Walkersville National Honors Society Inducts New Members In a Moving Ceremony

by Caylee Winpigler for Walkersville High School Lion’s Pride

On December 1st, the Walkersville High School National Honors Society (NHS) inducted new members from 11th and 12th grade. This prestigious group of affluent high school students were recognized for their superior work in the following pillars: character, service, leadership, and scholarship.

NHS is guided and led by social studies teacher Jamie Skena. She has been active in the organization for roughly seven years. Through these seven years she has had the opportunity to meet and interact with a wide variety of students. Skena said, “I got involved primarily because I only taught freshmen and it was interesting to see how upperclassmen function and work especially when they are the cream of the crop of the school.”

Skena works in conjunction with special education teacher Wanda Thaggard, swim teacher Susan Pardo, and the NHS officers to help make the NHS induction run smoothly. One way that the officers play a part is by writing speeches.

NHS President senior Megan McGee said that although she had the welcoming and congratulatory speech, she wanted them to be different, “Being a teenager, I know what short attention spans we all have so I decided to do an icebreaker to grab the audience’s attention that relates to NHS.”

The rest of the officers have a different speech to present to inspire and motivate the incoming members. NHS Secretary senior Anna Sepanic said, “Each of the officers, except [McGee], speak on a pillar of NHS. I did leadership, so I just talk about what a good leader and role model should be and I encourage people to work towards it.”

NHS Treasurer senior Rylee Duncan wrote a speech about service, “It was easy (to write) because I have a lot of service experience and I understand the importance of it.”

Those lucky students who were picked have a lot to look forward to and gain from NHS.

Skena, being a teacher herself, knows first hand what this type of honor shows to other academic administrators, “It indicates to colleges and employers that your high school teachers recognize that you’re committed to academics and service to others.”

Duncan believed that NHS can broaden members perspectives and enhance the qualities that they already have, “It’s a lot of responsibility and you learn a lot of maturity. NHS opens you up to the reality of society.”

McGee noted how NHS not only helps the students, but the community as well, “Students can gain a sense of well roundedness, NHS offers students to improve on all different skills. Students get to find different ways they can give back to their community and help those around them.”

Personally, McGee feels like she has benefited significantly from her involvement in NHS, “I have been taught to time manage!” she admitted through some laughs, “Although I have a million different things on my plate, I make sure to plan out everything and make time for all I’m involved with. Also, I have learned to listen to others; NHS is essentially a team. All of the board works really well together. It’s not just one person doing everything. I’ve learned that even though what I may view as a small act of kindness may mean the world to somebody.”

Before being a part of NHS, these students (McGee, Duncan, senior Connor Owen, senior Michael Schnepfe, and Sepanic) all showed exemplary character that solidified their invitation to NHS. The students for 2016 did the same and all felt excited and nervous about the night.

Junior Jonathan Rushbrook was stocked for his nomination and for his future in the society, “You’re surrounded by people who are really smart and can only get smarter. We can help out the community to bring people up to their potential. I have always loved helping people and if I can get volunteer hours for it then there’s no reason why not to join.”

Senior Hector Morales was nervous for the fact that he had not been put on the spot prior to inductions, so this was a new feeling for him, “I [was] really excited and nervous at the same time. I’m glad that NHS accepted me. I hope I can exceed my expectations.”

Junior Deirdre Hall was also nervous for inductions. Even though she is a talented actress, she felt that there was a huge difference between acting on stage and walking across for NHS, “It feels a little different when being inducted into NHS. You aren’t performing and you’re just walking across the stage as yourself. It [made] me nervous and it [made] me feel like more people can judge me and they won’t have a character that they’re watching.”

Junior Kathy Krantz had a unique view on the application process. To Krantz it gave her a different perspective on her school activities, “The application process really made me think about why academics are important in my life.”

Junior William Anderson remained humble and proud of this achievement, “Many students apply and don’t get accepted, so I was a little nervous. I don’t make too much of a big deal about it, though, because every student is talented in their own way and deserves recognition for their achievement. I would, of course, be just as proud of how I spent the last two and a half years with or without being inducted.”

Beyond worrying about walking across the stage, there is the added pressure of having to sign a book that will permanently have your signature in it. Sepanic chuckled when thinking of her own induction, “I was really nervous about signing the book so it was just a scribble.” She followed up with this advice for future inductees when she said, “All you’re doing is walking across a stage and signing a book; don’t be as nervous as I was.”

McGee also concluded with some advice to new members, “Get your hours in! Don’t wait [un]til they’re due to get them done. Also, try different sorts of service. This is the time to attempt something different. Last and the most important: don’t make NHS just about getting hours and a cord at graduation. It’s about developing yourself and skills in the community through character, service, scholarship, and leadership. Make it more than meets the eye.”

This thought process is what has prompted members for years to volunteer and help in various capacities; this thought process makes them unique and a gem to be found in any environment.

NHS teaches students valuable skills that they will keep with them for the ready of their lives. Walkersville is proud and honored to have such outstanding students in the community.