National Honor Society

Induction Ceremony - The 2014 Port Allegany High School National Honor Society Induction Ceremony was held Sunday afternoon, January 26.  Guest speaker for the event was High School English teacher, Matt Lawton.  Also speaking was superintendent of schools, Gary Buchsen.

Pictured are those who were inducted:  (front row, left to right) Charles Kysor, Krista Miller, Bryana Baer, Shelby Dates, Lynae Delacour, Alex Dynda; (row 2) Amber Naylor, Hannah Ernst, Hannah Ostrander, Malari Lapp, Brooke Roys; (row 3) Adam Koehler, Christopher Lashway, Jefferson Stehle, Casey Vollmer and Michael Ernst.

National Honor Society President MaKayla Ramadhan welcomed the audience and introduced Monica Crawford who led the Pledge of Allegiance.  Ramadhan said that the students who were induced into the Port Allegany High School chapter of the National Honor Society have "persevered in seeking excellence.  To become eligible for membership each student had to have earned at least a 3.0 GPA by the end of his or her sophomore or junior year.  A faculty council consequently evaluated them in the area of character, leadership and service." 

NHS Secretary spoke on Character; Ramadhan spoke on Service and NHS Treasurer spoke about Leadership.  McKenna Johnson, NHS Vice President then spoke about Scholarship. 

Ramadhan welcomed the inductees to the National Honor Society and led them in the Honor Society Pledge.  The new members then added their signature to the book of the Port Allegany Chapter followed by lighting the candle of knowledge.  The students then received their NHS pins from Jena Young and Bryce Stahlman. 

The emblem of the NHS  was explained by Jena Young.  The emblem contains the keystone and the flaming torch.  The keystone bears the letters C, S, L, and S which stand for the principles of the organization - character, scholarship, leadership and service.  Young said, "Just as the keystone fits into its position in an arch, these four virtues must be fitted into your life.  These virtues are need to preserve the structural integrity of our education.  The keystone symbolizes the high ideals of the National Honor Society.  The flaming torch is the emblem of our purpose, which is to bear light - searching for truth so that others may follow that light." 

Gary Buchsen, Superintendent of Schools spoke to the National Honor Society students followed by the guest speaker for the ceremony, Matt Lawton.  Mr. Lawton graduated from Berwick Area High School in 1992 before attending Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he earned his Bachlor's degree in English and Secondary Education.  He earned his Mater's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Gannon University and began teaching English in Port Allegany in 2005 after spending several years at Galeton High School.  Mr. Lawton is also an active member of the Port Allegany community as he is a former member of the S. W. Smith Library Board and is heavily involved in various community sports associations.  The theme for the 2014 Induction Ceremony was "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." --Nelson Mandela.

Following Mr. Lawton's talk, Becca Lathrop assisted the new members in recognizing their parents by saying, "Throughout our lives our parents and family have supported and encouraged us.  They have indeed provided us with inspiration.  As a symbol of appreciation, the new members will present their parents with a carnation."

Honored were Kevin and Brenda Baer, parents of Bryana Baer; Mickey Dates and Kent Dates, parents of Shelby Dates; Keith and Barbara Delacour, parents of Lynae Delacour; Francis and Diane Dynda, parents of Alex Dynda; Fred and Ginger Ernst, parents of Hannah Ernst; Shawn and Dawn Ernst, parents of Michael Ernst; Keith and Norma Koehler, parents of Adam Koehler; Mark and Ingrid Lapp, parents of Malari Lapp; Joseph and Mary Lashway, parents of Christopher Lashway; Sheila and Gib Miller, parents of Krista Miller, Beth and Joseph Naylor, parents of Amber Naylor; Sybil and Bruce Taylor, parents of Hannah Ostrander, Wendy Roys and Terry Roys, parents of Brooke Roys, Jon and Joyce Stehle, parents of Jefferson Stehle; and Aaron and Amy Vollmer, parents of Casey Vollmer. 

Advisor for the National Honor Society is Aaron Clark.  Pam Fischer Photo