HHS Social Studies Honor Society Inducts Members
Dozens of founding members were inducted into Huntington High School’s brand new chapter of the Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society, which bills itself as “the only national organization for high school juniors and seniors that recognizes excellence in the field of social studies.”
The evening ceremony included such recognizable elements from other academic honor society inductions as candle lighting and pledging. Teacher Kenneth Donovan serves as the Huntington chapter’s faculty advisor.
“The idea of starting the Huntington High School chapter of the society began with several interested and motivated students last year, said Superintendent James W. Polansky, who attended the induction ceremony. “As a result of their efforts, we were proud to witness the induction of nearly 80 outstanding students as members of the society’s inaugural group.”
The new inductees include Jean Abecassis, Santiago Alzate, Usra Amin, Alyson Baker, Cristina Bateman, Matthew Beach, Charles Beers, Caroline Berejka, Sofia Bialkowski, Emily Biblow, Rachel Boisclair, Megan Boyce, Ellyn Byrnes, Tara Byrnes, Julian Carrollo, Olivia Castillo, Carolyn Cimetta, Elizabeth Corrao, Ann DeChiaro, Christina Dietz, Katherine Duval, Justin Edgar-McNerney, Greta Farrell, Marc Feldman, Heather Forster, Collin Francis, Nicholas Freiman, Katherine Gerdes, Hailey Giordano, Chris Glowacky, Anna Goldenbaum, Timothy Gress, Scott Gulizio and Chelsea Holmes.
Students Emma Hughes, Omotayo Ikuomenisan, Kathryn Ingle, Jack Kitzen, Caitlin Knowles, Thomas Kouttron, Jillian Lentinello, Gavin Li, Olivia Liepa, Madison Lofaso, Hannah Lomele, Olivia Lopez, Justin Loturco, Samantha Lynch, Sibilla Maiarelli, Matthew Mavrogian, Brandon May, Shannon McGovern, Shane Meyers, Lily Morris, Hanna Murphy, Michael Nemaric, Ryan Newell, Benjamin Nikodem, Kathleen Nugent, Suzanne Petryk, Michael Piazza and John Reilly were also inducted.
Rounding the newly inducted members are Joseph Saginaw, Daniella Schoen, Mary Sheehan, Marina Siegel, Gabriel Smith, Shannon Smith, Michael Stafford, Andrew Sullivan, Lindsay Sullivan, Veronica Tonissen, Marygrace Trousdell, Ketevani Tsotskolauri, Brendan Wirth, Lucas Vaccaro, Caitlin Yabroudy and Lana Ziegler.
“Holden Kata and Frank Yeh, two of my friends from the Class of 2013, worked long and hard throughout their senior year in order to see that future Huntington students with an affinity for social studies would be recognized for their talents,” said Ms. Farrell, one of the Class of 2014’s leading students.
Messrs. Kata and Yeh understood that members of the new honor society would be able to call upon their social studies knowledge to tutor classmates and act as mentors for the National History Day initiative.
“Holden, Frank, and Mr. Donovan were able to set up a committee last year that helped found the school’s chapter,” Ms. Farrell said. “It’s inspiring to see that their passion for social studies has led to the creation of this new chapter for future students to enjoy. It was a big step to go from attending last year’s committee meetings to being inducted into the honor society this year, but I can tell that if the society continues to be supported by such dedicated students as Holden and Frank were, then it will have great success here at Huntington.”
The induction ceremony was held in the School Heritage Museum. A small reception followed for the new members and their parents.
“Being part of the national social studies honor society is truly an honor,” Ms. Knowles said. “I’m excited to have been given the opportunity to expand my knowledge of history through school and community events that incorporate social studies outside the classroom.”
The new honor society is expected to quickly grow in stature. “It is amazing to see how many students in Huntington have a passion and appreciation for history and its impacts on the society in which we live,” Mr. Kouttron said.