Riverwood Students Re-Establish French Honor Society

SANDY SPRINGS, GA - From Riverwood International Charter School: The newly re-established French Honor Society, Société Honoraire de Français (SHF), at Riverwood International Charter School inducted thirty-three new members on April 16, 2018. The induction ceremony, called “La Course du Flambeau” is based on the “passing of the torch” that took place in Ancient Greece.

The Riverwood chapter, chartered in 2012, fell inactive after only two years. Fortunately, passionate students and supportive teachers in Riverwood's foreign language department worked together to revive the Society. Two seniors, Tate Poole and Jacky Martinez, played an integral role in bringing SHF back to Riverwood. According to Riverwood French teacher and Society sponsor, Michelle Bohlen: “They did a lot of polite ‘nudging.” The students created an organizational structure, planned the induction ceremony, and helped with candidate selection. They were committed to helping the club get off the ground. Bohlen credits the students with a commitment to “leaving a great legacy for future Riverwood French students.”

Congratulations to this year's inductees: Katie Abbott, Anaïs Acree, Shelby Arrigo, Madeline Celestino, Remy Clayman, Alex Edge, Mahri Fair, Joey Fleming, Sophie Galvani, Haley Gruensfelder, Samantha Johnson, Isabel Jones, Trevor Kosloski, Josh Lerner, Elaina Levy, Jacky Martinez, Leslie Martinez, Chandler McCleskey, Julie Mittelstedt, Ella Morgan, Lillian Oelkers, Tate Poole, Sonya Reznikova, Rain-Marie Robertson, Natalie Roverse, Katie Scales, Marley Seymour, Eashan Sims, Julia Stahlman, Hannah Suggs, Khalil Thompson, Viha Umashankar, and Emily Woody. Tate Poole serves as president and Jacky Martinez is vice-president.

As an International Baccalaureate Diploma school and Fulton County Schools’ only International Studies Magnet, Riverwood has a vibrant foreign languages department. SHF joins the growing list of honor societies at the school.

The American Association of Teachers of French first established the SHF in 1949.The aim of the SHF is to
stimulate interest in the study of French, to promote high standards of scholarship, reward scholastic
achievements, create enthusiasm for and an understanding of francophone culture and civilization, to promote and perpetuate international friendship, and to reward efforts toward furthering solidarity in the French-speaking world.

Photo courtesy of Riverwood International Charter School