by Kaylie Blais
National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society will be getting a new adviser this year. Assistant Principal Joshua Otlin has decided to advise both clubs. Everyone involved in these clubs either as a member or as an adviser feels it’s an important club to students.
“Anything that allows us to recognize academic achievement and displays of leadership is important to have at school. National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society allow us to showcase the work that students do. The idea of citizenship and community service is important for students to have as an option when in school,” said Principal Brian Reagan.
There was question as to whether these clubs would be able to continue this year.
“I was having a hard time finding advisers for both clubs, and if no advisers had stepped in, it is certainly possible that NHS and NJHS would have been cancelled for this year,” said Reagan. “Unfortunately being principal of the school I am unable to be the adviser for these clubs, but Mr. Otlin really helped me out by agreeing to be the adviser.”
Otlin also felt that these clubs were important.
“Well I wanted to be the adviser when I saw that no one else was,” said Otlin. “It’s important to have a formal way to honor their achievements. I think it’d be really disappointing if we, as leaders of the school, weren’t able to provide the honor society to students. When no one stepped up, I decided instead of crying about it I was going to do it.”
Advisers in previous years have planned inductions, helped members earn their community service time, and helped pick candidates to apply for the honor societies.
“As of right now the induction ceremony is still unknown, and we have normally done it in May, but we may do the event earlier this year because May is a busy month for both students and teachers,” said Otlin. “Also the earlier students are inducted the more time they have to be an official member of the honor society. If they are inducted in October of their junior year, they would have a total of 16 months as a member before they graduated.”
Members of these clubs were happy to hear that both of these clubs would continue this year.
“I really enjoyed being part of Honor Society,” said junior Hannah Carroll. “It was a really great feeling to be recognized. I remember my favorite moment in Honor Society was when we were planning the “Crush for a Crush” fundraiser, where we sold sodas at lunch for Valentine’s Day; it was tons of fun.”
Students were worried about the possible loss of the honor societies.
“If there had been no advisers for Honor Society, these next few years I wouldn’t be able to become a member of National Honor Society, which would affect my college applications because I feel I wouldn’t have many volunteer opportunities without the help that the advisers provide,” said sophomore Sam Johnson.
Even though there will be a change of advisers, Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society will run same as always.
“I don’t have any plans to re-invent the wheel. I’m just looking to sustain it,” said Otlin. “I want to work with students and encourage and help them with achieving their goals and their community service hours just like in past years. Also even though I will be the adviser of both clubs, I have no intention of combining meetings or shortening the meeting times. Students can expect the clubs to be run just as they have in the past years.”
Honor Society members can expect their first meeting to be held in late October, and from there all meetings will be held regularly. Members can start working on their community service hours.
