Huntington High School’s Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society chapter inducted 53 new members during a ceremony this past Wednesday night, bolstering the organization’s ranks of top scholars.
Prospective members must have a minimum unweighted academic average of 90 in social studies courses and 85 overall. “The society seeks to recognize excellence and promote engagement in social studies,” said Kenneth Donovan, a high school social studies teacher who serves as the group’s faculty advisor.
The new inductees include Nicole Abbondandelo, Joel Alfaro, Nicole Arenth, Alyssa Befumo, Samuel Bergman, Quinn Blackburn, Charlotte Brosoff, Michelle Castillo, Kyle Chin, Peter Ciccone, Niamh Condon, Dariana Cruz, Veronique Daniel, Gaia D’Anna, Lianna DeChiaro, Stephanie Demartino, Casey DiGiacomo, Thomas Edgar-McNerney, Xavier Edgar-McNerney, Luke Eidle, Megan Erhardt, Ethan Garcia, Margaret Giles, John Healy, Alexandra Heuwetter, Sarah James, Katharine Kitzen, Camryn Libes, Isabella McGinnis, Zachary McGinnis and Erin Morrisroe.
Casey Moskowitz, Rachel Moss, Christina Nigro, Katarina Obermeier, Emma Petrizzi, Isabella Piccola, Nolan Piccola, Anthony Puglisi, Ameila Reilly, John Riley, Jamie Rosenbauer, Lindsay Saginaw, Raymond Sanders, Katie Seccafico, Ryan Smith, Sebastian Stamatatos, Adam Trimboli, Erica Vazquez, Brenda Viera-Pereira, William Vollack, Lauren White and Matthew Wildermuth were also welcomed into the prestigious organization.
The more than four dozen new members promised “to serve others, to search for truth, to utilize knowledge and to seek wisdom through the pursuit of academic excellence in the social studies.” The teenagers pledged “service to Huntington High School and to the community; for true scholars of the social studies lead by example.”
The Huntington chapter is led by Daniel Collins (president), Nicholas Newell (vice-president), Jahi Douglas (treasurer), Billy Garfinkel (secretary), Michaela Carnesi (historian) and Jordan Biener (outreach/public relations).
This marked the Huntington chapter’s fourth induction ceremony since it was founded. This year’s guest speaker was Huntington Town Historian Robert Hughes.
“Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society is the only national organization for high school juniors and seniors that recognizes excellence in the field of social studies,” states the group’s national website. “Any accredited public high school or non-secondary school can apply for a local chapter, through which individuals will be inducted into Rho Kappa Honor Society. Rho Kappa provides national recognition and opportunities for exploration in the social studies.”
The National Council for the Social Studies started the Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society in 2011.
