Huntington's National Honor Society Inducts Members
The Nathan Hale Chapter of the National Honor Society at Huntington High School saw its numbers multiply when 48 new members were brought into the scholarly fold at the group's 57th annual induction ceremony last week.
Speakers included second year faculty advisor Joseph Cohen, Huntington Principal Carmela Leonardi and Carolyn Fante, the chapter president. Executive officers Olivia Weller, Rebecca Deegan, Alexa Giammarino and Danielle Cerezo took turns remarking on the qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and service, respectively.
"In our culture as well as in most cultures around the world, meaningful milestones are marked by symbolic celebrations," Principal Carmela Leonardi told the inductees and their family members. "Their purpose is to ensure that the importance of the event is stressed and that the individuals involved are honored in some way by family and friends. This tradition of recognizing young adults for their academic and leadership skills has been in existence since 1921 and is just as meaningful for us tonight as it was the first year that it was established."
The event featured a series of traditional rituals sprinkled throughout the evening, including the tapping of new inductees by current members and the presentation of membership pins. There were also various musical selections and performances by the high school chamber choir and a string quartet consisting of Joe D'Esposito, Sara Lockwood, Brittany Oliva and Adelia Witt.
The motto of the National Honor Society is Noblesse Oblige," a French term that translates in English to 'nobility obligates.' The new members were told they are now part of an important organization that seeks to assist all students on the path toward academic excellence through a variety of tutoring and community service activities.
48 New Members
The new inductees include Natalie Acton, Joseph Adelmann, Madison Biernacki, Holly Blakley, Brielle Blatt, Laurelle Byrne-Cody, Marie Clifford, John Coffey, Alyson Coleman, Louis Contino, Juliana Coraor, Kaja Coraor, Lauren Corcoran, Chloe Drace, Bradley Dwyer,Nicole Farriella, Holly Flores, Devon Fox, Diana Frank, Jake Goldstein, Norman Gomez-Vasquez, Anna Harris, Kristin Hartmann, Bianca Iarrobino, Benjamin Jensen, Jonah Kramer, Andrew Ku, Shayne Larkin, Oliver Lockwood, Justin LoScalzo, Teddy Lyons, Alexandra Martinolich, John McCarthy, Gabriella Mitchell, Tara Narine, Patrick O'Brien, Brittany Oliva, Mary-Liz O'Neill, Alicia Ortiz, Matthew Petryk,Mia Rienzo, Brittney Robinson-Smikle, Michelle Rosenbauer, Derek Schmelter, David Stillman, Joseph Straub, Dylan Tuozzo and Laura Zenzerovich.
Continuing members of the society include Cristina Badalamenti, Michelle Byrne, Sarah Casey, Danielle Cerezo, Alexander Chisolm, Aliyah Cohen, Phoebe Curran, Rebecca Deegan, Leif Drace, Carolyn Fante, Kirsten Freiman, Alexa Giammarino, Holly Helstrom, Cody Jacobs, Alexandra Kiley, Shira Moskowitz, Evan McCann, Michael O'Connor, Natasha Siegel, Alanna Tieman, Jenna Wallshein and Olivia Weller.
"It goes without saying that we are very proud of past, present and new members of our chapter of the National Honor society," Dr. Leonardi said. "It goes without saying that they have accomplished many wonderful things both in and out of the classroom. It also goes without saying that we will look to them to be the future leaders in our school and community."
Extolled as Selfless Leaders
"You have all met the scholarship requirement by maintaining a high average," Mr. Cohen told the new inductees. "You excel in academics, but this only a part of the reason you were selected. You do not sit back and rely on your brainpower to get by. Those who are chosen for this society take an active role in life and you have done so. You devote your time and energy to others in your school and community. You are selfless leaders who give service to others without worrying about what you will receive in return. Winston Churchill once said, 'You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give.'"
The new 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."
"Always remember that with recognition comes responsibility," Dr. Leonardi told the new members. "Your advisor, teachers and administrators congratulate you and honor you for working hard, for being an example to others and for supporting not only students in our school but for devoting precious time and energy to worthy community projects."
At the conclusion of the ceremony, students, parents and staff attended a festive reception in the auditorium lobby.