Vermont Academy tenth, eleventh, and twelfth-grade students are eligible to apply for membership in Vermont Academy’s chapter of the NHS. The criteria are a minimum of a 3.3 grade point average (GPA), submission of an application and essay, and demonstrations of leadership, commitment to community service, and character. 

 

This year, the ceremony was student-led, under the guidance of NHS Co-Advisors Nicole Losavio, director of alumni engagement, and Peter Ahlfeld, director of the Center for Learning. 

 

For welcoming remarks, Patrick Pajcic ’24 greeted the audience with an inviting message, sharing with all the purpose of the event. “For NHS current members and those former members who may be among our guests, we hope this will serve to remind you of the standards of excellence that you, too, are charged with maintaining as members of the nation’s oldest, largest, and most prestigious student recognition program.”

 

The four students representing each of the four NHS pillars stepped forward one by one and lit a candle before reading an excerpt about the pillar. Sydney Shaw ’25 spoke about scholarship, Iris Adamoli-Puchalik ’25 spoke about service, Ruby Besson ’25 spoke about leadership, and Delaney Cox ’24 spoke about character. The four speeches served as great reminders of what NHS stands for, and its importance. Sofia Bianconi ’24 took to the podium to lead the current members and new inductees in the NHS pledge.

 

In a display of heartfelt recognition for the new inductees, each current NHS member read personal testimonials they wrote about the new inductees. Each speech was personal and detailed the strengths and positive attributes of the inductees that make them great additions to the VA NHS. After their speech was read, each inductee finished their initiation by writing their name in the NHS register, shaking Academic Dean Lorna Schilling’s hand, and receiving a yellow rose, certificate, card, and pin.

 

At the closing of the induction ceremony, Pinky Rasmussen ’24 delivered a congratulatory speech, restating the meaning behind each of the four NHS pillars. She finished her remarks by thanking the parents, newly inducted NHS members, faculty, and attendees. 

 

Congratulations to our new NHS members:

 

Emmanuel Cheung Hernandez '25

Andy Darcy '25

Asper Donath '26

Raymond Feng ’25

Jaden Frimpong '24

Nathan Gagnon ’24

Ana Hernandez-Merkle '25

Mac Knisley ’24

Natalie Kucerova ’24

Khiêm Nguyen '24

Leo Plansky ’25

Maya Sbardellati ’25

Antisha Ssuna ’25

Morgan Studin ’25

Darlene Tashobya '25

Oliver Walsh-Fischetti ’25

 

Current NHS members include:

 

Aubrie Adair ’25

Iris Adamoli-Puchalik ’25

Cole Allen ’24

Ruby Besson ’25

Sofia Bianconi ’24

Delaney Cox ’24

Taylor Edwards ’25

Allie Guyer ’25

Lucas Hoffman ’24

Hazel Kekic ’24

James Mikos ’24

Elias Norton ’24

Patrick Pajcic ’24

Sydney Palmiotto ’24

Pinky Rasmussen ’24

Lola Rothschild ’25

Sydney Shaw ’25

Owen Willgos ’24

 

The full album of photos can be found here.