New NHS members were inducted last Monday night in a short ceremony. Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Character are the four pillars that NHS members need to uphold when inducted in the annual induction ceremony. NHS recognizes students for their academic accomplishments but challenges them to develop further through active involvement in school activities and community service. 

Nineteen new members were inducted. 

“I think pushing the induction ceremony a semester back was a good idea because it allows students a chance to raise their GPA,” NHS co-president Mollie Dittmar said. “I wanted our soon-to-be members to have the opportunity to increase their chances of getting in and to be proud of the hard work they put into their academics and leadership skills.”

All the members and the inductees are required to maintain a grade point average of at least 3.5. Leadership and character are big components to the NHS because members are meant to be good role models in their school. Becoming a member of NHS means they agree to serve the community in 10 hours of community service.

“It’s important that our members have a good academic status and participate in community service opportunities because ultimately it is our goal to be leaders of our community,” NHS secretary Asa Henson said. “Often students with good academics will be some of the hardest workers and if they do community service, our community will know that our members are going to go out and have a positive impact on the world and represent BHS well.”

The induction took place in the auditorium with a reception afterward. The ceremony featured speeches from the NHS officers and principal Hickerson, as well as a candle lighting and pledge from the new inductees. 

“Everything ran smoothly until I was informed that I needed to step in because one of our officers couldn’t make it,” senior Itzy Velazquez said. “Even though I was a bit nervous, I knew I had to take charge because that is what this organization is about- being a leader and it was a cool way about being on stage at my last induction ceremony.”

According to inductees, they’ve worked hard for this achievement and were excited to receive their invitations to be inducted into the prestigious NHS chapter. 

“I was really excited because I have been working hard to get into NHS. I tried to be involved as much as I can and I stay on top of my work and I sometimes try to do it as early as I can,” junior Iris Valles said. “When I got my invitation, I went straight home and told my mom and I screamed my head off because hard work pays off.”