New members of Rock Port R-II National Honor Society, from left to right, are: front row – Katelynn Ottmann, Aubrey Watkins, Tayleigh Huntley, Macie Hale, and Kierstyn Jakub; and back row – Marissa Roybal, Holden Farmer, Ethan Lucas, and Angylena Owens.

Current members of the Rock Port R-II National Honor Society, from left to right, are: front row – Lauren Kelly, Johnny Davis, Makenna Farmer, Rachel Vogler, and Harlee Pritt; and back row – Alivia Baucom, Mackenzie Lager, and Gabriel Abbott. Not pictured: Joey Herron and RyAnne Herron.

New NHS member Holden Farmer gives Principal Donnie Parsons a fist bump following his initiation.

New member Katelynn Ottmann signs the NHS member book.

Mackenzie Lager lights a candle during the ceremony.

Gabriel Abbott welcomed everyone to the induction ceremony of the Rock Port R-II School National Honor Society.

Nine new members were inducted into the Rock Port R-II Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) on Wednesday, October 14, 2020. Membership in NHS is one of the highest honors one can earn in high school. NHS is far more than just an honor roll based on grades, although scholarship is the first step.

At the beginning of the school year, all juniors and seniors who have earned an A- overall GPA in high school are invited to learn more about NHS. If they are interested in pursuing membership, the chapter advisor provides the student information surveys on which the students can list their accomplishments, activities, honors, offices held, and other information that supports their selection based on character, leadership, and service. They also receive the guidelines for an essay they will write explaining why they are interested in NHS. Those materials are shared with the Rock Port NHS Faculty Council, along with evaluations from the high school building faculty. A selection meeting is held and all who receive the majority of the Faculty Council votes are invited to be inducted.

Being chosen as a member of NHS is an opportunity to be recognized for excellence already achieved, and the challenge to become even better. As the year progresses, members participate in chapter activities, earn community service hours, set goals for themselves, and maintain the positive achievements that earned them membership.

Gabriel Abbott welcomed those present, and Johnny Davis led a prayer. There are four pillars of National Society: Character, Scholarship, Leadership, and Service. Mackenzie Lager, Harlee Pritt, Makenna Farmer and Alivia Baucom each discussed the four pillars. President Gabriel Abbott led the new members in the NHS pledge, followed by a poem read by Rachel Vogler titled “Don’t Quit.” A reception was held in the commons area in the high school following the ceremony.

New members are Holden Farmer, Macie Hale, Tayleigh Huntley, Kierstyn Jakub, Ethan Lucas, Katelynn Ottmann, Angylena Owens, Marissa Roybal and Aubrey Watkins.