By DEB BENTLY
Contributing writer
“It gave me a real sense of achievement,” observes NRHEG Junior Sophie Stork. “It let me know all my hard work was worth it.”
Stork and 12 other members of the junior and senior classes were inducted into the NRHEG chapter of the National Honor Society during a 2 p.m. ceremony on April 14. The newly installed members were Katie Lee, Alex Dobberstein, Cora Harpel, Jordan Horejsi, Brenlee Knudson, Cassie Kormann, Kylee Kruger, Ava Kyllo, Miranda LaCanne, Matthew Mueller, Anna Peterson, Sophie Stork and Journey Utpadel. They join 10 fellow members who were inducted last year.
“I felt honored to become part of a group with the people who were already members,” said inductee Journey Uptadel. “Just as they set an example for me, now I will have a chance to become an example for others.”
During the ceremony, NRHEG math teacher Susan Schaub shared her personal story of overcoming challenges and following through on personal commitments, which began when her mother died when Schaub was only 13. Her speech emphasized the four “pillars” of the National Honor Society: scholarship, leadership, service and character. Schaub cautioned that, for those who wish to see a future which includes those virtues, it is important to show them in everyday life.
Chapter advisor and school counselor Liz Stiernagle explained that the local society also emphasizes the four “pillars.” In light of them, members are required to have a 3.5 or higher grade point average in order to apply. A team of staff members reviews the applications, which include two letters of recommendation from community members or school staff, and selects the new members. Students are eligible to apply in both their junior and senior years. An average of about 10 students are typically inducted.
“I encourage the chapter members to get involved, and to serve not only the school, but the community,” comments Stiernagle. “Given the nature of the organization, I like to hold them to its standards while also nudging them outside their comfort zones.” The chapter sponsors an annual blood drive and, in a normal year, collects toys and money at Christmastime. This year members made Valentine’s Day cards for residents in area elder care facilities and, when indoor visits weren’t allowed, drew large-scale pictures in the snow outside resident windows. A highway roadside cleanup is also scheduled sometime this spring.
In the meantime, the now 23 members of the NRHEG NHS have a week or two to rest on their laurels. “I hope it sends a message to the younger students,” says Sophie Stork. “Staying up late to finish some homework, taking on the challenges of being a leader, all that pays off. Not just here in high school, but for a long time afterward.
“The work is worth it, and they should keep going.”