“Noblesse Oblige,” the motto of Fort Hamilton High School’s National Honor Society, entails a commitment to using one’s personal resources to contribute to the greater good of society. On March 14, 2024, the National Honors Society held its annual installation ceremony, celebrating students who exemplify the pillars of character, scholarship, leadership, and service and renewing their dedication to serving their community.
The ceremony commenced with a procession of students into the auditorium to the sound of melodic piano music; each student held a candle representing the light that each student’s commitment to the pillars of NHS exudes.
“The significance of the candle-lit procession would have to be what it means relating to the candle of knowledge,” said Maria Karounos, one half of the Installation and Accountability Chair of the NHS e-board. “The candle of knowledge is lit before any of the pillar candles because it signifies the ability to learn and grow. When the students walk in with their candles it’s like they’re sharing the light of knowledge with everyone in the auditorium. They are representing their own personal growth as a member of NHS and as a scholar of good character.”
After the presentation of the Color Guard and the performance of “The Star Spangled Banner” by senior Hayley Yan, e-board members took turns explaining the significance of each pillar and lighting a candle representing each value. This was followed by an address by Principal Houlihan, who highlighted the many accomplishments of NHS, including the vocabulary words hung up throughout Fort Hamilton, which encourage students to learn new words as they travel between classes.
During the ceremony, senior members recited an oath to “always seek the light of truth, to hold scholarly habits, to engage in worthy service” throughout their lives beyond their high school careers, while new members pledged to “maintain and encourage high standards of character, scholarship, leadership, and service.”
“The oath of membership is an official oath that every member repeats to be granted membership,” said Karounos. “There is the senior oath which is a renewal of good standing with NHS that encourages seniors to uphold the four pillars even after they graduate. Both oaths are formalities, but they signify the mission that NHS aims to reach.”
After pledging their dedication to upholding the values of NHS, students walked the stage and were awarded for their commitment.
“NHS Installation is an annual event that allows our new and returning members to celebrate their achievements with each other and their families,” said Ava Canadè, NHS Recording Secretary. “The ceremony itself is very well planned and having other organizations such as JROTC, students from the orchestra, and more help to make the night even more beautiful and exciting.”
NHS Advisor Mr. Sosa gave an emotional speech congratulating members for being “living pillars of our beloved school” and advised members to “stay humble, express gratitude, and tell people you love them” and encouraged students to “learn and examine new ideas” because “new knowledge never gets old.”
Mr. Sosa also honored each e-board member for their hard work and dedication to the National Honors Society, citing their individual contributions to the overall success of the organization.
To end off the night, NHS continued its tradition of admitting an honorary member to NHS, an honor bestowed upon a faculty member for her unwavering commitment to the school community and its students. This year’s recipient was Principal Houlihan, whose dedication to the school and notable contributions to its student body were lauded in a speech delivered by NHS e-board members Alvin Jiang and Isabel Begollari.
“One of Ms. Houlihan’s biggest strengths is ensuring that all students are seen,” Jiang said in his portion of the speech. “Her door is always open and she welcomes any questions or concerns about the school. We’ve got a friend in our very own principal.”
The NHS e-board members expressed pride in the work that went into preparing for the ceremony and the way it went.
“The Installation Ceremony is important to me because as an installation chair, it’s my responsibility to make sure that everything goes perfectly,” said Karounos. “Seeing all the seniors and underclassmen walk down the aisle from the stage is definitely a core memory that will remain with me for a long time. It is also the first event juniors will attend as NHS members, and I want them to have a great experience with it. All the hard work and effort we put into planning the ceremony is visible throughout the entire evening. And at the end of the day, it is all worth it.”
Other e-board members shared Karounos’s sentiment. “The NHS installation ceremony is an important event to recognize the academic achievements and willingness to support the community that Fort Hamilton’s NHS members exemplify year after year,” said Shihadeh. “Being a part of NHS opens up students to numerous opportunities to give back to [the community], whether it’s through the weekly soup kitchens at St. Michael’s, the annual Breast Cancer Awareness walk, or the plethora of charity fundraisers we host.”
Mr. Sosa’s advice, to “make sure that you ask for help when you need it and give help when you can” and “never stop making this world a better place for all people,” echoes the NHS value of providing for others when given the chance and, in turn, developing a sense of community built through love and compassion.
