Jefferson City High School students inducted into honor society

Jefferson City High School students were inducted into National Honor Society at a ceremony Wednesday in Fleming Fieldhouse at JCHS.

NHS honors outstanding high school students who have demonstrated excellence in four areas: scholarship, service, leadership and character. The organization also challenges students "to develop further through active involvement in school activities and community service," according to the NHS website.

Sixty new JCHS NHS members were inducted into the organization Wednesday. Each student was called one by one to walk across the stage and receive a pin and certificate from JCHS Principal Bob James.

In his opening comments, James thanked the students for their hard work and determination. He also thanked the parents, school staff, and district and community leadership for their support and the positive effect they've had on the students and their success.

"Each one of you plays a pivotal role in supporting their achievement, our staff's achievement and the achievement of our campus as a whole," James said.

The NHS symbols are a keystone and a torch. The keystone bears at its base the letters C, S, L and S, which stand for the organization's four pillars. The torch symbolizes truth and knowledge.

JCHS NHS leaders spoke about the importance of each pillar at the ceremony. Co-president Amulya Agrawal said scholarship - a commitment to learning - is important because a motivated mind has a lasting benefit.

"Knowledge is one great element in life which leads to the highest success," she said. "It furnishes the lamp by which we read the past and the light which illuminates the future."

Secretary Madelyn Becker said student leadership is important because it has a positive influence on the school.

"In taking the initiative in class and school activities, the real leader strives to train and aid others to attain the same objective," she said. "The price of leadership is sacrifice - the willingness to yield one's personal interests for the interest of others."

NHS members are committed to volunteering their time and abilities to others through service, Becker said.

"Service can be expressed in various ways: in the routine of a day's work, many opportunities arise to help others," she said. "Willingness to work without monetary compensation or without recognition for the benefit of those in need is a quality we seek in our membership."

Treasurer Colby Thomas said character is "the force within each individual which distinguishes that person from others."

"Character is achieved and not received," he said. "It is the product of constant action, daily striving to make the right choice."

The ceremony concluded with students pledging to be true to the principles NHS stands for and to maintain and encourage high standards of the four pillars.

Students may be accepted into JCHS NHS during their sophomore or junior years. Initial consideration is limited to sophomores with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher and juniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher who have been enrolled at JCHS for at least one semester.

Students who meet the GPA requirement can submit a candidate information form. The NHS Faculty Council reviews the forms and selects candidates who exemplify service, leadership and character.

To maintain NHS membership status, students must be enrolled full time, maintain a minimum cumulative 3.5 GPA, have at least 95 percent attendance, complete 20 service hours per school year and be "considered a credible citizen and in good standing within the classroom, school and community," according to the JC Schools website.