Merton Williams Middle School recently inducted 56 students into the Hilton Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. After Assistant Principal Michael LeGault welcomed the audience and inductees, Dr. Barbara Surash, assistant superintendent for instruction, delivered the opening remarks. “I enjoy this ceremony because it allows me to see true leaders in the making,” she said. “You hold the attributes needed to make our society great.”
After the officers held the candle lighting ceremony and described the five characteristics of membership – scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship and character – inductees were introduced by Advisor Steve Cudzilo, congratulated by administrators, received their pin, signed the registry, and together recited the oath.
Criteria for induction include a 95 percent grade point average, two leadership activities and community service hours. Collectively, the new inductees contributed 1,500 hours of community service to organizations, such as Foodlink, St. Ann’s Community, Hilton East, Hilton-Parma Recreation, G.R.A.S.P. and the Juvenile Diabetes Association, just to name a few.
Keynote speaker Robert Berg, a math teacher, advised the students to be problem solvers and told the audience a funny story about the time he baked Christmas cookies with his sons. “When the problem seems too difficult – that’s the moment that defines you,” he said. “Do what you can, where you are with what you have.” He presented each of the inductees with a cookie cutter as a reminder to be a problem solver.
The ceremony concluded with Cudzilo thanking parents for everything they’ve done to encourage the success of their children, and the new inductees handing their parents personal letters of thanks. Science teacher Scott Meagher also serves as an advisor to the National Junior Honor Society.
The new inductees are: Katherine Annable, Isabella Antonini, Gianna Arbore, Victoria Bisciotti, Ryan Butts, Maverick Clark, Shayna Cliff, Keara Conolly, Haley Corette, William Czebatol, Erika Danzig, Michael Denise, Alexis Distefano, Taylor Eccleston, Nicholas Furioso, Makenna Garbowski, Evan George, Marissa Glitzer, Lauren Goodrich, Nicholas Grasso, Victoria Hagen, Kathryn Hardin, Juliana Helfer, Amanda Hilderbrandt, Alexis Hill, Olivia Hoffman, Amanda Hough, Brenden Howell, Mackenzie Johnson, Nicole Lang, Megan Letta, Kaitlyn Liucci, Emily Marino, Jessica Mattioli, Meaghan McGwin, Ryan McKeeby, Melina Michailidis, Carter Miles, Caitlin Mott, Julianna Murphy, William North, Catherine Pickering, Eli Ransom, Weston Ransom, Makayla Reese, Linzee Reyes, Jason Sapienza, Hannah Sarnov, Meghan Schiano, Brooke Schmitt, Catherine Skinner, Emily Sutton, Taylor Tydings, Grace VerWeire, Cassandra Walters and Caroline West.
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