Hawks stay busy with NHS projects

By Chelsea Sloat
and Ashley Ballanger
Hodgdon High School NHS students
    A lot of people may think that the National Honor Society is a lame club for geeks.
    That for sure is not the case, especially at Hodgdon High School. One would be surprised at the types of projects that we do for our surrounding communities.
Contributed photo
HODGDON INCOMING CLASS —Members of the Hodgdon High School National Honor Society who will be inducted in a May 4 ceremony are, front row from left, Britta Oliver, Kim Levesque and Kayla Harris; and back, Kim Warman, Amanda Ryan and Coreen Jurson.
    First, let’s start off with the basics. Not just anyone can be a part of this club.  Members of the National Honor Society are chosen based on four criteria: scholarship, character, service, and service. So, not just any geek can be involved with NHS. This year, Hodgdon High School’s chapter of NHS contains eight members: President Ashley Ballanger, Vice President Emmaly Jurson, Secretary Chelsea Sloat, Treasurer Desiree Foster, Andrew Lane, Michael Morey, Kerriann Estabrook and Sydney Bradshaw.
    Work for this year’s NHS began before the school year had even officially begun. We were there for Freshman Orientation, where we gave tours of the high school to incoming freshmen and their parents. Since then we have completed various service projects both in the school and in the community.  
    You may have seen us Halloween night, when we went Trick or Treating for Carter and Kenna. These are two kids who have neuroblastoma, a rare type of cancer. Since the medical bills are so high, we try to do anything we can do help with the costs. So instead of Trick or Treating for candy, we asked for donations. The community’s support is greatly appreciated and we were able to collect over $500 that night.
    Our next project was bell ringing for the Salvation Army. We paired up and took shifts to cover one kettle after school until then end of the night.  It was cold, but that was when the hot chocolate came in handy. Knowing that the money was going to people in need really made it worth the while, too.
    Next, we baked pies for local nursing homes and the hospital at Christmas. We made apple, pumpkin and chocolate cream pie, 45 pies in total. The project was so successful that we did it again for Easter, this time making raspberry, coconut cream, and chocolate cream pies for Meals on Wheels. We never realized how appreciated these pies were until the thank-you cards came pouring in. Having feedback makes you realize what a difference even a simple pie can make in someone’s life.
Contributed photo
HODGDON NHS — Members of the 2009-10 National Honor Society at Hodgdon High School are, front row from left, President Ashley Ballanger, Secretary Chelsea Sloat, Kerriann Estabrook and Sydney Bradshaw; and back, Michael Morey, Andrew Lane, Vice President Emmaly Jurson and Treasurer Desiree Foster.
    To help raise money for school improvement we held a “fun” fund-raiser. It was called “Kidnap the Teacher”, which is pretty self-explanatory. After getting the teachers’ approval, their classes were given the option to donate money to NHS.  The class who raised the most money had their teacher “kidnapped” for a block and were given a party instead of having class.
    Future projects include Teacher Appreciation Week and Student Leadership Appreciation Week, where we will recognize students and staff for their hard work. We are also planning the Honors Banquet, where we look forward to welcoming six new members to NHS and recognizing those students making the honor roll for three consecutive quarters.
    Thursday, May 13, we are holding our second annual Blood Drive in honor of Carter Cummings and Kenna Ward. If you would like to donate blood, the drive is from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. You can contact Kara Wright at Hodgdon High School at 532-2413 or by e-mail at karawright@msln.net to make an appointment. Our National Honor Society has been working hard all year, we’re proud of the difference we’ve made in the school and community.