The CHIEF December 2016

IT'S AN HONOR! By A l l y s on Sho f f 2 0 1 6 N H S B A N Q U E T    On November 16th, friends, family, and teachers alike joined together at Pontiac Township High School to welcome twenty-four well-rounded and deserving students into the Torch Chapter of the National Honor Society.  The night began with a wonderfully prepared dinner from our cafeteria staff that was served by Key Club members. A school banquet, whether it be for athletics, music, scholarships, or academic achievements such as this one, is a time to relax and enjoy some good food while reconnecting with friends.     After dinner was over and everyone had enjoyed a slice of pie of some sort, we all entered the auditorium in an impressively smooth manner to hear our speaker of the night. Mike Wille is the director of the Illinois State University School of Art. He visited Pontiac Township High School last spring as a speaker for our art show and gave a similar speech then. Nevertheless, it seemed the entire audience was captivated by his abstract work and his passion for what he does.     The end of the night came quickly and it was time to welcome our new members. The ceremony started with a welcome address and five continuing members were called up to introduce the attributes needed to be inducted into National Honor Society. Shelby Jennings, Andrea Mehrkens, Margaret Melvin, Olivia Welshans, and myself each took turns speaking of Character, Leadership, Service, and Scholarship was well as introducing National Honor Society as a whole. This year also marked the second year in the row in which there was difficulties lighting the candles, something that I believe will soon become a yearly tradition.     With a little slip in the years (I know us seniors wish we were the class of 2016 because we’d already be out of here), the new members were recognized and awarded their certificate and medal by Mr. Sweetwood, a much beloved Social Studies teacher at Pontiac Township High School. Continuing members were also recognized after all new members had been inducted. Aubrey Gill, Allison Hodgson, Tatum Joerndt, and Kate Roberts were welcomed into National Honor Society from the Class of 2017. Sara Albrecht, Peter Babb, Sara Dunham, Jakob Grieff, India Guerrero, Trevor Heddins, Emma Jacobs, Kevin Kuska, Ryan Lauritsen, Ashton Melchers, Olivia Muir, Abigayle Orndorff, Liam Pickett, Payton Pulliam, Tyler Rich, Lucas Roe, Tyrah Sexton, Kalynn Wiles, and Henry Woodburn were the twenty students chosen to enter National Honor Society from the Class of 2016.     November 16th was a wonderful night for everyone involved. This night could not have been possible without our principal, Mr. Bohm, and the National Honor Society sponsor, Mrs.Baumgardner. Of all the nights of our high school career, this is easily the most special for the students being inducted and the parents that raised them.