National Honor Society Welcomes Manchester Inductees

Out of Manchester Township High School's over 1,000 students, 12 were welcomed as new members into its National Honor Society chapter during an induction at the school's cafeteria on April 28.

Students are invited to join after they have shown that they have good character, can keep their grades up and serve the community, said advisor Mary Ellen Fecanin.

"Students are expected to be committed to not only school activities but also have evidence of a long term ongoing community service activity," she said. "Members are required to dedicate several hours each quarter to provide peer tutoring to students in need."

In a speech at the induction ceremony, principal Alexander George offered praise for the students, who he said have "truly set themselves apart."

"It is true they are superior students," he said. "But more importantly, they have demonstrated that they are also superior people. It is their combination of intelligence, compassion, character and work ethic that allows them the honor of being inducted this evening."

George also commented on the kind of students being inducted.

"They do the right thing, not because someone is watching or that it will look good on a resume," he said. "They do the right thing simple because it is the right thing to do."

Fecanin said that a membership in the society is "more of an indicator of a well rounded student."

"Manchester has a great many students, not in the NHS, who are doing great things in the school and the community at large who have chosen not to apply," she said.

To gain admittance into Manchester's chapter, students submit an application which is reviewed by a faculty council. Fecanin said that, in Manchester, the requirements to be invited to join are "somewhat rigorous."

The NHS was founded in 1921 and has about 1 million members throughout the country, according to the society's website.