A new class of student scholars have been inducted into the National Honor Society (NHS) at Grand Island Senior High marking one of the largest groups in recent memory, (GIPS, Courtesy)
GRAND ISLAND — A new class of student scholars have been inducted into the National Honor Society (NHS) at Grand Island Senior High marking one of the largest groups in recent memory. And with it, each student committed to the NHS four pillars: leadership, character, service, and scholarship.
On Saturday evening, Grand Island Senior High (GISH) welcomed its newest members to the storied society. 65 GISH Juniors were honored with induction into the National Honor Society (NHS) marking one of the largest classes in recent years for the Islanders chapter.
“These kids are dedicated — they go above and beyond.” Mrs. Ashley Shultz, GISH AP World History, AP US History, and NHS Sponsor, said, “We ask kids when they apply, ‘What are you currently doing as a student leader?’ and ‘How do you want to see yourself improve in that role?’… It really does help these kids not only grow here while they’re current students, but it gives them the tools to help develop their community as well.”
The ceremony itself, while honoring NHS traditions, is a notable event each year at Grand Island Senior High. Alex Weaver, GISH Senior & NHS Chapter President, shared his advice for new members.
“We want our new inductees to really take advantage of this opportunity. It’s really great!” Weaver said, “A lot of the clubs at school are more just within our school. And what I really like about the National Honor Society is it reaches out to the community, to different businesses and different programs. So, do your own little creative thing and use your talents for good in our community.”
Making the experience full circle, the opportunities to grow, serve, and lead can provide opportunities beyond the community as well.
“But I think they really help with college applications and job applications.” Claire Gartner, GISH Senior & NHS Vice President, said, “And I think they’ll really see a benefit of giving back to the community, and give people a sense of what it feels like to give back to your community.”
Founded in 1921, NHS has become a long-standing, prestigious program holding more than 16,000 active members per the National Honor Society website. In order to qualify for membership into NHS, students must meet a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5. From there membership is not automatically granted, but is also based on student service, leadership, and character, as demonstrated by activities and teacher input. Students must also write an essay sharing how they plan to continue to uphold these four pillars in both the school and the community.
For one new inductee, the NHS opportunity brought a meaningful family connection as well as a chance to be a part of something bigger.
“I wanted to join because when my mom went to school at Polk, Nebraska, she was inducted into the National Honor Society. So I wanted to keep that legacy going.” Cael Wiegert, GISH Junior, reflected, “But also National Honor Society means that I have been selected by teachers, peers, and Mrs. S. to be a person who can show others what to do, who can help lead others, and bring people up alongside them, alongside me.”
Looking to the NHS four pillars, leadership stands out as a driving motivation for others to join. Especially when presented opportunities to bring positive influence.
“Leadership. Probably because I really like and value leadership and those characteristics.” Logain Elmahy, GISH Junior, affirmed, “like Alex [Weaver] said earlier, leadership is a character you can’t really see on paper. You have to show it. It has to be something shown. So it’s like how you are as a person, if you’re responsible, reliable, and all of those things — they can only be seen if you are that.”
And for others, NHS is a chance to challenge oneself to grow and to pursue bigger things.
“I wanted to join National Honor Society so I can build my character, my leadership skills, and I think it puts me in a position where I’m able to do things outside my comfort zone.” Rawan Adam, GISH Junior, shared, “Also just to help inspire those that are younger than you to do it the exact same way. And, on top of that, I feel like it would be fun getting to do volunteer stuff, working with different groups of people and getting to know more people.”
As newly inducted members, the honored Juniors join the current Senior members in being active in school leadership and beyond. Each GISH NHS member develops their own individual service project designed to make a positive impact in the community. Recent community impact projects from GISH NHS students have included hosting a free Fine Arts Camp for Elementary students, volunteering at Big Brothers Big Sisters, delivering meal baskets during Thanksgiving, and so much more.
In supporting the creative, volunteer efforts, Shultz loves seeing students committed to giving back.
“I think the best part is seeing these kids out in the community, outside of school.” Mrs. Shultz said, “we’re involved with a lot of projects. One of our big ones is working with Project Hunger. We have kids who do the Easter Basket Extravaganza, who spend a week helping prepare that. We’ve got kids at Thanksgiving time who helped put together 1,600 Thanksgiving baskets and hand them out in the freezing cold out at Fonner Park… If we can get kids who are civically engaged — who want to help out now — then I just think that helps create a better citizenship for kids in the future.”
Congratulations to the 2025 GISH National Honor Society inductees:
• Rawan Adam
• Lauren Anderson
• Gisselle Avendano
• Adriana Behrens
• Paige Berglund
• Tessa Bockoven
• Mallory Campbell
• Abraham Cardoza
• Daniela Cortes
• Coen Dahlke
• Kaden Dygert
• Logain Elmahy
• Maddox Enck-Monie
• Blythe Evans
• Kimberly Fuentes Ochoa
• Aysha Gawrych
• Zurisadai Gomez Cotom
• Saydee Gomez
• Ivette Gonzalez Medrano
• Haley Grobe
• Avery Hawke
• Kaelie Heminger
• Aksam Ishag Dodban
• Jolianne Jensen
• Katherine Johnsen
• Alijhandra Kirschbaum
• Reagan Kort
• Nathan Kosmicki
• Maria Lara Calzada
• Vanessa Lazalde
• Katherine Lofing
• Lucy Lopez
• Jonny Matul Gonzalez
• Cairee Matzner
• Celia McCoy
• Maximos Mendez
• Mortada Mohammed
• Daniela Monzalvo Tolentino
• Anni Nguyen
• Kamry Niedfelt
• Jennifer Pedro Leon
• Jesenia Pedroza Sotelo
• Brandon Ramirez Vega
• Brian Rauda
• Judy Rivera Cabrera
• Alex Rodriguez
• Isabella Roe
• Laila Romero
• Keylin Salazar-Paxtle
• Brisa Sanchez Dominguez
• Layla Sinsel
• Lucas Skalberg
• Katelyn Sodomka
• Brydon Stein
• Alisea Sweet
• Aaron Tenski
• Jasmine Valladares Celis
• Cambrey Vance
• Noah Veik
• Sophia Weakly
• PaisleeWelty
• Sarah Wichman
• Cael Wiegert
• Katherin Xicara Ramos
• Chanya Zavala
