Record number of students inducted into NHS program

GRUNDY CENTER – A record number of new students - 15 to be exact - were inducted into the Maggie Gray Chapter of the National Honor Society at Grundy Center High School late last month.
The new inductees include two seniors: Zachary Osgood and Cameron Steenhoek; and 13 juniors: Brianna Brown, Brooke Flater, Landon Grahm, Anna Holke-Farnam, Erika Johnson, Austin Knaack, Caleb Kuiper, Sarah Lindeman, Sydney Mathews, Madison McMartin, Hailey Wallis, Kylie Willis, and Reegan Zinkula.
These 15 new inductees join four existing senior members: Brianna Heltibridle, Josh Kuiper, Olivia Opheim, and Hannah Stahl.
NHS chapter advisor Beth Bockes says this is the largest class of new inductees she’s had since 2005, when she first started advising the chapter.
“The faculty does the selection process, and it varies every year,” she said. “I think they probably just felt this year there was an especially talented and gifted junior class based on NHS principals, and there were that many students they felt were qualified.”
Bockes said the large group of NHS inductees this year is a testament to the students, the faculty and the school.
“I think it speaks highly of not only the students, but also of the school and the teachers in our district,” Bockes said. “These teachers push the students hard. These aren’t just high academic students; they’re also very involved in all of our sports and activities, and [exemplify] the characteristics of a National Honor Society student.”
Bockes said it’s great to see such support for the program at the school.
“I think [NHS is] important; it sets a standard,” she said. “Our goal is to turn out students who are prepared for the future - more than just academically, but also in ways of service and leadership, and it’s important to recognize the character these students do possess.”
For the full story, see this week's Grundy Register.