The Hornell Chapter of the National Honor Society inducted 26 new members on March 21, 2023. In the morning students participated in the tapping ceremony with an Induction Ceremony in the evening. 

“Everyday, we are presented with obstacles. It is our reaction to those obstacles which demonstrates our character,” President Alexis Patrick said in her speech focusing on character, one of the four pillars of the NHS. “It is through the choices we make, the way we treat others, and our overall behavior that our character is revealed. Character is not something that can be learned overnight, it is something that is developed through a series of experiences, both positive and negative.”

Class of 2023 

Alexis Patrick, President • Trey Woolwine, Vice President • Jasmine Jarbeck, Secretary • Brenna Lovell, Treasurer • Mikayla Kriner, Communications Officer • McKenna Donlon, Parlamentarium • Emmalene Amann • Allyson Buckley • Tenille Cotton • Brennan Delany • Gina DeSanto • Natalie Dodge • Katie Do • Elaina Flaitz • Samantha Harkenrider • Sophia Harwood • Michayla Hubric • Michelle Lian • Mackenzie McDaniels • Delaney Meehan • Madelyn Moore  • Marirose Pieklo • Jacob Ponticello • Abigail Sexsmith • Luke Sullivan • Dane Thompson • Reanna Tierney • Brianna Tingley • Ava White 

Class of 2024

Stella Argentieri • Kylee Bentley • Kaela Briggs • Elijah Chace • Savannah Dennis • Jack Emo • Laura Flaitz • Norah Foreman • Kadience Gollnitz • Amaya Hoffman • Spencer Hopper • Riley Hyer • Mackenna Kiley • Kathy Le • Demetris Madamopoulos • Isabel Miles • Hunter Mosher • Iliana Ninos • Jaden Ohara • Gabriella Passero • Emily Phillips • Gennaro Picco • Kevin Regan • Arieanna Simpson • Vivian Smith • Peyton VanCaeseele 

Character Speech

Membership requirements for the National Honor Society are highly selective. Those who meet these national standards and become members of the Hornell chapter should be proud of themselves and their accomplishments, for they have reached a position that relatively few high school students attain.

All candidates must have a Weighted Core GPA of 90% or higher. However, scholarship is merely a beginning. A candidate must also embody the qualities of character, leadership, and service. I am going to speak to you today about character. 

Character is one of the four pillars of the National Honor Society. By definition, character is “the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.”

Each person is made unique by their character; it is a person’s character that defines them as an individual. Parents, teachers, grandparents, family and friends can teach us many things in life. They can teach us to walk, tie our shoes, how to read, write, add, subtract…the list goes on and on. They can teach us about family, social etiquette, how we should behave in different situations and what it means to be a “good person.” 

There is one thing, no matter how much they may try, they can never truly teach…CHARACTER. As Anne Frank once said, “Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” A person’s character is developed through their own experiences and their reactions to those experiences. 

Everyday, we are presented with obstacles, it is our reaction to those obstacles which demonstrates our character. It is through the choices we make, the way we treat others, and our overall behavior that our character is revealed. Character is not something that can be learned overnight, it is something that is developed through a series of experiences, both positive and negative. 

One of the most important aspects of character is integrity. It is the foundation upon which all other aspects of character are built. Without integrity, it is impossible to have trust, respect, or empathy for others. We must always strive to be honest, even when it is difficult, and to do what is right, even when no one is watching. 

Another key aspect of character is empathy. This is the ability to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes and understand their point of view. Empathy allows us to connect with others on a deeper level and to build strong relationships based on mutual understanding and respect. 

Finally, character is demonstrated through our actions. It is not enough to simply say that we have good character, we must show it through our behavior. We must be kind to others, be responsible for our actions, and treat everyone with respect, regardless of their background or beliefs. 

In conclusion, character is a vital aspect of who we are as individuals and as a society. 

As members of the National Honor Society we must strive to develop our character everyday, through our core values of scholarship, leadership and service. We must strive to improve the community around us, and ourselves as individuals, working together as a society to build a community based on integrity, respect, and empathy.