HODGDON, Maine — In a ceremony rife with tradition, 10 new members were inducted into Hodgdon Middle-High School’s National Honor Society Wednesday evening.
Held in the high school gymnasium, inductees and their families were treated to a meal before the NHS members marched into the darkened gym holding lit candles to signal the start of the ceremony.
“The National Honor Society is the nation’s premier organization that recognizes outstanding high school students,” said NHS president Madisyn Merritt in welcoming the large audience. “NHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service and character.”
Newly-inducted members include Dylan Jurson, Katherine Berube, Lauren McGillicuddy, Lucas Ramsey, Seth Tapley, Katherine Ledger, Autumn Ganzel, Olivia Morris, Hunter Tapley and Benjamin Walker.
Madisyn Merritt, outgoing president of Hodgdon’s National Honor Society, leads the group into the gymnasium Wednesday for the start of the school’s induction ceremony. Following behind her are Sydney Crane (vice president), Jordyn McKissick (secretary) and Megan Russell (treasurer).
(Joseph Cyr)
They join existing NHS members Merritt, Sidney Crane (vice president), Jordyn McKissick (secretary), Megan Russell (treasurer), Wyatt Foster, Nicholas Sherman, Sydney Howell, Addison Woods, Hannah Elland, Janelle Goff, Robert Ramsey, Dylan Oliver, Victoria Morris and Hailey Heath.
NHS Advisor Kara Wright praised the group of graduating seniors and welcomed the new members to the fold by announcing the 2018-19 officers.
“The installation of officers is an important and serious occasion,” Wright said. “You have indicated your faith and trust in these elected officers to serve for the coming year. Their service and accomplishments depend largely on your cooperation. Following is as important as leading. In any organization, there comes a time when some must lead for a while and the others must follow.”
She implored the group to keep the core guiding principles (scholarship, leadership, service and character) at the forefront of their thoughts in everything they choose to do moving forward and also thanked the outgoing officers for their dedicated service this past year.
Elected to fill the positions vacated by graduating seniors were: Morris, president; Ganzel, vice president; McGillicuddy, secretary; and Berube, treasurer.
“In accepting these offices, you have indicated your willingness to give your best time and effort to carry out the principles of the National Honor Society,” Wright said. “Yours is a grave responsibility as well as a privilege. The world today, as never before, needs faithful and efficient leaders. Your school is looking to you to lead its students.”
