English Honor Society Inducts Members
The Post Ellipsis chapter of the National English Honor Society at Huntington High School inducted 50 new members last week during a traditional ceremony attended by a standing room only crowd in the School Heritage Museum.
"Being honored for work in language studies, whether in literary examination or fine writing, goes hand in hand with a responsibility to use one's abilities to shape a better world, to help others, to turn being honored into honoring a future rich with possibilities and a world laden with potential," said English teacher Aimee Antorino, who serves as the society faculty advisor along with colleague Helen Guarino.
"Henry David Thoreau once said, "It takes two to speak the truth; one to speak and another to listen,'" Principal Carmela Leonardi said during brief remarks. "As members of the National English Honor Society you understand the importance of communication, the value of listening and the significance of expression. You have proven yourselves capable of serious study of the English language and of perusing the truth in works of literature or in your own creative expressions of poetry or prose."
50 New Members
The new inductees include Jean Abecassis, Santiago Alzate, Ursa Amin, Kelly Askerberg, Cristina Bateman, Matthew Beach, Charles Beers, Sofia Bialkowski, Julian Carrollo, Olivia Castillo, Elizabeth Corrao, Anna DiNardi, Kaitlin Dayton, Katherine DuVal, Justin Edgar McNerney, Jonathan Engle, Heather Forster, Samantha Glicker, Hillary Hardardt, Rafael Jiminez, Ben Kaplan, Caitlin Knowles and Thomas Kouttron.
Also gaining induction were Jillian Lentinello, Olivia Lopez, Justin LoTurco, Daniel McCartney, Shannon McGovern,, Allison Minoff, Lily Morris, Hanna Murphy, Michael James Nemaric, Ryan Newell, Kathleen Nugent, Kylie Palmer, Suzie Petryk, John Reilly, Joseph Saginaw, Amy Schmelter, Daniella Schoen, Mary Sheehan, Marina Siegel, Lindsay Sullivan, Veronica Tonissen, Ketevani Tsotskolauri, Alex Velazquez, Meelod Wafajow, Brendan Wirth, Lana Ziegler and Katie Zimmerman.
The more than four dozen new members swelled the group's ranks to 179. The organization is led by officers Taylor Choy (president), Molly Prep (vice-president), Michael Stafford (treasurer), Molly Brambil (secretary) and historians Allegra DePasquale and Laura Ironman.
To be considered for NEHS membership a student must have a minimum academic grade average of 90, "exhibiting an impressive breadth of academic excellence," while maintaining a grade of at least 92 in English.
"Being a member of this organization, and of the English community as a whole, requires that you continue these efforts and prepare yourselves to take into the world the truths you have found here, sharing with others your joy and appreciation of our discipline," Dr. Leonardi told the NEHS members. "Truth cannot exist in a vacuum and like art it must be shared to be understood."
Spirit of Fellowship
Ms. Choy administered the induction pledge, which was recited by the new members: "As a member of the National English Honor Society, I shall endeavor to advance the study of all areas of English and to foster a spirit of fellowship among students excelling in all facets of the English Language Arts, ever keeping in mind our national motto as our guiding principle: Gelast sceal mid are–duty goes with honor."
The evening featured performances by a string quartet consisting of Andrea Cerini, Hailey Giordano, Jennifer Polster and Adelia Witt. The chamber choir sang The Star-Spangled Banner and later performed Carol of the Bells.
Each year the Huntington's NEHS chapter inducts at least one honorary member. This year college counselor Bernadette Walsh was recognized and sat on the School Heritage Museum stage with the group's officers, Dr. Leonardi, department chair Joseph Leavy and the faculty advisors.
Huntington School Board President Emily Rogan, trustees Jennifer Hebert and Xavier Palacios, Superintendent James W. Polansky and Assistant Principal Brenden Cusack were among the large crowd of parents and students.
The new inductees formally entered NEHS ranks during a candle lighting ceremony led by Ms. Choy and Ms. Prep. "New members, in honor of your accomplishments and in anticipation of your bright future, I end this ceremony with these words by Emily Dickinson," Ms. Prep said. "Please commit them to yourself as you grow in our society, in our community and in our mutual dedication to a life of letters:
'We never know how high we are
Till we are called to rise;
And then, if we are true to plan,
Our statures touch the skies.'"
Following the ceremony a reception was held for students and their parents in the hallway outside the School Heritage Museum, where the inductees were congratulated by family members and district officials.