The Alice T. Daly Chapter of the National Honor Society welcomed 25 Rhinebeck High School students in a ceremony held Dec. 18 in the Joseph L. Phelan Auditorium.
“I’m really grateful for this opportunity,” said high school junior inductee Beatrice Macdonald. “It’s nice to be recognized for what you’ve done in school so far. It’s cool to become part of a national organization, to do it on the local level with people you know, but also know you’re part of a big organization.”
The ceremony featured the lighting of candles representing the National Honor Society’s four pillars: scholarship, service, leadership and character. English teacher Stephane Baird served as the guest speaker, and the seniors in the National Honor Society inducted their younger peers.
“I’m really excited about this because I think it’s a good way to be recognized for the work I’ve done,” said junior inductee Kaia Rouse. “I think we can represent our school on a large scale and also get to become close with other people who have similar interests and other qualities.”
Bobbie Bie has been the Rhinebeck’s National Honor Society adviser for eight years and said the school averages between 20 and 30 inductees each year.
“What I really enjoy about the ceremony is the students get to shine,” Bie said. “There is not very much adult interaction in the process. They run the whole ceremony themselves once they’re in here.”
Students must have an unweighted average of 85 or better, and demonstrate leadership and character for consideration. Students may demonstrate leadership by being a team captain or club officer, and character through recommendation letters from staff or community members. A faculty council reviews a potential inductee’s portfolio.
Once inducted, students must maintain an average of 85 or better in each class and participate in service projects.
Fiona Murray is the vice president of the Rhinebeck’s National Honor Society and shared this with new inductees.
“Be productive, come to all the meetings and be sure you’re volunteering for things because you want to be part of the community and you want to stand by what you said when you were being inducted,” she said.
2024 National Honor Society inductees
Rajan Alam, Sunday Ault Nolan, Chloe Buri da Cunha, Isabel Carpenter, Joslan Carter, Ray Eckert, Macilyn Eighmy, Eleanor Firestone, Sawyer Giles, Amaia Hayes, Adrian Jensen, Caswell LaRose, Beatrice Macdonald, Brandon Martinez, Zsuzsanna Moore, Jackson Morton, Joe Pociasck, Alan Raitt, Haven Ramsey, Gabe Renaldo, Abby Roger, Kaia Rouse, Violet Turck, Genevieve Wahlgren, Landon Williams.