Sixteen students were inducted in November with special guest speaker

By Keira Kilkenny, Staff Writer

SANFORD, Maine – On Thursday, Nov. 18, Sanford High School inducted 16 students into the National Honor Society (NHS) at Sanford High School’s (SHS) Performing Arts Center.

Students inducted include juniors John-Paul Alexandre, Hannah Baker, Eli Coleman, Kora Eckelman, Audrey Coleman, Ana Cote, Abbey Gifford, Mia Kane, Sailor Chasse, Madison Sheppard, Samantha Phillips, Miranda Tanguay, Emerson Tolpin, Emma Westgate, and Isabella Tremblay, as well as senior  Ella Van Gieson.

According to the NHS website, the NHS is a program that “elevates a school’s commitment to the values of scholarship, service, leadership, and character.”

Sally Quarles, an English teacher at SHS, spoke at the induction, “I was humbled because the NHS members chose me unanimously, and that, was a humbling and special surprise to learn,” she stated.

NHS students contribute to community service and charity as well as food, and blood donations. 

Students are invited to apply to the NHS based on their grade point average. If they apply, their application is reviewed and voted on anonymously. There is no limit on the number of students accepted.

Staff and students think this is an appreciable privilege. “It’s a great opportunity to serve as leaders with the student body,” said Sandra Thompson, a NHS Co-Advisor at SHS.

NHS is a commitment for those inducted. Thompson shared, “We like to run a peer tutoring service, we do Christmas cards for a rest home, we’re helping out with Christmas boxes this year, we participate in Day of Caring and we’re responsible for running the Variety Show.”

“It’s a great opportunity to serve as leaders with the student body.”

– Sandra Thompson, NHS Co-Advisor

Covid did put a slight halt to some activities the past two years such as the Variety Show. “We were ready to get our name out there and get involved again,” said Thompson. “Covid just limited what we were able to do, but we’ve always had a really strong presence.”

Laila Adawadkar, a senior and the President of NHS at SHS stated, “As President, I run monthly meetings and formal events such as Induction and Senior Send-off, connect with members, and collaborate with the other officers.”

Adawadkar believes that the four pillars of the NHS; scholarship, service, leadership, and character, “Create a model for students to follow not only in high school but throughout their lives.”

Students seem to be extremely interested in being a part of their community.  Laurie Works, the other NHS Co-Advisor at SHS, stated, “The more motivated a class is, the more interest. The more involved students are in their community, the greater the interest.”

Being a part of the NHS is something that many kids at SHS strive for. At the end of her induction speech, Quarles said, “Support your peers in their challenges, and help each other achieve your goals, which will lead ultimately to the fulfillment of your dreams.”