HHS Social Studies Honor Society Inducts 46
Huntington High School’s National Social Studies Honor Society chapter grew by 46 members during a recent induction ceremony attended by students, parents, teachers and district officials in the School Heritage Museum, the repository of more than 360 years of public school history.
Prospective members of the society must have a minimum un-weighted academic grade average of 90 “and demonstrate evidence of engagement in the field of social studies,” according to teacher Kenneth Donovan, who serves as the organization’s faculty advisor.
The new inductees include Elyas Amin, Krista Angeliadis, Hailey Bengston, Cole Blackburn, Anna Brosoff, Rachel Carpenter, Nina Cartwright, Chelsea Connell, Samantha Conte, Dylan DelGuidice, Ethan Dwyer, Nancy Fallon, Vincent Fredericks, Ann Glackin, Michael Karasik, Jeanne Kopstein, Thomas Kopstein, Ekaterina Koulakova, Alexandra Koumas, Cindy Lopez, Holly LoTurco, Ripley Mars, Elisa Medina-Jaudes, Matt McBride, Kevin McConnell and Brianna McDonald.
John McKenna, Alexandra Mills, Danielle Melgar, Daniel Mollitor, Jean Morgenstern, Sabrina Palacios, Kylie Palmer, Spencer Pashkin, Max Polster, Savannah Richardson, Katie Reilly, Jahnai’ Sands, Lena Scarpulla, Dylan Schedler, Latoya Shand, Emily Shutman, Olivia Stamatatos, Alex Tacopina, Meelod Wafajow and Emily Williams were also inducted into the prestigious society.
The Huntington chapter is led by students Lana Ziegler (president), Elizabeth Corrao (vice-president), Justin Edgar-McNerney (treasurer), Veronica Tonissen (secretary) and Michael Nemaric (historian).
“This was our second induction for the Social Studies Honor Society,” Huntington Principal Carmela Leonardi said. “Even though it is a new activity, it has generated great interest on the part of the students. Members of this society represent a group of serious history scholars whose passion for truth guides them to research and question events from the past and present.”
The 46 new members promised “to serve others, to search for truth, to utilize knowledge and to seek wisdom through the pursuit of academic excellence in the social studies.” The teenagers pledged “service to Huntington High School and to the community, for true scholars of the social studies led by example.”
The Huntington chapter sponsored a public issue forum on October 28 that focused on how to improve education. “We plan to sponsor another forum in the spring,” Mr. Donovan said. Chapter members have also begun assisting School Heritage Museum Curator Brian Hansen in the Heritage Room once a month.
“Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society is the only national organization for high school juniors and seniors that recognizes excellence in the field of social studies,” states the group’s national website. “Any accredited public high school or non-secondary school can apply for a local chapter, through which individuals will be inducted into Rho Kappa Honor Society. Rho Kappa provides national recognition and opportunities for exploration in the social studies.”
The National Council for the Social Studies started the Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society in 2011.