Twenty Sweet Home High School students were inducted into the National Honor Society in a ceremony Nov. 20.
National Honor Society students are students who not only achieve academically but also show four character qualities, scholarship, service, leadership and character, Local chapter President Tana Thornton, a senior. A National Honor Society student is “often regarded as an individual that as a student will be successful in life.”
They have shown academic achievement and the four qualities in the spirit of the community and school.
Leadership is taking the initiative and shows others how to strive for success, Officer Elizabeth Aman, a senior, said. They show self-confidence.
Scholarship means a commitment to a lifetime of learning, Officer Israel Helfrich, a senior, said. “We should continue learning even when formal learning ends.”
Learning should end only at the end of life, Helfrich said.
Service can be expressed in various ways, Vice President Casey Aiello, a senior, said. Service means a “willingness to work without compensation or without recognition” for the “creation of a better tomorrow.”
A positive character is the “product of constant action and always striving to make the right choice,” Secretary-Treasurer Jessica Brocard, a senior, said.
Principal Pat Stineff was the guest speaker in the ceremony.
“To be nominated for the Honor Society … a student must be well rounded,” Stineff said. They must be actively involved in their schools, churches, clubs and communities.
“It’s obvious we have a bunch of kids in Sweet Home who are achieving,” Stineff said.
She gave the new Honor Society students several suggestions to help out in life.
“Set goals for yourself, and then go for them,” Stineff said. The only way to reach a potential is to set high goals.
“Take risks or you will never truly be successful,” Stineff said. She related the story of her son, who recently climbed Mt. Kilamanjaro, 19,340 tall. He made the climb without oxygen. By the time he reached the summit, he was taking three breaths for every step. He took a risk and achieved.
She urged them to keep trying even when they take risks and are not successful.
Stineff stressed the importance of getting involved. She urged the students to continue to join groups that help the community. Doing that, a person feels like a part of the community.
Setting priorities is important, Stineff said, and she told the students that they should remember the importance of family.
“Who’s likely to stand by you?” Stineff asked. “The family.”
Stineff reminded the students to take responsibility for their own actions, to learn from experiences and move on.
“Make the most of your time in high school,” Stineff said. “It may seem interminable, but it’s not.”
Inducted into the National Honor Society were sophomores Chris Burford and Teresa Lewis. Qualifying freshman boy and girl of the year are honorarily inducted into the Honor Society, primarily reserved to juniors, each year.
Also inducted were juniors Amy Anderson, Sarah Barnes, Jeff Briggs, Megan Cuff, Megan Foucht, David Helfrich, Katie Ives, Amber Murray, Danae Proctor, Rene Rice, Luke Schmidt, Tracee Scott, Christine Smith, Carissa VanCleave, Heather Wall, Melanie Westbrook, Jennifer Williams and Andrea Yunke.