new members are expected to assist all students on the path toward academic excellence through a variety of tutoring and community service activities.
Speakers during the ceremony included Nathan Hale chapter President Alexandra Lourenso, who gave a well-received address about the ideals of the organization. Executive officers Samuel Bergman (vice president), Rachel Moss (secretary), Katarina Obermaier (treasurer) and Isabella Piccola (historian) took turns speaking about the group’s membership pillars of character, scholarship, leadership and service.
Faculty advisors Tara Fisher and Patricia Avelli saluted the organization’s newest members for their academic achievements and all-around record of excellence and expressed their belief that Wednesday night’s inductees will continue the society’s long tradition.
“Huntington High School students never cease to amaze with their commitment and achievement, as well as their boundless service to the community and beyond,” Superintendent James W. Polansky said. “Induction into the National Honor Society is yet another milestone along the road to many successes for this group of 63.”
A variety of time-honored rituals were featured throughout the evening, including the tapping of new inductees by current members by Mr. Bergman tutoring coordinator Niamh Condon and a candlelight segment in a darkened auditorium. The high school chamber choir under the direction of Victoria Garbarino sang “The Star Spangled Banner” and later performed “We Are the World.”
A string quartet consisting of Christopher Chang, Arielle Harvey, Haley Mortell and Hannah Bailin also entertained the crowd, providing additional grace and dignity to the proceedings.
The inductees were asked to affirm their support for the National Honor Society’s ideals by stating: “I pledge myself to uphold the high purposes of this society to which I have been selected, striving in every way by every word and deed to make its ideals the ideals of my school and my life.”
After Huntington’s top scholars paraded out of the auditorium, they were joined by their families and faculty members in the main lobby for a reception in their honor.
