Hickory Creek National Junior Honor Society Induction

On April 26, 2018, Hickory Creek Middle School hosted its third annual induction ceremony for the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS.) Eighty students from sixth, seventh and eighth grade were inducted.

The National Junior Honor Society was established in 1929 to recognize outstanding middle level students. Today, it is estimated that more than one million students participate in official Honor Society activities. NHS and NJHS chapters are found in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, many U.S. territories, and Canada. Chapter membership not only recognizes students for their accomplishments, but challenges them to develop further through active involvement in school activities and community service.

To be considered for NJHS membership, Hickory Creek students were required to complete an application and an essay. Being a good student is only one part of the application process and having a high grade point average does not guarantee membership. More than just an honor roll, NJHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship. A Hickory Creek Middle School Faculty Council assisted in assessing each applicant’s leadership and character traits observed in the classroom setting, as well as in extra-curricular activities.

The Induction Ceremony began with a processional of the inductees, followed by the National Anthem sung by student Madison Rogers. Hickory Creek Principal William Seidelmann welcomed parents and students. On behalf of the District 157-C Board of Education, Mrs. Gina Briese congratulated the students on their accomplishments and thanked Superintendent Dr. Maura Zinni and Principal Will Seidelmann for bringing the NJHS program to the district.

The current NJHS members led the program for the new inductees. They included Aidan Dauber, Emily Greenawalt, Edward Nicholson, Sean Dore, Colin Ovando, Madison Rogers, Sarah Alexander, Ella Dabrovits, Kyra Peters, Manuel Tsoukatos and Rylee Hanlon. They conducted a candle-lighting ceremony highlighting the five standards of the NJHS. The inductees took a pledge to uphold the five standards and were awarded NJHS certificates and pins by Mrs. Briese, Mr. Seidelmann, Hickory Creek Assistant Principal Alexandra Oreluk and the program’s Faculty Advisors Renée Grady and Stacy Rutovic.

Mr. Seidelmann congratulated the parents for their remarkable young people and thanked the program’s faculty advisors for their efforts. He spoke to the students stating, “It is an honor to induct 80 members tonight who have demonstrated excellence in scholarship, service, leadership, character and citizenship. This is much more than an honor roll, merit award or a job well done. You ask good questions and know the importance of not quitting, fulfilling your commitments and that it is okay to make mistakes if you learn from them. You share the belief that a few passionate individuals can influence many towards a path to lifelong success. I look forward to working with you as new members of the National Junior Honor Society.” Following the new member recessional, families were invited to a reception for an opportunity to socialize, enjoy refreshments and take photographs using a photo booth featuring Hickory Creek Middle School memorabilia.