induction ceremony

On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, West Haven High School hosted its National Honor Society Induction Ceremony in the Auditorium. In total, 58 senior members were recognized, while 48 junior candidates were inducted into the prestigious organization.

Senior Alison Frazer, the current President of the West Haven High School Chapter, moderated the event and welcomed the audience of family and friends before the program began with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Sophia Rose Basaen ’24 (secretary), and the National Anthem, sung by Sophia Martineau ’27.

WHHS Principal Dana Paredes gave a welcome speech before senior Dana Davis (vice president), addressed the crowd with a brief history of the society.

There was also a candle lighting ceremony in which Taylor Alfano ’24 lit the ‘Scholarship’ candle, Shannon Hoey ’24 lit the ‘Character’ candle, Alyssa Spitler ’24 lit the ‘Leadership’ candle, and Kemely Gomes Soares ’24 lit the ‘Service’ candle.

Mr. Trenchard, a social studies teacher at WHHS, was the guest speaker at the event. His speech preceded the presentation of old National Honor Society members by Mrs. Paredes, and the introduction of new members by Ms. Chrystal Fanelli. Senior Cassidy Montz (treasurer) led the pledge for new members, Olivia Trenchard ’24 welcomed them, and Paige Davis ’25 made an acceptance speech on behalf of all newly elected members.

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About the National Honor Society

No honor or responsibility conferred by the schools excels that represented by the National Honor Society. It represents the fundamental objectives for which schools are instituted and gives recognition to those who have attained most nearly the desired ends. Other honors at the disposal of the school are only partial in the sense that they recognize specialized ability, skill, or talent; but this Society looks upon education as a total product measured by the four dimensions of life.

As the keystone is placed by the builder to hold the perfect arch in perpetual stability, so the structure of our education must be held firm and true to the purpose of life by the virtues represented in this symbol. Character, the composite of all common virtues, sets the seal of righteousness upon our every human endeavor; Scholarship is the power of the mind to dispel ignorance and superstition through scientific investigation of truth; Leadership is the power of personality that blazes the trait for man’s upward climb; while Service is the beginning and the end of our education, the altar of altruism from which God’s blessings to man have been vouchsafed. Thus the keystone symbolizes the high ideals of the society. The flaming torch is the emblem of its purpose.

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