Laurel Rose Barrett
NHS Inductees and junior award winners take the stage
Every year in May, Gateway holds an evening ceremony filled with speeches, gowns, and even candles to honor sophomores, juniors, and seniors being inducted into the National Honor Society and World Language Honor Society. At this year’s ceremonies, the junior award ceremony was also included. The most promising juniors at Gateway receive scholarships and book awards from colleges around the country. It’s always a great night filled with celebration, honor, and excitement.
The World Language Honor Society honorees were recognized first. Gateway offers French, Latin, and Spanish, and students in each language were recognized across grades ten through twelve. Mrs. Karwoski delivered a very motivating speech to kick off the honorees being handed their award in the French department.
Karwoski shared, “You live a new life for every language you speak.”
Junior French students Isabella Egonolf and Lauren Murphy joined her for a short reading in French; Mrs. Cross and sophomores Desmond McCue and Oliver Crumrine followed to introduce the Latin honorees; and finally, Mrs. Bittner read for Spanish. It is a huge accomplishment to be honored as a World Language Society honoree as it follows lots of hard work and dedication.
Following world language recognition was the main event, National Honor Society inductions. Advisor Elise Albano first took the microphone to speak on what it means to be inducted into NHS and then passed it onto the NHS officers to discuss each pillar of being a member. Billy McCalley, President; Ryan Seber, Vice President; Hanna Ruiz-Rieman, Secretary; and Viena Chen, Treasurer, spoke on scholarship, service, leadership, and character.
While it seems like easy business to follow those four pillars, it is no simple task. NHS honorees are those who spend multiple hours a week volunteering in their communities, are among the top of their class, lead by example, and take it upon themselves to guide their peers to success. Those who get the distinction of being NHS members are those who make the most change at Gateway.
A special congratulations as well to all of the juniors recognized for one or more award at the Junior Awards Ceremony. These students’ hard work paid off, with some receiving nearly full college tuition scholarships, awards from notable institutions like Dartmouth, book awards to foster continued learning, and much more. The amount of juniors awarded on this night proves how so many Gators are academic workhorses who are always sure to put in their all.
Gateway is very proud of everyone honored on this night. If you would like to be inducted into NHS, WLHS, or aspire to receive a lofty award your junior year, keep up the hard work! These distinctions are available to all. You just have to put in the work!