As of last Tuesday, the National English Honor Society (NEHS) hosted its 10th annual induction ceremony. Students, families, and faculty gathered in the Southwest Regional Library’s auditorium to help celebrate the upcoming members’ achievements.
To be inducted, rising members were required to reach a minimum of 15 hours. Those who were given a certificate, illustrated their literary passion in two academic semesters.
Rising member, sophomore Leonardo Vazquez reflects on his year in this club by saying “most of the events we do are really fun. You get to be creative and expressive in ways other clubs do not offer.” From his success this year, Vazquez has not only become more confident in his work but he also cannot wait to see what next year has in store for him.
Before the ceremony began, Assistant Principal Cindy Velez welcomed the upcoming members. She then gave a small message of appreciation, which transitioned into English teacher and NEHS Faculty Advisor Sarah Phelps’ thoughtful address.
Every year, Phelps honors her students by showing pride for their participation, detailing the past accomplishments of the club. In a world where almost all current work is tampered by artificial intelligence, this year’s message focused on the power of human expression.
She states, quoting Matt Haig’s ‘Nervous Planet’, “Reading is love in action. It is how humans merge, how minds connect, dreams, empathy, understanding, and escape.”
Phelps had mentioned earlier in her speech that her goal is to highlight the importance of language and literacy. For this ceremony, she reminded students of more than just the club’s goals; “We value the language arts because we value people,” she states.
Senior Vice President Maria Estrada added on to this message and recited the clubs’ historically vital purpose, soon inviting inductees to come on stage.
After shaking the hands of Velez, Phelps, and senior NEHS President Sofia Peralta, each student was instructed to treasure their honorary pieces; an official certificate, a blue ribbon pin, and a white carnation.
After gathering each article, students took part in the long-standing tradition of signing the NEHS book. As of now, the book holds the names of students from the past 10 years.
When it comes down to the students within the club, Peralta admires the personal connections this club creates. “Getting to know the board and becoming friends helps us keep each other accountable,” she says.
Beyond that, her as well as the other board members have made an effort to “make [their] members feel [valued]” in the club.
Following the ceremony, inductees gathered for sweet treats, punch, and photos with their certificates that captured the night. With a decade of success behind them, the NEHS chapter at Pembroke Pines Charter High School looks forward to inspiring more young literary enthusiasts in the years ahead.
