Twenty students joined the Daniel I. Farren Chapter of Lehighton Area High School’s National Honor Society on Nov. 18 during the high school’s induction ceremony.

Following a piano prelude by Natalie Blair, NHS adviser Michelle Clark welcomed family and friends to the induction.

NHS senior member Jenna Gasker gave a brief history of the National Honor Society, followed by a prayer from fellow senior Zander Bauer.

Students also read the descriptions of the four virtues that a student must possess when they are a member of the society.

Callie Hayman spoke of scholarship; Megan Aaron read leadership; Taylor Mickley read character; and Cecilia Sarnowski read service.

Hayman then introduced the present members before turning over the podium to Clark, who introduced guest speaker Tim Tkach.

Tkach, who is retiring at the end of 2021, is a Lehighton alum and current assistant to the superintendent in the district.

He commended students and their parents on accomplishments up to this point, but cautioned them that things can change quickly if they forget why they are putting in all the volunteer hours and hard work.

“It’s that willingness to work and benefit others that are in need,” Tkach said. “You aren’t looking to get paid, and you don’t look for that public recognition. You do it because you want to help. You want to make it a better community, a better school, and a better neighborhood.”

On average, each student inducted into NHS last week put in 121 hours of volunteer service with the highest amount totaling 189 hours.

“You don’t lead by words, you lead by action,” Tkach told students. “We’ve always been very fortunate that our students here understand that. Now more than ever, we need real leaders at all levels, local, state and federal that lead by actions and not words.”

Following Tkach’s speech, Gasker introduced the new inductees.

The new NHS inductees are Brynn Barachie, Eliza Andrew, Edie Cordes, Ava Beers, Adrienne Leiby, Faith Yeakel, Anya Shorten, Madylin Wolter, Megan Hoffman, Brenna Hunt, Abigail Klotz, Gauge Hartney, Emma Gaston, Brynn Wentz, Sophia Wentz, Madelyn Sofranko, Levi Monk, Zachary Wilusz, Katie Wojton and Gabriella Di Dea.

Current members are Megan Aaron, Zander Bauer, Madison Brown, Rylie Bryfogle, Jenna Gasker, Callie Hayman, Abigail Meckes, Taylor Mickley, Alyssa Myers, Autumn Pinto and Cecilia Sarnowski.

Sue Howland, Lehighton high school principal, provided closing remarks.

She congratulated each of the students and their parents for the hard work they have done to reach this level of excellence.

“You will all carry this honorable distinction throughout your lives,” Howland said. “Carry it with pride because you have worked hard and you deserve it. You have all embraced the pursuit of excellence. Your lifetime accomplishments and stories will make the Lehighton community proud.”