By Natalie Nesmith, President of the MVA Chapter of the National Honor Society
The National Honor Society chapter of Montverde Academy has been inducting members since 2003, selecting students that demonstrate the highest standards of leadership, excellence, service, and academic record. This prestigious program requires members to be in grades 10-12, have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, and have at least ten community service hours. On Tuesday, March 21, the Montverde Academy chapter of the National Honor Society hosted an induction ceremony for its newest inductees. Seventy-eight new National Honor Society members gathered, along with the support of family and faculty members in the audience, to celebrate their accomplishments.
President Natalie Nesmith opened the ceremony through the lighting of the National Honor Society candle, prepared on the stage alongside the candles representing the four pillars of this respected program: Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character. Vice President Adam Karen, followed Natalie Nesmith, depicted the meaning of scholarship and its value to the National Honor Society. Alex Georgiev then proceeded to the stage with words about the importance of the pillar representing service. Leonard Polcaro spoke about the leadership pillar, followed by Natalie Nesmith, with the final lighting of the candle, reading character.
Following the deliverance of the National Honor Society pledge and the recitation by the newest members, the chapter’s representing advisors – Margaret Price, Rebecca Martinez, and Jeanette Nederveen – called the honorary inductees up to the stage to receive their tokens of induction. These advisors have overseen the community service the National Honor Society chapter has provided this year, such as a hydration booth at Night for a Cure and a toy drive, partnered with the MVA Key Club in December. Mr. Bernatavitz, Dean of the Upper School, and Mr. Hopman, Head of School, closed the ceremony by congratulating the members on their newest accomplishments, reinstating the importance of meeting the standards required for eligibility to be a member. Congratulations to the following new members:
Camila Areinamo
Zoha Bajwa
Jose (Angel) Barriga
Otto Barroso
Estelle Bobilin
James Bova
Nicholas Brown
Sofia Chocho
Tessa Connick
Beatriz Correa
Evangeline DeClercq
João Pedro Fortes Ribeiro
Alexa Foxx
Sydney Francis
Rishi Gandhi
Braxton Gilchrist
Arnaldo Gonzalez
Gabrielle Gordon
Kaya Granakos
Kaylee (Jade) Harvey
Jack JeBailey
Kristy Khadka
Matt Lim
Rylee Lindstrom
Julian Mendoza
Gernitha Meus
Sofía Negron
Kiarra Orphelia
Laven Parker
Prasheel Patel
Ana Júlia Peixoto
Corbin Pierce
Sophie Ressler
Grace Rydell
Mackenzie Savage
Stella Seitz
Tyler Severs
Parker Simkins
Danika Spinogatti
Ainsley Struble
Christopher Tanis
Everett Thomas
Noah Townsend
Isaak Williams
Khaleel Abukhadrah
Alejandro Caballero
Ghali Chraibi
Lilia Chahim
Christopher Clark
Pahris Cotterell
Delaney Dorsey
Alex Georgiev
Jayvian Greene
Alex Jackson
Felipe Kimura
Thomas Merchan
Yaqi Miao
Kimana Mittelmann
Alexander Mounsey
Asa Newell
Oliver Paine
Ava Penkal
Wesley Siegel
Jewlia Santos
Dylan Sorrentino
Paige Sweeting
Hugo Caliman
Xander Cunningham
Flora Gnenz
Matthew Heyl
Eugene Kang
Guy Kohls
Maria Silva Mendes
Justin Orridge
Luisa Rios
Sean Stewart
Kailen Lucas Teodorescu
Ella Trible