On Tuesday, May 12 Holy Cross recognized the Class of 2020 students who have earned membership in honor societies this year during a virtual ceremony. Due to the stay-at-home order, recognitions that are generally held in separate events on campus were combined into one event recognizing the graduating seniors. Students in the Class of 2021 will be inducted into the honor societies early next schoolyear. To open the event, President Katy Prebble gave opening remarks, congratulating the inductees who have distinguished themselves by “embracing and embodying the characteristics and the qualifications needed to be invited to the prestigious societies.” She noted that while the personal characteristics valued by the different honor societies may be distinct in some ways, they are mutually reinforcing in many other ways.
During the ceremony, the new members of the Moreau Chapter of the National Honor Society were recognized by Moderator Jean Cotter for having demonstrated excellence in the four pillars of the National Honor Society: Scholarship, Service, Leadership and Character.
National Honor Society Class of 2020 Inductees:
Alexis Abdullah
Carleigh Armstrong
Kaila Burgess
Daniela Cruz
Samantha Galvin
Theresa Kelly
Olivia Madaras
Isabelle Mitchell
Joelle Packard
Carmella Rizzo
The inductees of the Science National Honor Society Charter 1546 were recognized by Moderator and Science Department Chair Alison Simon. She noted that the as members of the society they are “willing to engage in the methodical (perhaps sometimes repetitive), the creative, the independent work and the collaborative. They are preparing to have fierce conversations and continue to fight for a place for women in the STEM fields.”
National Science Honor Society Class of 2020 Inductees:
Rebecca Bisrat
Kaila Burgess
Mi Phan
Olivia Scuderi
Alyssa Vetter
Natalie Young
World Languages Department Chair Rachel Mullervy recognized the two seniors being inducted into the Spanish and French Honor Societies. She noted that Holy Cross strives “to empower our students to be knowledgeable global citizens by developing functional proficiency and intercultural understanding in a world language.” Moderator Gabriela Saibene noted that The Academy of the Holy Cross Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (Spanish Honor Society) chapter, Capitulo Santa Teresa, was founded in 2000. Moderator Aurelie Miller remarked that the Moreau Chapter of Société Honoraire de Français is part of the largest national association of French teachers in the world with nearly 10,000 members.
Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (Spanish Honor Society) Class of 2020 Inductee:
Preetam Bhutani
Société Honoraire de Français (French Honor Society) Class of 2020 Inductee:
Marilyn Caceres
Moderator of the International Thespian Society, Kate Griffith, remarked that the inductees are “leaders both onstage and backstage, and have performed the roles of house manager, usher, costumer, stage manager, production assistant, run crew, and build and paint; in addition to the roles they play in the shows themselves.”
International Thespian Society Class of 2020 Inductees:
Catherine Connolly
Daniela Cruz
Theresa Kelly
Olivia Madaras
Katherine Rose
To conclude the ceremony Principal John Sullivan remarked that the inductees were selected not just because they are smart, but because they have shown their commitment to the larger community. He then spoke about the importance of listening, not only in learning but also in building relationships with others. He said, “ask yourself, ‘what do you hear?’ This skill will take you very far.” He encouraged the inductees to embrace the world beyond their comfort zone and continue to count on their support systems available (family, teachers, friends) as he gave final words of congratulations.