Lincoln-Way North Students Inducted into History Honor Society

Nearly 100 Lincoln-Way North High School students were inducted into the Pi Sigma Pi history honor society Oct. 11.

The students were nominated by their social science teachers based on their grades and enthusiasm for history.

“It takes an exceptional student to be nominated for this honor,” said Kevin McCleish, the faculty sponsor of Pi Sigma Pi at Lincoln-Way North High School.

Pi Sigma Pi is one of the few academic honor societies at Lincoln-Way and, therefore, one of the only extra-curricular activities in which students have to earn their membership.

After students are nominated for the honor by their teachers, they must complete a membership application by writing about historical sites they have visited, three people from the past that they would like to speak to, and a one-page essay explaining what history means to them.

“I was quite impressed with these responses,” McCleish told parents Tuesday night. “Overall, your sons and daughters conveyed their deep commitment to understanding the past in order to fulfill their responsibilities as global citizens today.”

Lincoln-Way North senior Tyler Sucharzewski, the president of Pi Sigma Pi, shared his reasons for joining Pi Sigma Pi.

“History is more than just facts and dates one should know,” he said. “Sure the chronology in which history unfolds is important, but the focus should be upon understanding the events as they occurred and their significance to contemporary society.

“In history, everything happens for a reason,” he continued,  “whether the implications benefit or hinder our society. Wars do not start without reason and countries do not form simply for the sole purpose of creating one. Using history, we can examine what caused the darkest hours of human civilization, from the Civil War to the Holocaust, and how we can prevent similar occurrences. We can also revisit the greatest moments of our past, like the first lunar landing or the tearing down of the Berlin Wall.”

McCleish agreed that history is an important subject to study.

“The study of history enables students to debate, analyze, read and write on a variety of historical and social topics,” he said. “Students are then eventually able to define what they do and do not believe in. Historical analysis also fosters the ability to empathize with different groups of people and individuals, which is also an important skill in today’s society. Close-mindedness limits the potential of students in a world where people across the globe are becoming closer connected.

“The study of history will inevitably enable us to more fully understand our culture and society as well,” he continued. “It is imperative to study history since a society’s identity is made up of the individuals, forces and events that comprise the past. Without this collective memory, society would be comparable to a person with amnesia. On both the individual and collective level, what he have been in the past forms what we are today.”

Inducted into Pi Sigma Pi on Tuesday night were: Caleb Abbott, Lauren Adolfino, Maura Alroth, Lauren Ashack, Michael Balcerzak, Lauren Bartlett, Nicole Beringer, Robert Bice, Jack Blouin, Justin Broderick, Michelle Burlinski, Casey Carlino, Meghan Castrogiovanni, Salomon Cazares, Mary Ciszek, Keriann Clarin, Cole Claypool, Catherine Cooke and Shanna Coyle.

Also inducted into the history honor society were: Nadine Darwish, Ronald Davis, Niklaas DeKoning, Jessica Demma, William Ehnert, Holt Erikson, Cailey Fitzgerald, Angelo Garcia, Steven Gibson, Thomas Gilchrist, Amber Glecier, Ashleigh Glecier, Christian Gorski and Rebecca Guinea.

Additional inductees included: Nathan Harnett, Brianna Hartney, Corey Hill, Tyler Hogan, Morgan Hoger, Troy Holder, Tyler Holoubek, Valeri Hooper, Casey Huisenga, Kyle Jimenez, Logan Johnston, Amanda Jonker, Erin Julius, Dana Keck, Amanda Kemp, Nathan Kies, Eric Kim, Kristen Koviekis, Matthew Koviekis and Matthew Kramer.

Also inducted into Pi Sigma Pi were: Sarah Lamparski, Michael Lanigan, Leigh LaRocco, Colin Lietz, Alexander Littleton, Alyssa Lombardi, Nicole Majca, Joshua Mathew, Kara McCauley, Shoshana McClarence, Conor McDonald, Jennifer Michuda, Melissa Misiaszek, Thomas Misiaszek and Jehangir Muhammad.

Inductees also included: Brennan Nemec, Bryon Nush, Kelly Pender, Mark Perez, Joseph Pervan, Jacqueline Santucci, Blade Schaafsma, Joseph Schasane, Amanda Scheel, Jason Sebek, Nerali Shah, Gina Sipka, Maria Stavropoulos, Ariel Steusloff, Kimberly Stremme, Evan Surma, Collin Swaim and Thomas Swierczyna.

Additional inductees included: Crystal Thorns, Fredeurika Toussaint, Spencer Town, Elizabeth Warkicki, Casey Wedlake, Ashley Weringa, Matthew Williams, Emily Wolf, Alexander Zaplatosch and Marc Zyla.

As members of Pi Sigma Pi, students will be able to attend monthly meetings to discuss current events, participate in discussions led by guest speakers and debate ideas with their teachers at an annual round table discussion.

Members also can participate in an annual field trip, which is generally held in the spring. Past trips have included a day trip down historic Route 66, a visit to historic gravesites at Graceland Cemetery on the north side of Chicago and a walking tour of the historic Pullman district on the south side.

This year, members of Pi Sigma Pi have agreed to help a local organization called the Support Committee for the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery raise money to erect a life-size statue of President Lincoln inside the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.

“Given that Lincoln established national cemeteries in the midst of the Civil War to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, it is altogether fitting and proper that we honor him by helping to raise money for this endeavor,”  said McCleish.