Houlton NHS members reflect on year of service
Being the President of this year’s chapter of the Houlton High School National Honor Society has been a thrilling experience. I have had the pleasure of witnessing all the lucrative projects that the NHS has participated in this year and all the community service projects that our members have done. Our service has been noticed by many and our impact felt by countless people in our community.
The National Honor Society participated in the local “Umbrella of Care Dinner.” We took weeks to prepare what we would serve at this dinner, and everyone was eager to contribute. On the last Sunday in January, we all came together with our crockpots, rolls, side dishes, and drinks to serve members of our community. With 22 members in our National Honor Society, we were able to provide a large feast. It was amazing to look around and see the beaming smiles of the other members as they served the steady flow of people coming to the supper. We were getting the opportunity to see the impact we had on other community members; it was truly a unique experience.
Not only did we participate in community service projects as a group, but we also provided community service on an individual level. Our members have volunteered at the Houlton Humane Society, Houlton Regional Hospital, youth sporting groups, Houlton Community Band, and many more. The community service performed by each member has made a positive difference, and the collective community service has made a great impact in our community. Many members have also participated in other projects at Houlton High School; the “change for change” program, the after school program, and the upcoming World Vision 30 Hour Famine are only a couple of the school programs that our members have participated in. The Houlton National Honor Society takes great pride in our various community service activities.
On a personal level, being President has been an honor. I am so proud of the work that the National Honor Society members have accomplished, and seeing the difference they have made in our community has been an enriching and inspiring experience. I wish the new National Honor Society members the best of luck, and I look forward to seeing the Houlton National Honor Society continue its standard of excellence.
Rebecca Crandall
When I was inducted into the National Honor Society I felt proud my hard work and accomplishments had been recognized. I was glad to be considered worthy in the four pillars of the society; Leadership, Character, Service and Scholarship. Since my induction I have tried to continue to prove that the advisors made the right decision.
I have done volunteer work such as the Umbrella for Care Dinner, which we did as a group; directed traffic for the Breast Cancer Awareness Walk; helped at the Red Cross Blood Drive; worked with Aid for Kids; helped organize the Dollars for Scholars phone-a-thon and Canoe race as well as worked at them. These are just a few things I’ve worked on, and I hope to do more. National Honor Society helped me realize volunteer work is necessary to help run the nice community we live in and appreciate being able to be a part of it.
Nick Chase
National Honor Society, a refined group of young adults, has encouraged me to strive to be the best citizen I can be. Through NHS, I have polished my skills in the three pillars: character, scholarship, service and leadership. Leadership, a trait possessed by all in NHS, will help us become the leaders in the future we are expected to be. I have served my community in various ways including: blood drives, umbrella for care, and food drives. For the school, I have helped set up proms, graduations, and I assisted in preparing for the Zimmerman funeral. I am truly honored to be a member of the National Honors Society.
Logan Shaffer
This year in NHS, I have helped out in the community by contributing to a couple of dinners that we put on at the Houlton Lodge of Elks and the Rec Center. While being in NHS I have learned that it is good to give to your community to feel good about yourself. It also shows good character, scholarship, leadership, and service. I have learned this year that being an NHS member is not about just having another line to put on my resume, but it is all about having the correct attitude toward my peers, my school and my community.
Chelsi Murray
Service, leadership, scholarship, and character are all apart of the National Honor Society. All of which are important to pursue. As a part of National Honor Society I have helped out with a number of activities and with the community. As a group, the NHS put on a supper back in January called the Umbrella for Care. Aside, I’ve helped out in school and out of school activities and events such as helping with the nursery school at local church and with the occupational and physical therapy at the hospital. Also, with school for the Jr. High and High school musicals and show choirs, whether it’s: painting/building sets, setting up or tearing down, or hanging up signs around town. I also had the privilege to judge the school science fair. Everything has been really great and a fun time.
Being a National Honor Society member is both an honor and a privilege and should be taken with honest and consideration. I wish the best of luck to the new NHS members and especially to my fellow NHS classmates, as well as everyone, after we set out and go about our own ways.
Dylan Gard
I am a proud member of Houlton High School’s National Honor Society. NHS honors those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. This program has encouraged us to strive, reach our future goals, and help me become a better member of the community.
My volunteerism has included helping out at the Elementary School, Domestic Violence awareness, helped HHS Alumni, assisted at the Breast Cancer awareness walk, volunteered for Aid for Kids, helped organize HHS Blood Drive, served at the Rec Center for the meal for the needy, and helped hang posters for the Fall musical. The National Honor society has helped me become a more selfless and reputable citizen.
Malik Abouleish
National Honor Society has been a great pleasure for me the last couple years. National Honor Society has encouraged me to become a better person. Before NHS it was just about getting the grades, and now I take a pride in the way I conduct myself in and out of school. The pillars of the group are leadership, character, scholarship and service. Service means a lot to me; to volunteer one’s time without recognition is a selfless deed.
National Honor Society is about being a good person and helps build young minds into better all-around people. NHS has helped me realize that community benefit is greater than one’s own personal benefit. I’m proud to be have been inducted along with such fine other young men and women of the class of 2011.
Aaron Faulkingham
The prestigious program of National Honor Society represents so much more then just a shiny blue sash. As a member, one must follow the four pillars that hold up this society. These pillars include scholarship, leadership, character, and service. These should be upheld in and out of school, and displayed prominently to our community. I have volunteered at Houlton Elementary School and helped with my fellow members at an Umbrella for Care dinner.
I am honored to be a member of the National Honor Society and believe that it will truly benefit me in the future, as I am reminded to uphold the pillars expected of me. As I continue on and study secondary education at the University of Maine at Orono, I will always keep the four pillars of the National Honor Society at heart and as I progress through life. The blue sash will represent my scholarship, leadership, character, and service as I march with my fellow classmates and National Honor Society members at my graduation ceremony.
