HHS English Honor Society Ranks Swell

The Post Ellipsis chapter of the National English Honor Society at Huntington High School inducted 45 new members last week during a time-honored ceremony attended by a standing room only crowd in the School Heritage Museum.

The new inductees swelled the group’s ranks to 154. The organization is led by officers Molly Brambil (president), Joellen Ceide (vice-president), Marc Feldman (treasurer), Morgan Mars (secretary) and historians Catherine Koumas and Tara Purcell. English teachers Aimee Antorino and Helen Guarino serve as the faculty advisors.

The new inductees include Elyas Amin, Krista Angeliadis, Hailey Bengston, Cassandra Berwick, Emily Biblow, Rachel Carpenter, Nina Cartwright, Chelsea Connell, Samantha Conte, Emma DeGennaro, Dylan DelGuidice, Kataria DePasquale, Nancy Fallon, Aaron Feltman, George Gabriel, Julia Garetano, Timothy Gress, Andrew Gunthner, Benjamin Hebert, Omotayo Ikumenisan, Michael Karasik, Alexandra Koumas, Samuel Latt, Holly LoTurco, Samantha Lynch, Ripley Mars, Kevin McConnell, Elisa Medina-Jaudes, Shane Meyers, Jean Morgenstern, Sabrina Palacios, Spencer Pashkin, Caroline Petrozzo, Max Andrew Polster, Savannah Richardson, Madeline Riggs, Lena Scarpulla, Dylan Schedler, Emily Shutman, Latoya Shand, James Smoot, Cara Sorrentino, Olivia Stamatatos, Alex Tacopina and Kaitlin Wascher.

To be considered for NEHS membership a student must have a minimum academic grade average of 90, “exhibiting an impressive breadth of academic excellence,” while maintaining a grade of at least 92 in English.

“As with any of the inductions we conduct at Huntington High School, the ceremony for the National English Honor Society was both moving and well organized,” Principal Carmela Leonardi said. “It is a source of pride for both teachers and administrators to witness the leadership of the officers of the society as they carry out their assigned responsibilities and induct their peers.”

The society’s continuing members include Jean Abecassis, Hector Alvarado, Santiago Alzate, Joseph Ambrosio, Ursa Amin, Alyson Baker, Julianna Barca, Cristina Bateman, Matthew Beach, Charles Beers, Sofia Bialkowski, Caroline Berejka, Sabrina Blakely, Ryan Bonitz, Molly Brambil, Julian Carrollo, Alexander Castillo, Olivia Castillo, Joellen Ceide, Elizabeth Coneys, Elizabeth Corrao, Kaitlin Dayton, Annie DeChiaro, Anna DiNardi, Hayley Drace, Katherine DuVal, Justin Edgar McNerney, Elizabeth Eichenberger, Justin Engelsher, Jonathan Engle, Greta Farrell and Marc Feldman.

The continuing members also include Jesse Feldman-Stein, Rachel Feltman, Heather Forster, Collin Francis, Nicholas Freiman, Anna Garfinkel, Jeremy Gelb, Katherine Gerdes, Brian Gilbert, Samantha Glicker, Gilda Goldental-Stoecker, Cynthia Gowani, Hillary Hardardt, Megan Healy, Chelsea Holmes, Emma Hughes, Kathryn Ingle, Christian Jamison, Rafael Jiminez, Ben Kaplan, Brianna Kirkland, Caitlin Knowles, Catherine Koumas, Thomas Kouttron, Lucie Lavelle, Jillian Lentinello, Gavin Li, Hannah Lomele, Olivia Lopez, Justin Loturco, Sibilla Maiarelli, Alexandria Mandriota, Gabriella Mandriota, Robert Marcus, Daniel McCartney, Brian McConnell, Shannon McGovern, Naomi Medina-Jaudes, Allison Minoff, Lily Morris, Hanna Murphy, Michael Nemaric, Ryan Newell, Ben Nikodem, Kathleen Nugent, Monica Owen, Kylie Palmer, Olivia Palmer, Suzie Petryk, Michael Piazza, Anthony Puca, Tara Purcell, John Reilly, Lee Reiver, Donovan Richardson, Henry Rogan, Summer Rudish, Joseph Saginaw, Amy Schmelter, Daniella Schoen, Mary Sheehan, Marina Siegel, Kimberly Smith, Michael Stafford, Lindsay Sullivan, Victor Tellez, Veronica Tonissen, Ketevani Tsotskolauri, Alex Velazquez, Meelod Wafajow, Lyndsey Williams, Brendan Wirth, Caitlin Yabroudy, Margot Yanuck, Samuel Yanuck, Lana Ziegler and Katie Zimmerman.

The new inductees were required to recite the following pledge: “As a member of the National English Honor Society, I shall endeavor to advance the study of all areas of English and to foster a spirit of fellowship among students excelling in all facets of the English Language Arts, ever keeping in mind our national motto as our guiding principle: Gelast sceal mid are–duty goes with honor.”

The evening featured performances by a string quintet consisting of Monica Owen, Brian Gilbert, Holly Grabowski, Katherine Gerdes and Ben Nikodem. The chamber choir also performed under the direction of its leader, Veronica Mainville.

Each year the Huntington’s NEHS chapter inducts at least one honorary member. This year social studies teacher Kenneth Donovan was recognized and sat on the School Heritage Museum stage with the group’s officers.

The new inductees formally entered NEHS ranks during a candle lighting ceremony. A reception was later held for students and their parents in the hallway outside the School Heritage Museum, where the inductees were congratulated by family members and district officials.

“Congratulations are extended to the families of the students for their devotion to the success of their children,” Dr. Leonardi said.