By By JAMES COLLINS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- The Brandywine High School National Honor Society welcomed a new class of high-achieving students at the 2003-2004 induction ceremony on Wednesday night.
The group added 23 new students at last night's event in the high school's John Carlson Lecture Hall.
National Honor Society chapter advisor Ruth Kittleson thinks the organization can play an important role in a student's development.
To qualify for the National Honor Society, students must meet a number of demanding requirements including a minimum grade point average of 3.3, 18 hours of community service for each year of membership, three teacher recommendations and the candidates must also complete an informational packet that serves as their resume.
Brandywine High School teacher Doug Mappin, the ceremony's guest speaker, wore his U.S. Navy uniform and drew some comparisons between the sets of ideals followed by both the Navy and the honor society.
Mappin talked about the honor and duty that goes along with being inducted into the group.
National Honor Society president Jeff Peterson then introduced his fellow officers, vice-president Judy Schlutt, secretary Bridget Mitchell and treasurer Adam Ringler.
Each of the officers lit a candle and introduced the four election criteria for being accepted into the National Honor Society: scholarship, service, leadership and character.
Schlutt described service by stating "willingness to work for the benefit of those in need, without monetary compensations or without recognition, is the quality we seek in our membership."
The officers then illuminated each of the candidates' candles and asked them to turn around to face the crowd and recite the National Honor Society Induction Pledge.
Kittleson asked the candidates to extinguish their candles and then announced each of the 23 inductees to come forward and receive their membership cards and pins. With each introduction, Kittleson gave a brief statement of background information and student achievements.
Brandywine High School principal Christine Banaszak congratulated the students and everyone who participated in the ceremony.