American Academy campuses join National Junior Honor Society
American Academy students interested in being on the executive committee for NJHS attend a leadership interest meeting.
The National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is a prestigious organization. The National Association of Secondary Principals founded NJHS in 1929 to create enthusiasm for scholarship, stimulate desire to render service, promote leadership, encourage responsible citizenship and develop character in secondary school students (seventh and eighth graders). NJHS assists these students in developing the knowledge and skills to become well-rounded student leaders in their schools, community and beyond.
This school year, the three campuses of American Academy (AA) joined the NJHS, creating their own chapter. Qualified students applied based on their outstanding grades and exemplary behavior, attended informational meetings and submitted applications sharing their experience and expressing their motivation to promote the pillared values of NJHS. Subsequently, five-member faculty council voted on each applicant.
AA inducted their inaugural members, 157 students, through the traditional candle lighting ceremony of NJHS inductions. The ceremony included a reading about each value on which the organization stands, followed by the lighting of the candle to represent that pillar. For future inductions, members of the NJHS executive committee will administer the candle lighting ceremonies
The council committee will consist of officers and deputized representatives. The officer positions of president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, historian and parliamentarian will be filled by two eighth-grade students from each campus who have agreed to flex into any role needed once voted in through general consensus.
The new members of NJHS are very excited for their chapter and the opportunities that lie ahead. “NJHS is a much-appreciated acknowledgment of my academic efforts, but more than that, it is an opportunity for me to build on my leadership skills, as well as connect and contribute to my community,” said Vivienne Joll.
“NJHS is going to be a new exciting chapter for our school; I am so happy to be a part of it,” said Brooks Harmon.
Going forward, invitations will be sent to qualifying students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades early in the third trimester of each school year. Students interested will need to attend informational meetings to learn the next steps.
By Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of Kristen Foery, American Academy
