35 high-schoolers named to Riordan honor society

Some 35 students were inducted into the Eleanor Riordan Chapter of the National Honor Society at Middletown High School in a ceremony held in the Performing Arts Center last week.

To be inducted, a student must meet standards of scholarship, leadership, character and service.

“Each student has to have a grade point average of 90 or better,” adviser Natasha Faulkenberry said in a press release. They must also have leadership characteristics, high character and have donated many hours of community service. Each of the candidates has excelled in community service with at least 50 such hours through their high school years.”

The induction ceremony featured musical selections, including recessional music played by Iyanna Crockett and Kimberly Chambers. The National Anthem was sung by Erin Latronica. Each inductee was presented by a current member of the NHS, according to the press release.

Inductees are: Kuba Alecki, Whitney Andrew, Emily Augeri, Mayreni Barrios, Tiffany Berry, Benjamin Carlson, John Carlson, Brielle Cayer, Benjamin Clark, Tasha Debedin, Dylan Drescher, Carson Fitzner, Madyson Fitzner, Daniel Flynn, Jamie Fuller and Rachel Gaudreau

Also: Alexa Gonzalez, Jessica Hart, Sarah Huston, Alexander Kelsey, Parth Kekare, Ryan Lau, Isabella Lombardo, Hallie McCabe, Veronica Meyer, Allison Molski, Richard Nakatsuka, Jared Perreault, Gwyn Retenauer, Chase Reynolds, Kimberly Shekosky, Alyssa Sparrow, Karolina Tarnacki, Hannah Vecchitto and Sophia Ventrelli.

“It was truly a special event,” Faulkenberry said in the statement. “. It was a bittersweet night. It became real that the current NHS members will be graduating very soon but we are lucky to be getting another group of wonderfully talented young adults.

“They are leaders not only within the Middletown High School community, but throughout Middletown itself,” Faulkenberry said.

The outgoing officers of the NHS are President Jacqueline Pawlak, Vice President Sofian Albayti, Secretary Grace DelMastro, Treasurer Gabrielle Lanza and Parliamentarian Jonathan Rosenblum.

The chapter is named in memory of longtime Middletown High social studies teacher and adviser Eleanor Riordan.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Nearly three dozen Middletown High School students, who exhibit the high standards of scholarship, leadership, character and service, earned a spot on the school’s Eleanor Riordan Chapter of the National Honor Society last week.