Katherine Cone
I am truly honored to be a member of Houlton High School’s National Honor Society. The pillars for the group consist of scholarship, service, leadership and character. Every individual in the society has obviously portrayed the requirements for scholarship. However, service, leadership and character are an individual’s personal achievements.
I, myself, have been volunteering at Houlton Regional Hospital in the pediatrics department for several months as a way of assuring me of my career path to become a pediatrician. I provide my services to the hospital without compensation on a weekly basis. I believe each and every senior member of the society is a leader to the new junior members that were elected April 13, 2011. A leader is one who leads, keeping the best interests for themselves and their peers in mind. I believe each of the members of the National Honor Society represent exceptional character.
We, as a group, have portrayed our various personalities and interests, while maintaining the requirements for the character pillar of the National Honor Society. I am unbelievably proud of myself and my fellow members of Houlton High School’s National Honor Society for the time, effort, and hard work we contribute to our school and community as members of such an honorable group.
Daisy Torres
Scholarship, leadership, character, and service are the four pillars expressed by each member of the National Honor Society. Each member is a scholar, strongly committed to learning and doing work, regardless of impending reward. Each member is a leader, having intelligence, patience, and self-confidence strong enough to take charge and crate change. Each member has character, demonstrating good virtue, responsibility, and dependability every day. Each member serves his or her community, giving up time to help others without compensation or recognition.
Since my induction into the National Honor Society, I have done many community service projects, alone and as a part of a group. As a group, the National Honor Society put on an Umbrella for Care dinner. Alone I have done community service for several associations, such as: Coats for Kids, the Houlton Agricultural Fair Association, the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the American Red Cross, the Houlton Alumni Association, and the National Bone Marrow Donor Program. I have also volunteered several times at a local elementary school, helping the children with things like wrapping presents and holiday art projects.
Gaige Flewelling
Being a member of Houlton High School’s chapter of the National Honor Society has been a meaningful experience during my school career. I was inducted in April of 2010, and have volunteered many hours for my community since then. In addition to the group effort of the Umbrella of Care dinner, I have individually given up my time for events such as: Installing the new Little League field, coaching a 5th and 6th grade AYBL team, reading to children for “Read Across America” Day, and helping with the Jr. Golf program.
As a member of the National Honor Society, I have made sure to keep the four pillars in mind as I live my daily life. It is important to remember that as a part of this organization, we represent not only ourselves and our school, but also our community. The pride of the community depends on the success of future generations being sent out into the world.
Tanner Caron
Being inducted to the NHS truly means a lot to me. At a young age, I watched my older siblings be inducted and I soon realized the esteem which was associated with the title. To me, being in NHS is all about being a genuine person and exemplifying the four honorable qualities; scholarship, leadership, service, and character.
As is has always been, academic excellence is very important to me. Ranking third in the class of 2011 proves my consistent strive for scholarship. As for leadership this has always been of second nature to me. As soon as I could talk, my father taught me to never be a follower and to always be a leader. Today I am the president of the class of 2011 and an active member in the High School Student Council. Service is also dear to me; many hours of my free time have been devoted to saving lives by giving blood and helping today’s’ youth grow by teaching them to play baseball. As far as character goes, I always attempt to be respectful, understanding and fun.
My dad always told me, “always be respectful and have fun”. This quote goes hand in hand with what my outstanding teacher, Mr. Powers, always says. In advisory, it’s not uncommon to hear him point out that “there is never a wrong time to do the right thing.” As a member of the NHS, I will always try my best to enact both of these wonderful quotes.
Marcy Hernandez
It has been a pleasure being a part of the NHS for two years. It will be my honor to wear the sash during graduation as a symbol of my dedication and hard work in high school. I know I will be able to take the skills acquired from the NHS and use them in my years to come.
As individuals in the NHS we have all done our own community service. I have put in time in activities such as choreographing the Jr. High Show Choir and coaching a cheerleading camp. Our whole group put on an Umbrella for Care Dinner and made all the food for it. I am prepared to lead the new inductees of the society and teach them the four traits of leadership, service, scholarship and character that I have learned. Because of my high grade point average, I finishied fifth in my class. I believe the 2011 chapter of NHS has displayed excellent character with all of our individual personalities. This organization has taught me to value my strong leadership, service, scholarship, and character.
Ben Ward
NHS isn’t just about getting a blue sash and gold tassel to wear at graduation. NHS is about character, leadership, scholarship and service. Each member including myself take this great honor upon ourselves and make it a privilege not a right. We have all achieved this great honor by demonstrating our hard work in the classroom and in the community. Other teenages find their enjoyment on the weekends going to parties and causing chaos. The members of the NHS take no part in this and use our time to better the community.
Within the terms of my membership I have helped out with SAMHA practices twice a week during the winter months and help my elderly neighbors with odd jobs during the summer. We also volunteered at the umbrella for care dinner to give the less fortunate a free meal. NHS has been a great way to help the community and better myself.
Alexis Rush
My membership in National Honor Society has opened up new opportunities for me to engage in my community. It is an incredibly rewarding feeling to help others in need. Since November of 2010 I have been reading to children at the Elementary school as part of the Project Story Boost program. It is a program aimed at reading to children who lack an acquaintance with books. Also, the member of this chapter of the NHS put together the Umbrella For Care dinner for the community. The dinner was very successful and it was an honor to be a part of.
Being a member of this Society is a noble calling and I don’t take my responsibilities lightly. This membership has validated my hard work but at the same time has encouraged me to work even harder. As I go off to college I will strive to live up to the pillars of the National Honor Society.
