Ethan Hoagland
Amid a crowd of proud parents and faculty, 15 Sweet Home High School students were inducted into the National Honor Society. During the ceremony, held in the school’s library on Tuesday, Nov. 14, current members lit candles in honor of the four pillars “held in high esteem” by the society: scholarship, service, leadership and character.
Social studies teacher Jim Costa served as guest speaker for the induction, where he highlighted people who represent each of the four pillars, including former Oregon Governor Mark Hatfield in the field of service, and Fred Rogers in the field of character.
After each candle was given its flame and Costa’s speech, came the recognition of each inductee. Of the Sweet Home High School seniors, Faith Baker, Mason Montigue and Alyssa Peterson were inducted into the society.
A much larger crop of juniors joined the fold. Split across three rows for space in the school’s library, inducted juniors included Killan Boggs, Easten Perry, Kirsten Sautel, Conner Stevens, Amelia Sullens, Ronald Abbott Jr., Boden Sayer, Layla Prewitt, Brooke Hillsman and Gavin Gardner.
Finally, the sophomores who got invitations to the society as freshman received recognition: Cannon Klumph and Selah Wright.
Upon the conclusion of individual recognition, current member of the NHS, Lydia Wright led the inductees in saying the society’s pledge.
Dr. Harrison Neal, a science teacher and advisor for the society, said the event went really well.
“We had a lot of parent and family turnout, and all the speakers did an amazing job. I was really happy with the whole thing,” Neal said. “It was great to have so much support from our school, too. Having the superintendent show up was amazing to see. So having support of them and our community is invaluable to us.”
This was Neal’s first year as the sole advisor.
“I mean, it’s a lot of work to put this stuff together by yourself,” he said. “But I’ve been able to lean on other faculty members, past advisors for help and guidance too.”
For inductee Ronald Abbott Jr., 11th grade, it feels good to follow the path laid by his sister when she joined the society.
“I had someone to really look up to and have motivation,” he said after the ceremony. “I think it’ll be pretty cool to have an expectation to hold myself higher to.”
Now that he’s a member, Abbott said he wants to make sure he’s “doing stuff for other people,” in order to fulfill the responsibility laid out by the society’s four pillars. Abbott said he’s planning to be a nurse, but with half of his junior year and his whole senior year still ahead of him, college is still a question mark. But if Costa’s words ring true, membership in the National Honor Society will mean much more than a box to tick on the college resume for these students.