Fifty-two Junior and Senior students from Allegany High School were inducted into membership of the National Honor Society (NHS) on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, in front of parents, staff, students, and guests. Honored guests were Superintendent of Allegany County Public Schools Jeffrey Blank; members of the elected School Board: Robert Farrell, Crystal Bender, and Lori Lepley; and Center for Career and Technical Education School Counselor Jenean Fazenbaker. Speakers were Allegany High School Principal Heidi Laupert and Allegany High School’s Teacher of the Year Annie Stark. Induction was in the Theatre and also observable via live-stream school-wide to the entire study body. The new members joined 38 current Senior members who were inducted last year and have remained members in good standing. Conducting the school-wide ceremony were the four officers who were elected by the student membership: President Anna Hildebrand; Vice-President Ava Strother; Secretary Audrey Rader; and Treasurer Alexis Johnston.

New members meeting high standards according to the pillars of NHS of scholarship, service, leadership, and character were selected by a committee of faculty members following an extensive paperwork and verification process. Seniors inducted were: Dunia Abdo, Milana Armiento, Madeline Deremer, SkyLynn Dicken, Steven Ness, Caden Pifer, Abby Platt, Bailey Pringle, Benjamin Shanklin, and Alison Walker

Juniors inducted were: Maylee Blank, Bryce Bridges, Ava Cain, Jackson Clark, Nevaeh Clarkson, Chloe DeBlock, Jackson Drummond, Colten Gary Wahl, Jacklynn Gaumer, Cameron Hammersmith, Nathaniel Hockman, Cambri Hosselrode, Hailee Isom, Macy Judy, Mason LaRue, Briley Linaburg, Jett Loar, Noah Marker, Jaden McDonald, Myia Miller, Leilani Morgret, Ellena Nelson, Mya Painter, Madison Parks, Rishabh Patel, Evan Pishko, Michael Ray, Leigha Read, Owen Rice, Gabriel Ritchie, Layairra Shoemaker, Shandi Sites, Sutton Smith, Jordyn Sneathen, Jack Taylor, Ryan Thomassy, Emmalee Tranum, Taryn VanMeter, Amanda Vizza, Silas Wigger, Ryen Williams, and Nicholas Wilt.

Two-year Senior members inducted last year and who have remained members in good standing are: Elizabeth Anderson, Lauryn Becker, Anika Bokil, Sean Brady, Michael Cannon, Mylee Duckworth, Evin Eisenhour, Olivia Frazier, Finnegan Gallagher, Carley George, Jude Gibson-Thoele, Draven Grieves, Maya Hare, Trinity Hensel, Anna Hilderbrand, Elijah Imes, Alexis Johnston, Emmanuel Kujeng, Nikola Litten, Katie Ly, Emily McGee, Avery Miller, Mackenzie Monahan, Andy Preaskorn, Audrey Rader, Jackson Resh, Carter Rice, Peyton Schartiger, Sara Schram, Hannah Snyder, Elizabeth Stevens, Ava Strother, Violet Strozykowski, Nolan Tabb, Sophia Valois, Alyson White, Ariyae Williams, and Ryan Wu.

Speakers Laupert and Stark congratulated students and challenged them to continue to achieve while keeping in mind the four pillars of NHS. Stark, a member of the Science department, shared her personal journey that led her to teaching and highlighted the importance of striving to try hard things on the path to success. The Faculty Council at Allegany High School includes co-advisors Dr. Lori Brown and Dr. Kay Sheehe along with Erin Cowan, Michael Nestor, Kevin Wallace, and Desiree Witt who collectively represent the departments of English, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, and Music.

The National Honor Society ranks as one of the oldest and most prestigious national organizations for high school students. Chapters exist in three-fourths of the nation’s high schools and, since 1921, millions of students have been selected for membership. The Allegany High School Chapter, now in its 71st year, originated in 1954. Each participating chapter develops bylaws which must be approved by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Photo Caption: Fifty-two Junior and Senior students are new members of the Allegany High School Chapter of the National Honor Society following a school-wide induction on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, joining 38 current Senior members. Officers (middle L to R) are President Anna Hilderbrand; Vice-President Ava Strother; Secretary Audrey Rader; and Treasurer Alexis Johnston. Photo by G & G Studio.