New members of Tarkio’s National Honor Society inducted into the chapter during a ceremony held Wednesday, February 28, are, from left to right: front row – Kennedy White, Quin Staten, Olivia Schaefer, Bresayda Jimenez, and Emily Gebhards; and back row – Isaac Vette, Jaeka Wiley, Rainy Nordhausen, Zoe Madron, and Robbie Armstrong.
An induction ceremony was held Wednesday evening, February 28, 2024, for new members of Tarkio High School’s National Honor Society. The new and current members, advisor, school administrators, and their families enjoyed a delicious meal in the Tarkio First Baptist Church fellowship hall before the ceremony began.
Chapter president Brooklyn Wennihan welcomed all in attendance. Alex Barnett and Alexis Bywater spoke about the chapter’s history. Tarkio’s Phi Kappa Chapter of the National Honor Society Constitution was granted March 19, 1927. The current NHS Chapter has annual reports dating back to 1935 when there were nine girls and one boy in the organization. They would meet every two weeks on Wednesday afternoons and have a literary or musical program or a discussion. In 1938, NHS sponsored an educational trip to Kansas City. By 1945, there had been 211 members of the society. In 1951, they purchased a flag pole for the high school. According to the records, membership has ranged from four members in 1952 to 62 members in 1977. The current chapter has 21 members, and with the addition of the 10 new members, the chapter will finish the school year with 31 active members.
Addison Noland detailed the selection process for the group. To be a potential member, students’ cumulative GPA needs to be a 3.5 by the middle of their sophomore year. All potential members were asked to complete an application and then a panel of faculty members confidentially ranked all potential members on citizenship, leadership, service and character, individually based on a scale system. The faculty committee met to discuss the results and make recommendations on whom to nominate for membership.
Claire Martin declared the new members and Tommi Martin detailed what their membership means. Chapter vice-president Ian Stepp introduced the symbolisms as he lit a candle and discussed scholarship, Jozee Eaton detailed service while lighting a candle, Mary Laur lit a candle and remarked on leadership, and Jersi Poppa lit a candle and talked about character. President Wennihan led the new members in the pledge. Alex Barnett gave the roll call and Brooklyn Wennihan closed the ceremony.
New members inducted include Robbie Armstrong, Zoe Madron, Quin Staten, Emily Gebhards, Rainy Nordhausen, Isaac Vette, Jaeka Wiley, Bresayda Jimenez, Olivia Schaefer, and Kennedy White. They join members Brooklyn Wennihan, Ian Stepp, Alex Barnett, Alexis Bywater, Jozee Eaton, Mary Laur, Claire Martin, Tommi Martin, Addison Noland, Jersi Poppa, Garret Rosenbohm, Cole Anderson, Kamryn Brown, Sydnee Bruns, Owen DeRosier, River Dow, Abbie Harms, Gabe Harms, Connor Morton, Lizzie Schlueter, and Alyson Wooten. They are all under the guidance of chapter advisor Ellie Graves.
