Bedford High School inducts 59 students into the National Honor Society

Bedford High School inducted 59 students into the National Honor Society on Tuesday night. NHS President Anna Chong began the ceremony, congratulating new inductees on their commitment to excellence and their status as role models for other students. 

National Honor Society officers Anna Chong, Vice President Emma Szabo, Secretary Rachel Gould, and Treasurer Anya Yajnik presented the standards of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character, respectively. 

After all new members received their membership tokens, Bedford High School Principal Heather Galante addressed the inductees, saying that she is often impressed by the young people she encounters, especially the students who attend Bedford High School, which is fortunate to be home to many successful students. 

“You all represent more than a grade point average on your transcript. You are engaged citizens and good humans who have embraced learning and scholarship,” she said. 

Faculty keynote speaker Carlos Caprioli congratulated the inductees with his own message, complete with plenty of references to his home country of Argentina winning the soccer World Cup last weekend. He started with “Soccer is a silly game to some, but to about five million people around the world, it is more of a reflection of life. And Argentina winning the cup is a sweet, sweet moment. Like they say in one of the movies we teach in cinema class, a remake of the Spanish Abre los Ojos, ‘the sweet without the bitter just ain’t as sweet’.” 

He told the story of Argentina getting eliminated in the group stage in the 2002 World Cup, and how his house went silent after the loss. He and his sister hugged after the big game and “just let it all out” – something they did again over the phone after Argentina won on Sunday. In that spirit, he advised the students to remember all of the times that they struggled throughout their high school experience as they receive this honor. 

He encouraged the students to appreciate all that their parents do for them to be successful, well-rounded students. Expressing gratitude towards the students for their dedication to service, he said that “what’s most honorable here is not about the grades. The most honorable part to me is the service portion, the dedication to others. We’re all floating along in some form of privilege that we probably take for granted… As we all strive to make ourselves better, to grow in all directions, let’s not forget those around us.”

He urged students to “celebrate all the good times, because as I’m sure you’ve seen in your own lives, and as we all saw during the peak of the pandemic, and as we saw in the 78th minute of the World Cup final, the world can change in an instant. Keep working hard, work towards your goals and dreams no matter how close or how far they are. Continue to care about those around you, to lift them up with you.” 

Nearing the end of his speech, he concluded with a fact that will never change for all students to share, no matter where life takes them: “Argentina is the World Cup champion.” 

Here is the list of the inductees: