Science National Honor Society Inducts New Members
by Susanna Chen for Walkersville High School Lion’s Pride
On the evening of November 2nd, the crème de la crème of Walkersville’s science students convened in the auditorium to be recognized for their achievements at the Science National Honor Society (SNHS) induction ceremony.
Founded in 1921, SNHS is an organization which heralds from the rapid progress made in science and technology since the Industrial Revolution. Its purpose is to heighten awareness and exposure to science in the civic community by recruiting exceptional students to invoke enthusiasm for the pursuit of knowledge in the public by hosting science events, participating in volunteer work, and introducing the public to prominent figures in the scientific community.
Established in 2000, the Walkersville chapter is a relatively young division of the society, and its development reflects the growing emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in the school.
Advisor Stacy Bureau said “National Science Honor Society serves our community by helping grow science especially at the elementary level but also high school level tutoring in science and math, helping to grow the science community so we can inspire more science lovers.”
On her goals as a new member, junior Roshni Patel commented, “I hope I get the chance to look at different types of science and learn from speakers and maybe organize some STEM events and take advantage of the opportunities.”
While spreading an enthusiasm for science, SNHS is also a part of cultivating a generation that is more knowledgeable and capable of building a brighter future. The gathering of likeminded individuals in a single group creates an environment motivating students to take initiative and embark on new ventures into the scientific field. In doing so, encouragement is stressed as a key component in the society.
Bureau said, “[It is important] in order to encourage students to give back to the community and do more than the bare minimum. [It is important] to also encourage students that are in it to grow their love of science by making connections with our science community. There’s so many jobs out there with science and they really don’t have access to all of those on their own. And I think SNHS kind of gives them an avenue to proceed in that.”
Vice president Joey Moss said, “It honors students and their accomplishments in science classes, which is really important because we need people to be scientists and engineers. Being able to encourage people to be interested in science is important.”
In order to qualify, students must have earned a over grade point average of 3.0 and a 3.5 in all science courses, taken at least one upper level science course during junior and senior year, and have maintained excellent character and responsibility.
With the new year comes new members to the society and the induction ceremony recognizes the achievements of students accomplished in the sciences. Though it was a relatively short ceremony — lasting less than 20 minutes — it was essential in commemorating a new beginning.
The ceremony began with a welcome statement delivered by Bureau outlining the significance of the event. She stated, “Progress is the goal that drives the pursuit of science, and in trying to better understand the world around us, we have to continually do what we don’t know. Change is the theme of tonight, as we welcome in a new class of inductees, and in a world that is continually changing, you must be able to adapt.”
The speaker of the night, Wendy Young, is an actuary. Primarily characterized by a background in math with connections to science, actuaries are “professionals who assess risks related to products and services that insurance companies offer.” With the use of mathematical and business models, they research the possible outcomes of each decision made by an organization. As the Chief Risk Officer of an insurance company, she ensures that the risk associated with each action in is actively considered in all company operations.
Following the brief speech, each inductee was introduced onto the stage by Ethan Welty and Emma Crouch. They were each presented with a certificate and handshakes from the advisors and student officers. Following the recognition of each inductee, the newly admitted members recited a pledge vowing to uphold the values of the society.
The ceremony was concluded with remarks made by Cavanaugh, which reiterated the importance of science and impressed in each member their duty.
He stated, “The speed at which our society and world is evolving in regards to technological and scientific advances is exponential, and soon enough, we could very well be setting foot on Mars. Change is inevitable, which is why we must dedicate ourselves to undertaking the footsteps that others have outlined for us, and continue to invent, improve, and innovate ways to benefit us, our planet, and our society. These students have taken the first step to doing just that, and may have very well begun their scientific journey in life.”
