WESTFIELD – The Westfield High School National Honor Society held their monthly meeting on Thursday in the auditorium, to go over some of the many activities planned in the coming months.
Westfield High School National Honor Society advisors and officers (L-R) Co-advisors Karen Detloff and Stephanie Desmond, secretary Anoushka Sharma, treasurer Andrew Cameron, president Miranda Boudreau, vice president Katie Knapik, and historian Liz Poteat. (Submitted photo)
The NHS “e-board,” comprised of president Miranda Boudreau, vice president Katie Knapik, treasurer Andrew Cameron, historian Liz Poteat and secretary Anoushka Sharma took turns updating the 130 members on dates, protocol and responsibilities of members.
More than half of the juniors and seniors present, 73, were newly inducted into the society in a formal ceremony on November 9.
The National Honor Society is a nationally accredited organization, stressing scholarship, service, leadership and character. In order to qualify for membership, students must achieve the grade point average requirement at their school (which nationally must be a minimum of 85 or higher). For WHS seniors (Class of 2017), the GPA required is 88. For juniors (2018) and going forward, the requirement is 92.
Students who are inducted take a pledge to uphold the NHS constitution. They also must earn points through service projects. In November and December, for example, students must earn 14 points, which amounts to 14 hours of service. Students must also be signed off at events that they attend.
According to NHS co-advisors Stephanie Desmond and Karen Detloff, the students take the lead in terms of activities and responsibilities.
“Our plan is to make it more than just a (literal) stamp on the diploma. We want them to take the initiative, and have the experiences,” said Detloff.
One of the ways students are encouraged to take the lead is in community service projects. Students select the projects themselves that they want to support.
“We want to make sure we’re providing an environment where students can do what they’re passionate about,” said Sharma. For example, after a visit to Mumbai, India in the summer, she asked NHS members to raise money for the Chaiim Foundation, a non-profit organization helping survivors of human trafficking. Sharma said they will be raising money all year for the project, through bake sales and other fundraisers.
For the month of December, Poteat is organizing a drive for the Bethlehem House Pregnancy Care Center in Easthampton, a non-profit, faith-based organization that provides confidential services to pregnant women and men in need. She asked students at the meeting on Thursday to bring in their items, such as baby bottles, baby towels, diapers, gently used car seats and strollers to the school by Dec. 21.
Boudreau organizes collections for the Westfield Food Pantry, as well as the volunteers who help serve meals every other month. Knapik’s project is a tutoring program at Westfield High School, where she matches up students with NHS peer tutors. The program has been around for a few years, but she has changed the structure.
Delta Krav Maga of East Longmeadow recently held a self-defense class for NHS members at the school. (Photo submitted)
Morgan and Alexis Shia connected NHS with Delta Krav Maga in East Longmeadow, who came and taught a free self-defense class to NHS members last month. Krav Maga is a hand-to-hand combat system originally developed for the Israeli military. Students learned to defend themselves against attacks such as punches, chokes, bear hugs, head locks, and grabs.
Knapik said another student, Libby Irwin, whose brother is in Afghanistan organized a drive for the troops.
The National Honor Society is not all about work, however. One of the perks of being a member is access to the NHS room, which has couches, video games, a microwave and refrigerator.
“It’s a privilege for us kids,” said Boudreau. She said another perk is that any NHS member who has a car can leave the building during lunch or during study periods. At the meeting, she reminded members that they need permission sheets filled out by parents in order to utilize that option.
The biggest perks, said co-advisor Detloff, are the scholarships available to NHS students both locally and through the national organization.
The next induction will take place in the spring for juniors. Until then, NHS students will be hard at work at their school and throughout the community.
