On April 24, the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School chapter of the National Honor Society inducted 53 new members. The high school chamber orchestra, led by Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello, provided musical accompaniment throughout the evening.

The ceremony began with greetings from high school principal Dr. Matthew Murphy and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, who both recognized the great accomplishments of the students in attendance.

“The National Honor Society is not simply about academic achievement,” said Dr. Murphy. “We are recognizing you for all that you have done to serve our community in addition to being outstanding students.”  

“The fact that we have 53 student inductees is extraordinary,” said Dr. Bossert. “It’s a reflection of the hard work and dedication that they have exemplified during their years in high school. Looking at this group I see not only academic success, but also athletes, musicians, thespians and those devoted to community service.”

Keri Lukin Page, a 1992 Earl L. Vandermeulen High School graduate, delivered the ceremony of the pin address. During her address, Lukin Page encouraged students to keep their minds open to new ideas and opportunities throughout life, even if they are not planned. “It is important that you recognize those turning points in the road that help you to define who you are, despite your own expectations,” she said. ‘That is what makes life interesting and surprising.”

“It is important to always know who you are and what you believe in,” said Lukin Page. “It’s also crucial to allow yourself to stray from your plans enough to find the things in life you may not have even realized you wanted.”

The induction continued with the ceremony of the emblem, ceremony of the candle-lighting and the roll call of inductees, all led by current honor society members. Five colored candles represented the pillars of the National Honor Society – knowledge, character, scholarship, leadership and service. The ceremony concluded with a reciting of the society’s pledge.

Inductees:
Mark Accardo, David Altamirano, Neil Alvarez, Caroline Biondo, Ryan Burgert, Ryan Burke, Morgan Campbell, Paul Capobianco, Taylor Carley, Gaspar Cello, Carly Cherches, Lillian Concepcion, Janella Marie Damaskos, Noah Davis, Olivia Desmond, Tristin DeVincenzo, Allison Dombroski, Aliza Doyle, Deanna Eichinger, Allegra Fils-Aime, Andie Fortier, Ellen Fox, Rachel Geiser, Steven Geiser, Ju Mi Ha, Paul Han, Richard Hoey, Piyumi Kankanamalage, Dunia Karzai, Julia Kharzeev, Benjamin Kluender, Alexander Koller, Maureen Laffey, Courtney Loehr, Margo Martin-Deprez, Lauren McGuirk, Christopher McLaughlin, Alden Mohacsi, James Murphy, Kayley Okst, Claudio Perinuzzi, Thomas Pon, Robert Righi, Lara Sarubbi, Daniel Scarda, Parker Schoch, Ryan Scott, Tammy Serabian, Yuuki Shibutani, Caroline Strauss, Annie Warm, Dylan Wennerod and Natalia Zaliznyak.

Present Members:
Aaron Accardo, John Albinson, Corbin Apple, Megan Augsbach, Justin Bove, Alexander Bruno, Natalie Buck, Elizabeth Ciancarelli, Katherine Colantuoni, Kirsten Crovello, Tyler D’Accordo, Melissa Darling, Kelli DiTomasso, Jonathan Famularo, Richard Finkelstein, Cassandra Gray, Danielle Grier, Daniel Gross, Katherine Gwydir, Ghada Hassan, Nicholas Heide, Evan Kelly, Eric Keresztes, Gabriella Martinez, Leah Neiman, Romain Popescu, Francesca Racanelli, Olivia Racanelli, Hunter Reiter, Chiara Repetti-Ludlow, Alberto Rescia, Steven Rose, Jasper Rubin-Sigler, Elijah Sanders, Maria Simmerling, Joshua Skula, Gabrielle Stark, Mairead Swords, Kent Ueno, Demitria Ulino and Shannon Walsh.