Merton Williams Middle School recently inducted 57 students into the Hilton Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. Principal Tracie Czebatol welcomed the audience and inductees. “These students have something far beyond what we teach in school and at home,” she said. She described the inductees as students who aim to be the very best versions of themselves, who move throughout their day with finesse and grace, and as students who can be counted on.
Chapter President Sydney Carpenter and Vice President Hannah Scheffer introduced the candle lighting ceremony where students also described the five characteristics of membership – scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship and character. Advisors Steve Cudzilo and Scott Meagher spoke about each inductee’s accomplishments as they walked across the stage to be congratulated by administrators, receive their pin, sign the registry, and then together recite the oath.
Criteria for induction include a 95 percent grade point average, two leadership activities and community service hours. Collectively, the new inductees contributed over 1,500 hours of community service to organizations, such as Foodlink, animal rescue organizations, Apple Fest, Special Olympics, Hilton-Parma Emergency Food Shelf and area churches, just to name a few, in addition to playing sports, participating in clubs, mentoring and many other extracurricular activities.
The keynote speaker, Chery Sugrue, a Merton Williams science teacher, told the students that their families and teachers are like Google Maps for their dreams, future and goals. “We’re here to help you reach your destination,” she said.
The ceremony concluded with Cudzilo addressing the students. “The small daily decisions that you make have compounded and led you here,” he said.
Meagher recognized how pivotal the students’ parents are in helping their children achieve their goals. “Honor students don’t just happen by accident,” he told them. The ceremony concluded with the new inductees handing their parents personal letters of thanks.
The new inductees include: Morgan Adams, Gavin Anderson, Brandon Andracki, Sabrina Antonini, Trevor Balsamo, Kaitlyn Blackburn, Gianna Booth, Brendon Bostley, Jacob Buono, Meghan Buri, Sydney Carpenter, Elena Carr, Ian Casini, Robert Chaffee, Rachel Christ, Joshua D’Angelo, Luke Danzig, Evan Delles, Ethan Delles, Ryan Denberg, Jason Donatella, Stephanie Drew, Nathan Eccleston, Nathan Fox, Brenna Griggs, Sonia Harney, Sophia Haynes, Sydney Hayward, Jordan Helfer, Mya Henry, Elizabeth Kidder, Ryan Kurtz, Alexis Lane, Emma McElwain, Bria Melrose, Matthew Mojsej, Alexander Morreale, Mikayla Mull, Alexia Nelms, Alyvia Neu, Alex Pickering, Logan Ralyea, Hannah Robinson, Jaden Rosario, Anthony Santillo, Jessica Sapienza, Hannah Scheffer, Annalise Smith, Emma Spelman, Julia Tahara, Isabella Valente, Shelby Vetter, Joshua Wheeler, Brooke Wilson and Evan Zaryski.
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