CHS students inducted into National Honor Society

<p>Democrat photo/Liz Morales</p><p>Forty-one sophomores and juniors raise their right hands and pledge into the National Honor Society on March 11 at the California Performing Arts Center. INSET: Incoming National Honor Society president Hailey Schepers gives her first proclamation to her upcoming fellow NHS members.</p>

Democrat photo/Liz Morales

Forty-one sophomores and juniors raise their right hands and pledge into the National Honor Society on March 11 at the California Performing Arts Center. INSET: Incoming National Honor Society president Hailey Schepers gives her first proclamation to her upcoming fellow NHS members.

Character, scholarship, leadership and service.

Forty-one California High School sophomores and juniors pledged to uphold their commitment to those standards March 11 in a National Honor Society induction ceremony.

Grace Henley, current NHS president, said one of the most important factors of earning a seat in the society is to earn and maintain a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

Once in the society, members must maintain their character and leadership skills while performing services for their peers in school and in the community.

Three events NHS members officiate throughout the year give them the opportunity to exercise those traits.

"We put on an annual blood drive, help with freshman orientation, and put on Trick or Treat on Pinto Street," Henley said. "For freshman orientation, we give the incoming students tours of the school and can also help them with registration.

"Trick or Treat on Pinto Street is a Halloween event that each club and organization helps to put together, and it's even a canned food drive to help out the food bank," she said.

Admission to the Halloween event last year was a canned food item per family, which were later donated to the California Food Bank.

Along with the 41 inducted sophomores and juniors, the 41 juniors who were inducted last year were able to continue their commitment to the organization at the ceremony Monday.

Then, 41 seniors who are graduating from the society received their blue and gold cords to wear for baccalaureate and high school graduation ceremonies.

While scholarship is an important factor for NHS membership, emphasis on keeping up the other three habits was given to the students.

Graduating officers reminded the underclassmen of the importance of service, leadership and character.

Molly Forsythe, vice president, encouraged the audience to maintain service. Voluntary contributions made by a student to the school or community should all be done without monetary gain, she said.

Trinity Higgins, reporter/historian, encouraged the crowed to always have a good character.

Peyton Niemeier, secretary/treasurer, said members should remember to sustain leadership in their school and community. Good leadership requires a commitment to character and service, Niemeier said.

Incoming officers were introduced to the chapter's members. The officers are Hailey Schepers, president; Makayla Schanzmeyer, vice president; Hailey Cain, secretary/treasurer; and Kendall Kirksey and Alexa Shewmake, reporters/historians.