A total of 108 sophomores and juniors gathered in the Cathedral Catholic High School Guadalupe Center to celebrate their acceptances into the National Honors Society on the evening of April 19.

The NHS students have demonstrated excellence in scholarship, leadership, service and character.

“There is more to NHS than academics,” NHS advisor Mr. Francis Caro said. “It is also about commitment to service. Service that impacts our community and our involvement.”

The CCHS NHS members have participated in multiple types of services, which include tutoring elementary school kids, “Blankets for Veterans” and coaching kid athletes. These Christian service experiences proved that these members understand an essential element of the Catholic faith and exhibit traits of leadership.

“The NHS has an emphasis on leadership,” Mr. Caro said. “You are expected to be a model for others at this school of what it means to be a leader.”

Now accepted into NHS, students have an opportunity to show their character through their academics as well as service. They have strived for this honor over their academic careers, taking multiple AP classes, volunteering for service and demonstrating what it means to be a leader.

“I am very very proud of my daughter,” Mrs. Amy Willyard, mother of Isabella Willyard ’17, said. “She wanted this so badly and after working hard for this for so long, it just fell into her lap.”

However, the evening was not just about accepting new members; it was also about inducting the new NHS Officers and Junior Officers.

“I feel excited, honored, and I love serving others and contributing to my school,” new Junior Officer Emily Dunsford ’18 said.

NHS officers organize activities and services, and they will make sure the members of NHS are fulfilling the role of leaders on campus.

New NHS President Kelly Cape ’17 expressed the mission of the NHS program, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”