Maricopa Middle School inducts newest members into National Junior Honor Society

For their outstanding performance in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, character and citizenship, several Maricopa Middle School students were honored this week with induction into the National Junior Honor Society.

Founded in 1929, the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is a national program designed to recognize excellence among students. Membership is an honor and a privilege.

“As a member of the National Junior Honor Society, I have found many opportunities to serve as a leader,” Clinton Kerckhof, president of the Maricopa Secondary School Chapter of the NJHS, told the crowd assembled at Monday night’s ceremony. He spoke of the characteristics on which the organization is founded and noted, “These characteristics will help you as you go into the future to follow your dreams.”

Stephanie Sharp, MaryAnn Raab and Clinton Kerckhof took turns addressing the group.

Maricopa Middle School NJHS inductees take their pledge.

To be eligible for membership consideration, students must meet high Scholarship standards by having a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better.

In order to demonstrate Leadership a student must participate in two or more community or school activities, or serve on the student council. The standard for Service is active participation in three or more service projects in the school and community.

Citizenship requires involvement in civic-related organizations or activities. An individual’s day-to-day behavior, integrity, ethics and cooperation with both fellow students and staff is the measurement for Character.

Principal Stephanie Sharp congratulates Karissa Browning.

Anthony Beltran Jr. receives his certificate.

After the ceremony students and their families enjoyed a celebratory snack.

“Once inducted,” noted English teacher and NJHS sponsor, MaryAnn Raab, “members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate these qualities.” Before being accepted, eligible students are screened by a five-member faculty council chosen by the principal.

During the ceremony, the inductees recite this pledge:

“I pledge to maintain my high academic standing, to hold as fundamental and worthy, an untarnished character, to endeavor intelligently and courageously to be a leader and to give of myself freely in service to others; in doing so I shall prove myself worthy of a place in the National Junior Honor Society.”

Maricopa Middle School Principal Stephanie Sharp personally congratulated each student, including her own son, who was inducted Monday night.