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Riverbank Students Recognized For Excellence
Meza
Graciela Meza shows off her National Honor Society certificate at the induction ceremony at Riverbank High School. Students were honored for achieving and maintaining high grade point averages. This was the first such presentation at RHS. Ric McGinnis/The News

 

Tucked away between Homecoming Week activities this past week on the Riverbank High School campus, a diverse group of RHS students were recognized for their scholastic abilities.

It was a first for the high school, according to Ms. Mary Lopez, who conducted the awards ceremony. Riverbank students received certificates and pins signifying their induction into the National Honor Society.

To receive the distinction, students must post a 3.5 or higher GPA, most maintaining a 4.0-plus grade average.

The inductees were: Cristopher Perez-Ruiz, Alejandro Perez Ruiz, Samuel Carlos, Jr., Alondra Valdez, Graciela Meza, Ashley Murillo Delgado, Jaqueline Iniguez, Alondra Verenice Hernandez Zamora, Luis De Los Santos.

Also, Sara Tapia, Guadalupe Rodriguez, Alejandro Manzo, Valleri Rose Gobel, Eric Wise, Carolina Duarte Iniguez, Kayla Savory, Alex Alfaro, Ryan Choeb, Kameron Koby Gilbert, Daisy Leal.

In addition, inductees were Jesus Pedro Aguiniga, Yoselin Palmerin Calderon, Jorge Yepez, Christian Bolanos, Nathaniel Martinez, Maria Quintero, Areli Esqueda, Elizabeth Montanez.

“As members of NHS, these students will now engage in a number of individual and chapter service projects. Students have requested to establish an adopt-a-grandparent program with the senior facilities in Riverbank,” said Lopez. “National Honor Society is the nation’s oldest and best-known student recognition program and was founded in 1921 by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.”

Students were presented with certificates and pins, then posed for a photo for the audience. When all had been recognized, the group recited the Honor Society Pledge. When they adjourned, they posed on the bleachers for a group photo.

The National Honor Society has four basic requirements for membership. They are scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

Scholarship is demonstrated through their grade point average.

Junior Year Induction GPA requirement is a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 that must be earned during freshman and sophomore years.

Senior Year Induction GPA Requirement is a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 that is earned during freshman, sophomore, and junior years.

And they don’t allow rounding up the average to meet the requirements.

In addition to academic initiative, a student’s leadership can be demonstrated if they successfully hold school offices or positions of responsibility; conduct business effectively and efficiently; and demonstrate reliability and dependability. They should be a leader at work and in school or community activities and be thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted.

And they should be willing to uphold scholarship and maintain a loyal school attitude.

Service is demonstrated by: volunteering to provide dependable and well organized assistance, is gladly available, and is willing to sacrifice to offer assistance, works well with others and is willing to take on difficult or inconspicuous responsibilities. Also, students should cheerfully and enthusiastically render any requested service to the school.

Also, they should be willing to represent the class or school in inter-class and inter-scholastic competition, participate in some activity outside of school like Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, church youth groups, and volunteer services for the aged, poor, or disadvantaged.

Character is shown when a student takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously, consistently exemplifies desirable qualities of behavior (cheerfulness, friendliness, poise, and stability) and upholds principles of morality and ethics. Also, they will be cooperative by complying with school regulations concerning property, programs, office, halls, etc., and demonstrating the highest standards of honesty and reliability.

RHS administrators said one of the benefits of induction into the society is how it is reflected in their college applications.