MAY 3, 1968
National Honor, Society To Initiate 118 Members
This initiation of new members is one of the few meetings held each year by the scholarly society. "Even if we wanted to hold some activities, we would never be able to get sufficient participation because most of our members are involved in many other clubs, councils, etc. The Society recognizes the scholarship, leadership, character, and service of its members. It is not a club," explained Don Maruska '68, president of the Society.
These four guidelines to success will be the topics of speeches given by four members of the society. They are Vivienne Geiger '68, character of leadership; J. D. Carlson '68, character; Norman Markworth '68, character of scholarship; Mary Ann Jados '68, character of service.
Don Maruska will serve as Master of Ceremonies, and Don Berhens will be the organist for the playing of the processional and the recessional.
Mr. Ralph Frost, assistant superintendent of the Maine high schools, will also address the audience
Initiates are chosen from the top 15 per cent of the Junior or 25 per cent of the Senior Classes. These students are then rated by the faculty in the areas of character, leadership, and service. Those seniors whose scores place them in the upper 15 per cent rated are accepted into the society. Juniors must
be in the upper 5 per cent in order to be admitted. No junior is admitted if his score is lower than the lowest senior accepted.
The National Honor Society was formed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals in 1919. The intent of the principals was to form a sort of high school Phi Beta Kappa Society, but they went further. The National Honor Society recognizes not only the scholarship but leadership, character, and service of its members.
The Society has expanded greatly since it awarded its first charter to the Fifth Avenue High School in Pittsburgh in 1921. Since then over 10,000 charters have been awarded with the 10,000 one being awarded to the San Juan High School in Citrus Heights, California.