39 Inducted into National Honor Society

39 Inducted into National Honor Society

On Tuesday, November 15, St. Johns Country Day School was honored to induct 39 new members of the National Honor Society (NHS).

First, National Honor Society Sponsor Mrs. Stacy Johnson welcomed existing members to the stage:

Kellen Brown Jeffery Henry Jack McNulty
Kennedy Brown Andrew Hightower Juliet Moody
Brooks Burson Shannon Hodges Jack Mooneyham
Javier Coll-Román Antonio Holmberg Cookie Myers
Noah Cone Jacob Holyer Hunter Noble
William Cooper Hunter Hopkins Daniela Oceguera
Emerson Cooper Sam Hopkins Aidan Rice
Ally Desguin Ava Johnson Emma Schultz
Josie Dinkins Thomas Keenan Chloe Smith
Trey Dubnansky Anna Kemp Jacob Thomas
Meg Fackler Talon Luster Patrick Walsh
Paul Janeczko Abigail Maierhoffer Lily Weldon
JD Hays Marshall Martin  

Once the "one-claps" were complete and all existing members seated on the stage, Mrs. Johnson passed the ceremony over to the chapter's senior members. First, Senior Jeffrey Henry took the podium to provide a little background. "The National Honor Society was founded to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to render service to school and community, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of the nation's secondary schools," he said. To become a member, students must have a GPA of at least 3.6 at the end of the first quarter of their junior or senior year, must have been a St. Johns student for at least a year, must be an active participant in school activities, and must exhibit the finest qualities of character.  

This year, the 38 existing members inducted 30 members of the junior class and 9 fellow seniors.

After brief introductory remarks, Senior Hunter Hopkins called new members onto the stage in front of friends, classmates, and family. These included:

From the Class of 2024:

Ashlyn Anderson Katelyn Jacobs Cordelia Painter
George Auchter Mary Kate Kent Benjamin Payton
Sofia Avila Gianna Lentini Carter Pickett
Savannah Berrang Tristan Lentz Julianna Raimondi
Harry Brown Gentry Loper Sarah Robinson
Sofia Conde Roxy Mathews Ashlyn Rose
Jack Ensell Noah Minners Charles Scarlett
Addison Frisbee Ava Morin Gigi Sessions
Anthony Hawk Richard Nichols Taylor Thigpen
Timothy Jackson     Connor O’Steen         Sophia Woolard

And from the Class of 2023:

Annie Afflick Stella Hyatt Taliah Scott
Madison Erwin Thomas Pounds Tripp Vogt
Bridger Espinosa Avery Raimondo Semaj Williams


Once all existing members and new inductees were seated, Seniors Ava Johnson, Abigail Maierhoffer, Lily Weldon, and Kennedy Brown took turns at the podium to light a candle for each pillar the Society holds in high esteem—scholarship, service, leadership, and character—and say a few words about each. Then, new inductees were asked to stand and repeat the National Honor Society Pledge:

I pledge myself to uphold
The purposes of the National Honor Society
I will be true to the principles for which it stands;
I will be loyal to my school;
I will maintain high standards of scholarship,
High standards of service,
High standards of leadership,
and high standards of character.

Once this was achieved, Head of Upper School Jackie Lentini took the podium to announce the day's speaker, St. Johns alumni and staff member Jordan Robbins Rechcigl '10. "It is my pleasure to introduce our speaker today," said Lentini, "Jordan is a St. Johns Country Day School alum, who ... joined the St. Johns' staff in 2019, working with our Parent Association and in our Admissions office. Jordan has three siblings who also graduated from St. Johns—Philip '08, Caroline '13, and Parker '20.

"First," said Rechcigl, "I want to thank the parents and the families of the inductees, who have helped shape and mold these fine students into the young women and men in front of you today. She went on to thank the St. Johns teachers for sparking an enthusiasm for learning that helped students get where they are today, and to acknowledge the students themselves and their hard work.

She went on to speak from the heart about her experiences at the University of Florida, in the working world, and since her return to St. Johns about how the pillars of the National Honor Society have been relevant to her. throughout her journey, as, no doubt, each of the new and existing members will find as they continue their own journeys.

As a member of the St. Johns admissions staff, Rechcigl said, she gets asked all the time what sets St. Johns apart from the rest. "Among the long list of reasons why St. Johns stands out from the rest," said Rechcigl, "the most significant reason I would choose St. Johns over and over again is because of our remarkable young men and women. No where will you find more hardworking, generous, dedicated individuals. But more importantly, nowhere will you find more kind and respectful young men and women."

"In closing," she said, "I encourage you to learn from failure, to serve others, to embrace challenges, and to always treat others with kindness and respect."

Congratulations, National Honor Society members! 



 

 

 

 

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