One hundred six students from Veterans Memorial, Landis, Rossi and Wallace Middle Schools were inducted as new members of the National Junior Honor Society in ceremonies Monday at Landis School.
Highlight of the ceremony was the oath of office, administered to students lining the aisles of a hushed auditorium lit only by the candles they held. It was a solemn moment, followed by thunderous applause and cheers from the large audience of family members and friends who crowded the room.
“What a wonderful accomplishment,” said Chalky Ottinger, Superintendent of Schools. “There are thousands of students at their age level, and here sit just these few who understand how important it is to work hard. How important it is to dedicate themselves to helping others. How important it is to commit themselves to excellence, which means they understand that in order to get ahead to succeed in life you have to work very hard.”
“It is hard to excel,” said Ottinger. “These students were studying hard when they would rather have been doing something else. It is also hard to be a little bit different – to be committed to study and success. But the rewards are great, and some day you will reap those rewards. That is for sure. On behalf of the Vineland School District, I want to congratulate you on your commitment to our school district and especially to your families. I know you have worked hard, of course, so you could reach this wonderful accomplishment. But I know you also work hard to make your family proud.
“They (family) see you sitting on this stage and they are filled with pride for everything you have accomplished,” said Ottinger, whose nephew Scott Schneider, was one of the inductees.
“It is very important to work hard in everything you do,” he said. “If you want to be the best piano player, you have to practice. If you want to be the best wrestler, you have to practice. If you want to be the best student, you have to study. Very shortly, you will be headed into high school. I know you will do a great job. Best of luck.”
“The students being inducted this evening have demonstrated special accomplishments in their academic work and service to their community,” said Donald Kohaut, principal of host Landis School. “They have also had to demonstrate leadership and the highest character. They have sacrificed less demanding pursuits in order to study and maintain the high grades which they have earned.”
“For this, they are to be commended,” he said. “However, they also did not get here on their own. They have had the benefit of the foundation provided by their elementary schools. They have had the support and high expectations of their families. They have been pushed and encouraged by their teachers. And they have had the programs provided for them by their schools, central administration and the community through the Vineland Board of Education. I am going to issue a challenge to this group of students. I have done this last year and I will do it as long as I am principal. I would like to be invited to their high school induction at which time every one of them will be inducted into the high school National Honor Society. I want to see every one of you at that induction. I want to see you succeed. Don’t let any of your fellow inductees from this evening fall by the wayside.”
As further inspiration to continue their success, the inductees heard an address from Frank Romano, a member of the Vineland High School National Honor Society.
To be considered for National Junior Honor Society, students must have an 86 average or higher in all subjects, show outstanding participation in extracurricular activities, demonstrate leadership abilities, and have an outstanding record of community service and an excellent attendance record.
These are the same standards that apply to the National Honor Society applicants at the high school level.
“These students have been nationally recognized for their achievements,” said Carole Dallago, advisor to National Honor Society scholars at VHS. “ Admission to this organization is the greatest achievement that can come to a junior high student, for it stands for excellence of achievement. Among other prerequisites are service, leadership and good character. A student may, therefore, have a very high academic average and still fail to be elected to the NJHS if he does nothing for his school or community.”
Leadership is based on the student's participation in two or more community or school activities, or election to an office. To meet the service requirement, the student must have been active in three or more service projects in the school and community. Character is measured in terms of integrity, behavior, ethics and cooperation with both students and faculty. Citizenship is assessed by the student's participation in civic-related organizations and/or activities.
The inductees include:
Landis Intermediate School: Morgan Bishop, Sean Chini, Celia Class, Isiah Cross, Hector DeLaRosa, Maria Francisci, Deanna Mays, Marc McGill, Matthew McGill, Emily Montagna, Linda Morales, Samantha Rosa, and Amber Rosado, Annemarie Ruberti, Leticia Santiago-Boston, Sean Slusarczyk, and Ameshia White.
Rossi Intermediate School: Kyle Bennett, Desmarai Brown, Danielle Bushek, Henry Candeias, Andrew Castellini, Annalisa Ciro, Joseph Dafcik, Erika Delarosa, Anna Dipietro, Ivonna Dumanyan, Justin Feliciano, Kelsi Garrett, Crysta Gonzalez, Nikki Hann, Alicia Ivey, Jonathan James, Robin Juan, Halyna Mashura, Dean Mason, Brianna Montgomery, Alexandra Munoz, Evan Pagnini, Kristin Sakhan, Megan Scala, Jaskaran Singh, Kenneth Smaniotto, and Louis Tolotti.
Veterans Memorial School: Cassandra Baez, Allison Beres, Amber Borges, Jacob Brooks, Gerald Bush, Katelynne Cerrato, Juliana Crescenzo, David Cruz, Lorenzo Custodio, Anthony Delgado, Claire DuBois, Sarah Ferrigno, Charles Fiore, Amanda Garrison, Caitlin Geisser, Josue Gomez, William Harris, Vanesha Heggs, Gabriela Hernandez, George Hernandez, Patricia Hernandez, Ting Holmes, Sarah Jannarone, Ana Maria Jimenez, Maria Jimenez, Paige Kaspar, Daniel Kremmel, Aryssa Lopez, Chris Lopez, Luis Matos, Daniel Mendez, Stephanie Metcalf, McKenzie Montana, Ramon Mora, Kayshen Morel, Brandon Muessig, Trevonne Parker, Blake Pescatore, Dominick Pontari, Rudy Rivera, Maria Rodriguez, Anna Sakhno, Scott Schneider, Shawn Shaikh, Emily Smith, Jessica Torres and Matthew Wolfe.
Wallace Intermediate School: Samuel Arbona, Nikolai Berezin, Toni Campanella, Jessica Flitcraft, Chelsea Gonzalez, Patrick Laurencio, Megan Medina, Ariel Polanco, Giselle Quiles, Rebecca Redman, Jacqueline Sheridan, Jasselyne Sotomayor, Jasmine Strickland, Victoria Tretheway and Brandon Venditti