The flame of excellence shone brightly at The Storm King School as 21 students were inducted into the National Honor Society (NHS) for the Spring 2025 semester. During an All School Meeting held in the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre, 18 juniors and three seniors were honored in a traditional NHS candle-lighting ceremony, celebrating their accomplishments both in and out of the classroom.

The newest inductees include seniors Sidonious W. ’25, Rosario S. ’25, and Jameer F. ’25, along with juniors Momo Y. ’26, Liz U. ’26, Leni R. ’26, Emma Y. ’26, Ren T. ’26, Katja M. ’26, Thomas (Son) N. ’26, Shaheer A. ’26, Emily K. ’26, Evangeline G. ’26, Ethan W. ’26, Jerry C. ’26, Brent R. ’26, Kalin C. ’26, Sandra G. ’26, Sean C. ’26, Antonio M. ’26, and Jiann L. ’26.

New NHS members are carefully selected by faculty based on the four core pillars that define the organization: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character. These values, long associated with the NHS since its founding in 1921, were the focus of the traditional candle-lighting portion of the ceremony.

Following a brief introduction by English Department Chair and NHS mentor Dr. Alex Finn-Atkins, four current NHS members each stepped forward to present and illuminate one of the four candles—each symbolizing one of the society’s guiding principles. The first candle represents Scholarship, which reflects a student’s dedication to academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, and a strong work ethic. The second candle was lit for Service, highlighting the importance of giving back to others through meaningful volunteer work and community engagement without seeking personal gain.

The third candle symbolized Leadership—defined not only by holding positions of responsibility, but by taking initiative, setting a positive example, and guiding others with integrity. The fourth candle represents Character, the foundation of trust and ethical conduct. It honors those who demonstrate honesty, respect, responsibility, and moral conviction in their everyday lives.

Following the candle-lighting, the new inductees were called to the stage to sign the NHS register and officially join the ranks of this prestigious organization. To complete their induction, the students raised their right hands and recited the NHS Pledge, affirming their commitment to uphold these values.

Following the ceremony, faculty member and NHS co-mentor Lisa Shrem offered her closing remarks: “Congratulations to our latest inductees and thank you to all NHS members for representing the very best of NHS’ values and those of The Storm King School.”