National Honor Society (NHS) President Jessica Fitzgerald led the remaining 59 members of NHS in the traditional candlelight walk at this year’s NHS Induction at Walpole High School. Dressed in their blue and white graduation gowns, the members took their places on stage and watched Fitzgerald light the center blue candle, officially beginning the induction. In her welcoming speech, Fitzgerald thanked friends, family, and faculty for attending the event. Fitzgerald shared the work that NHS has done for the community, as well as expressed her love for the core values that NHS is founded on: scholarship, leadership, service, and character.
“It’s been really cool to volunteer at all these opportunities and to have an organization that provides them for us,” Fitzgerald said.
Vice Presidents Anne Dolan and Conor McMahon led the special educator recognition segment of the evening. Ranging from kindergarten teachers to high school teachers to family members, students recognized their chosen educators with their handwritten tribute speeches. After each senior thanked their special educator, Dolan, along with co-secretaries Dana Demartino and Elizabeth Foley, and NHS historian Ryan Conlon, used the center blue candle to light the four white candles remaining in the candle holder. The candles represented scholarship, leadership, service, and character.
“When I think of all [NHS] has accomplished in four years… academically, they have taken such hard courses. They’re going to wonderful colleges. They’ve really committed themselves to this school community through the tutoring lab, and participating in community events,” said Laura Kay, a NHS coordinator.
The senior class then inducted its new junior members with the help of Elizabeth Albertelly, another NHS coordinator. There are 46 juniors in the NHS Class of 2019, and they will be led by Griffin Wilkins. Brian Dipasca and Maeve Stover will be vice presidents, Grace Heffernan will be secretary, and Deirdre Irwin will be NHS historian.
“It’s really awesome to be part of this great society. Over the years, you see people [become members of this group], and to now actually be in it is honoring,” Wilkins said.
After taking the place of the senior class on stage, Dan Mullaney, the chosen faculty member of the senior class, helped the junior class pledge their commitment to NHS.
“I’m very excited. I like the views and values of NHS, and I look forward to upholding them,” said junior Ava Straccia.
Class of 2018 Special Educators
Nirupa Abraham: Ms. Walleston
Rachel Bagley: Mrs. Bagley
Emily Ball: Jill Murphy
Jonathan Benoit: Sandy Lin
Brynne Bergen: Mr. Wallace
Ryan Birch: Ron Dowd
Nicholas Borchardt: Mr. Mullaney
John Henry Breen: Mr. Reale
Samantha Byrne: Ms. Rafferty
Lauren Capozzi: Mrs. Peckham
Rachel Cerullo: Mr. Whittenhall
Emma Coakley: Mrs. Jamie O’Leary
Ryan Conlon: Mr. Kim
Sean Corriveau: Mr. Giblin
Dana DeMartino: Mr. Connolly
Anne Dolan: Mrs. Leah Milne
Grace Donovan: Mrs. Anne Watson
Kelly Drogan: Ms. Cannon
Mia Drummey: Kim Oliveira
Timothy Duffy: Mrs. Massicotte
Henry Elmhurst: Mr. Scott
Patrick Fallon: Mrs. Hackett
Sarah Feeley: Ted Verderber
Luccas Ferreira: Lee Delaney
Jessica Fitzgerald: Ms. Kay
Liam Fitzpatrick: Mr. Strick
Elizabeth Foley: Erin Kearney
Kerstin Fontanez: Ms. Allison
Tara Gordon: Mr. Cashman
Grace Harrington: Mrs. O’Neill
Ciara Healy: Sr. Ellen Powers
Jennifer Houser: Mrs. Shaw
Lillian Hunter: Ms. Culliton
Ellen Irmiter: Mrs. Vigneau
Julia Kane: Mrs. Annie Hunter
Kelly Kauranen: Tia Sapienza
Paul Kauranen: Sean Petrosino
Meghan Koenig: Ms. Masterson
Sylvia Lanni: Ms. Prickel
Meaghan Luong: Jean Todesca
Matthew Luongo: Janet Wellock
Chaya Malladi: Mrs. O’Malley
Erin Maloney: Liam Harney
Jack MacKinnon: Ms. Sue Wick
Conor McMahon: Cheryl Cavanaugh
Nora Mortali: Senora Stewart
Miguel Perpinan Matos: Mrs. Painten
Irene Phung: Mrs. Albertelly
William Porter: Mrs. Kathleen Milne
Matthew Robin: Mr. John O’Leary
Samantha Rodia: Mrs. Barend
Katarina Ruda: Katherine Richards
Erica Sanquist: Mrs. Frattasio
Cameron Scales: Mr. Keith Wick
Kyle Smith: Coach Greener
Lindsey Sullivan: Linda Francis
Kristine Udahl: Mr. Ron Rizzo
Samuel Urban: Mr. Bakale
Celia Walsh: Leslie Frank
Trey Wilkes: Joanne Sprague