Anabelle Tokash is PortageLife.com's #1StudentNWI representative at Portage High School. This month, Anabelle wrote about the recent National Honor Society induction at the school. A total of 25 seniors and 39 juniors were among the inductees.
Every year, juniors and seniors with impressive academic prowess are invited to apply to Portage High School’s National Honor Society. After filling out a rigorous application which includes multiple essays and three recommendations from teachers, a choice amount of students are selected by a panel of teachers. These excellent students then participate in a prestigious induction ceremony.
This year, Portage inducted 25 seniors and 39 juniors into the Society. This year’s officers include President Kaitlin Doud, Vice-president Zane Colon, Secretary Alicia Wood, Treasurer Megan Nadolski, Historian Erin Lopez and Parliamentarian Marko Mavrovic.
The induction ceremony included some interesting relations. Doud inducted her boyfriend Hunter Kraynak, member Torie Ostrander inducted her cousin Courtney Winkler and member Adesuwa Idowu inducted her niece, LeiAzia Irving.
Idowu recounted her experience as a proud and joyful one.
“It was pretty special to be able to induct LeiAzia in NHS. From the second Ms. Nye mentioned picking who we were inducting, before anyone even applied, I knew I wanted to induct her. Since we're only 1 year apart, it never feels like she's my niece, more like a sister or close cousin, and for once I felt like I was in a way, ‘passing on the torch’ to her so she can continue on her great high school path and continue on after I graduate. I was and still am extremely proud of what she has accomplished, both out of school and with being inducted into NHS.”
This joyful event was a proud moment for many students and parents. As each new member was introduced, their academic achievements were extolled to the proud audience of friends and family. Each student stood proudly as their National Honor Society pin was put on their robe.
“When I was inducted it was like a wave of relief because I was so nervous about my application and my accomplishments but now I'm so honored to be part of this society and glad that my hard work has paid off,” said junior Christina Kargol, one of the inductees.
After all the hard work done by these morally upstanding and scholastically impressive students, this simple induction ceremony was a gratifying moment to be seen. National Honor Society also gives these amazing students the opportunity to further their benevolent deeds.
“In the past we have done Project Linus, where we make blankets for kids in hospitals. We’ve made Easter baskets for senior citizens in nursing homes, we’ve sold bracelets for a group call Beading to Beat Autism. Basically, when people say ‘Can you help’ we say ‘Oh, sure,” explained Cathy Nye, sponsor and chairwoman of National Honor Society.
These wonderful students are in a position to become even greater humanitarians through this excellent program. National Honor Society inductions are a chance for each new member to be seen for their kind-hearted natures and brilliant scholarly achievements. This ceremony was incredibly successful and uplifting for all involved.