The National Honor Society at Michigan City High School inducted 23 new members on Thursday during the school’s 28th annual induction ceremony into this prestigious organization.

New members of the MCHS National Honor Society are Jeremiah Allen, Sophia Barczak, Esther Barnes, Jack Barnes, Davida Barney, Abigail Bartlett, Keona Briggs, Sophie Devens, Angelina Duenas, Sofia Garcia, Madison Gresham, Gerzey Lewalski, Habriah McFerson, George Mezo, Tatiana Miller, Meaghan Painter, Lorenzo Panozzo, Erin Piazzisi, Krystani Quinn, Ashley Sparks, Andrew Vicari, Juliana Williams, and Joseph Zook.

They were selected based on four key criteria of the National Honor Society: Scholarship, service, character, and leadership. These four traits were introduced and defined by existing members of the club.

Marianna Cain, speaking on the virtue of scholarship, said a scholar can be defined as someone who receives good grades and good test scores. While these traits may define a scholar, Cain said they are not what makes someone a scholar.

“Scholarship represents a commitment to learning, to the continuous striving, to going out into the unknown and taking challenges to further your awareness and comprehension,” she said. “We all, as scholars, are determined to be the best among our peers, but to do so you must push your limits and do more to excel past all limitations.”

NHS member Ryan Cuma noted that the most overlooked and least acknowledged of the National Honor Society traits is character. “A true test of someone’s character is how you act when no one is watching,” he said. “Will you help the student struggling in class? Will you stand up for what you believe is right, regardless of the opposition? Will you take the time out of your day to help those in need?”

Service was defined by April Hyatte, NHS member, as the act of doing something for another person. “Service is genuine and selfless,” she said. “Service is supposed to be from the heart. Providing service for others shouldn’t feel like an obligation or a duty. You should want to serve … Doing things for others out of the kindness of your heart will bring you the most joy.”

Speaking on the final trait, leadership, NHS member Tristan Sherwood said that anybody, regardless of their personality type, can be a leader. “It’s about learning who your peers are,” he said. “It’s about finding a way to empower those around you so they can be valued in the world. It’s about being selfless so others can strive. To be a leader, you need to be knowledgeable about who you are and how you can interact with people throughout your lifetime.”
Kyle Dean, principal of Michigan City High School, said the students inducted into the National Honor Society did not gain membership by luck or chance, but rather by a conscious effort and intentional individual decisions.

“These actions and decisions embody a positive attitude backed by a purpose,” he said. “The only way to achieve purpose in life is to take small actions every day, regardless of how small or insignificant they may seem at the time. I hope that each of you will continue to live up to your fullest potential.”