Bethlehem-Center High School honors students
On Monday May 12, 15 juniors will be inducted into the Bethlehem-Center High School Chapter of the National Honor Society. The annual candlelight induction ceremony will take place in the high school library at 7 p.m. with a small reception for the inductees, their families and friends following. Superintendent Dr. Karen S. Downie will take part in the induction and Dr. Richard H. Martin, high school principal will install the newly elected officers for the next school year.
Senior officers of the current National Honor Society will induct each of the juniors. The current senior members are RaeLynn Forsyth, president; Dominic Malloy, vice-president; Samantha Nemal, secretary; Trey Coffman, treasurer; Cecilia Cowger, Amber Funtal, Jill Shubilla, Jolene Diethorn, Beth Johnson, and Brandon Statzula.
Last spring when these students were inducted, Brandon Statzula was inducted posthumously. His younger sister, Alicia, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Statzula, accepted his honors. Brandon passed away on Oct. 26, 2006, after a nearly two-year battle with cancer. This year, the flowers on the head table of the ceremony will be presented in Brandon’s memory by his classmates and placed at his gravesite.
The juniors being inducted this year will be Joshua Seader, president; Hannah Bodnar, vice-president; Sarah Bell, secretary; Brittney Bell, treasurer; Timothy Beilstein, Leah Blackburn, Diandra Fleming, Tyler Hensley, Abbygale Gazica, Judith Marody, E.J. McCarty, Ryne Niemiec, Emily Petsko, Patrick Ritsko, and Lauren Snyder.
These juniors shall be presented with an official membership certificate from the National Honor Society, an official pin, local by-laws, and membership card.
The National Honor Society is a national organization affiliated with the National Association of Secondary School Principals of Virginia. Edward Rynerson, who was a principal of the Fifth Avenue High School in Pittsburgh, created the first chapter in 1919.
There are now more than 20,000 local chapters.
Bethlehem-Center High School faculty sponsor of the National Honor Society for the 14th year is Spanish teacher Ray L. VanSickle of Uniontown.
“The National Honor Society is not simply the honor roll, but an organization which honors students in the four areas of character, scholarship, leadership and service,” said VanSickle.
He said there is a rigorous process for the students to be accepted into the society.
VanSickle said, “The students must meet and maintain certain grade-point averages, both cumulative and current, write an essay, complete an application, get teacher and character references, be enrolled in a weighted course during both their junior and senior years, and prove excellence in all four areas of importance which the society stands for and upholds.”
The voting process is done by a faculty advisory committee, made up of five current high school teachers, which cannot include the faculty sponsor, principal, or guidance counselor. The committee met and reviewed all applications and essays of each eligible applicant.
The induction and installation ceremony is created to honor each student and their parents with a high level of dignity and the praise they deserve for their dedication, hard work, and outstanding achievements VanSickle stated.