In a candlelight ceremony at Panther Valley High School on Nov. 6, 13 students were inducted into the Panther Valley Chapter of the National Honor Society.

The new members were selected by the chapter’s Faculty Council based on meeting the highest standards of scholarship, service, leadership and character.

The new members are juniors Lucy Greco, Andrew Kokinda, Kaidence Krapf, Eli Maynard, Maddison Maynard, Riley McArdle, Merissa Miller, Courtney Rickert, Hilary Shreffler, and Mikayla Yuricheck as well as seniors Austin Hadley, Mia Perilli and John Ruzicka.

They join current National Honor Society members Ethan Gardiner, River Knoblauch, Kyle Lin, David McAndrew III and Michael Pascoe. This year, Kyle Lin serves as the chapter’s president while David McAndrew III handles the duties of vice president. River Knoblauch performs the duties of secretary and Michael Pascoe serves as treasurer.

“We are very proud to recognize these outstanding members of our student body. National Honor Society members are chosen for and then expected to continue their exemplary contributions to their school and their community,” said Chrisanne Powell, PV’s Chapter NHS Adviser. “The Panther Valley Chapter has been active since 1976. Each year, the chapter sponsors a wide range of service projects in our school district as well as our communities.”

National Honor Society students perform numerous duties within the high school and they also volunteer at Second Harvest Food Pantry, act as Santa’s Helpers for PVES’s Santa Shoppe and actively participate in the Elementary and Intermediate Schools’ Field Day festivities at the end of the school year. In addition they assist at the annual Carbon County Senior Games.

The Chapter consistently lends a helping hand in many American Cancer Society activities, such as Daffodil Days and the Relay for Life. Earlier this year, the Panther Valley National Honor Society was honored with the “James J. Rhoades Award for Outstanding School Participation.” Volunteering in support of a local project, the Lansford Public Pool, the students helped out at Plant Fest and Music in the Park events and we will again sponsor a community Christmas Tree in Kennedy Park.