Atlantic Christian inducts first group of National Honor Society members

Last Updated on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 04:20 pm Written by Staff Reports Thursday, January 17, 2013 01:00 am

Submitted/Atlantic Christian inducts its first group of National Honor Society members on Jan. 5 in Egg Harbor Township.

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP – Atlantic Christian School inducted 26 students into the National Honor Society at a Saturday, Jan. 5 ceremony in the school gymnasium.

“This was a very memorable day for our students, their families, and our school as we recognized the first group of students to be selected for this distinguished honor in Atlantic Christian’s 41-year history,” said Principal Karen Newman.  “This induction ceremony will now be an annual event.”

Newman said Atlantic Christian established its National Honor Society chapter after becoming dually accredited last spring by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the Association of Christian Schools International.

 “We are so pleased to be able to honor our students for their dedication and hard work,” said Susan Smith, who is the faculty advisor for the school’s NHS chapter.

The 26 students – 11 in high school and 15 in middle school – were selected by a faculty council for demonstrating the four principles of the school’s NHS chapter – scholarship, service, leadership and Christian character. Four seniors – Neena Biello, Jonie Mercadante, Ayomide Oguntuase and Hannah Schalles – were selected to speak at the ceremony and they challenged the new inductees to continue to live out the NHS principles.

During the ceremony, the students lit candles to symbolize their commitment to the ideals of the National Honor Society and recited the society’s honor pledge as they stood on the stage before family, friends and faculty members.

The 11 students in grades 10-12 who were inducted in the National Honor Society are

Neena Biello of Ventnor; Elliott Breunig of Beesleys Point; Jonie Mercadante of Toms River; Jonathan Pennella of Little Egg Harbor; Ayomide Oguntuase, Michelle Reilly, Jordan Scheidegg, and Licia Sheridan of Egg Harbor Township; Hannah Schalles and Lydia Schalles of Ocean City; and Doudou Sun of China.

The 15 students in grades seven-9 who were inducted in the Junior National Honor Society were Mikayla D’Anna of Northfield, Bailey Carney of Clermont, Lydia Dice of Ocean View, Spencer Lyons and Joanna Noto of Galloway, Dan Mercadante and Dave Mercadante of Toms River, Mia Nocho of Wildwood, Hunter Robinson and Robin Simpson of Marmora, and Robert Simpson, Luke Mouliert, Amelia Sray, Candace Winkel and Sarah Kimmerley of Egg Harbor Township.