This past week Kenyon-Wanamingo Schools inducted twenty new students into an already large group of thirty-three students to the National Honor Society. NHS was founded in 1921 and has since been known for its four pillars of leadership, scholarship, service, and character.
I was so proud to be the keynote speaker for this amazing group of young adults. I stressed the value of learning from our failures in life. Sometimes our kids don’t know how to rebound from failure, a rejection or even a “no”. Everything in life is worth working hard for.
As a school administrator I focus on what a program can do for our students. In this case, I value that this organization recognizes a student's dedication to academic excellence and community involvement. I can also appreciate the leadership skills that NHS offers because many of our students do not have the opportunity to get hands-on leadership development. NHS encourages and fosters leadership skills among its members. K-W members have numerous activities and projects where they learn how to effectively lead and collaborate with others. As we all know this is an essential skill that is valuable beyond high school.
One of the core pillars of the NHS is service to the community. Our members engage in various volunteer activities; I am in awe at how much they contribute to our community, seniors, and even our youth organizations. NHS emphasizes the importance of good character, something this world needs so much more of!
If you or your child is looking at another reason to apply for the NHS, keep in mind that it can open doors to additional scholarship opportunities for college, trade school and apprenticeships. Many organizations value the qualities demonstrated by NHS members and offer scholarships specifically targeted toward them.
A special thanks to Rich Kincaid, the NHS advisor for Kenyon Wanamingo, for fostering academic excellence, leadership skills, community service, and personal integrity in our students. As I told the students in my address, “I am proud of you”!
