Sean C. Morgan
Sixteen seniors and 16 juniors were inducted into the National Honor Society on Nov. 15.
Two sophomores, who were freshmen of the year last year, joined them.
Conducting the induction were National Honor Society members Jesse Aitken, Megan Henson, Abby Knight, Jon Mather, Ashley Wall and Lisa Wiens.
Students earn their place in the National Honor Society through the effective demonstration of four qualities held in high esteem by the society, including scholarship, leadership, service and character.
“Scholarship means a commitment to learning,” Mather said during the ceremony. “A student is willing to spend hours in reading and study, knowing the lasting benefits of a cultivated mind. We should continue to learn even when formal education has ended, for education ends only with the end of life.”
“Service can be described in various ways,” Knight said. “In the routine of the day’s work, many opportunities arise to help others. Willingness to work for the benefit of those in need, without monetary compensation or without recognition, is the quality we seek in our membership.”
“Leadership should exert a wholesome influence on the school,” Aitken said. “In taking the initiative in class and school activities, the real leader strives to train and aid others to attain the same objective. The price of leadership is sacrifice – the willingness to yield one’s personal interests for the interests of others.”
“Character is the force within each individual which distinguishes that person from others,” Wall said. “It gives each one individuality. It is that without which no one can respect oneself nor hope to attain the respect of others. It is this force of character which guides one through life and, when once developed, grows steadily.”
The National Honor Society was founded in 1921 to create an organization that would recognize and encourage academic achievement while also developing other characteristics essential to citizens in a democracy.
Principal Pat Stineff was guest speaker at the induction ceremony.
“I’ve been doing a lot of reflective thinking lately,” Stineff said. “”I think the first reason is I have a son about to go to Iraq.”
The second reason is the inductees include the Class of 2005. Stineff is a member of the Class of 1965.
“I started thinking, I’m nearing the end of my career when you’re just starting out,” Stineff said, and one day each of those students will be as far separated from upcoming graduates as she is from the Class of 2005.
“You can probably remember life without a cell phone,” Stineff said, but “in 1965, computers were unheard of. I can imagine you can’t imagine life without them.”
Gas cost 10 cents per gallon, and students used typewriters to write their papers. Minimum wage was $1.25 per hour, the equivalent of $6.23 now.
“There also were no CDs, even eight-tracks were unheard of in those days,” Stineff said. Music was available on LPs and 45s.
“We had Elvis Presley and the Beatles and American Bandstand,” Stineff said. “You could actually understand the words to the songs.”
College tuition was $130 at Eastern Oregon. Now it’s $3,890 per year.
“I could actually work at minimum wage and pay my way through college,” Stineff said. “The real point I want to get across to you is you need to get a college education.”
There are successful people who never attended college, Stineff said, but those are the exception. They do it through hard work and dedication.
College offers a “career not just a job,” Stineff said. A college education provides something a person can enjoy while others get up and dread going to work.
Seniors
Alisha Basham, Jennifer Belveal, Josh Coward, Robert Eli, Chelsea Hackworth, Amber Horner, Garrett Kauffman, Katherine Keenon, Kellen Pedersen, Jennifer Price, Alex Ritzman, Skie Weikel and Andy Worley.
Juniors
Katie Carter, Hayley Cole, Larry Coulter, Emily Dascomb, Bethany Emmert, Chelsea Gagner, Linus Garrett, Brandee Horn, Melissa Reynolds, Caitlyn Snyder, Cait Thireault, Dani Thireault and Heidi Wilson.
Sophomores ? Freshmen of the year in 2003-04
Jason Long and MacKenzie Marchbanks.