Temilade Onile ’22 looked out to Sevigny Field where her friends, family, classmates, faculty, and staff sat. 

Onile, vice-president of the Cheshire Academy chapter of the National Honor Society, was the first to address the audience during the annual NHS induction ceremony, held on Thursday, May 5. She recognized the 25 new inductees as intelligent, ambitious, and caring, and that she is confident that the new NHS members will do great things. 

“I look at the students within this organization, and I am at ease because I know that within this group of people holds the leaders of tomorrow, leaders who not only are the best at what they do, but leaders who will do the right thing,” Onile said. 

As is tradition, chapter leaders lit candles that represent the NHS’s four pillars of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Chapter advisor Nick Joaquin lit the first candle, representative of the Society’s torch, the symbol of the eternal light of knowledge. 

Chapter president Kavin Kathir ’22 reflected on the chapter’s progress, despite the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the group to nix several activities during the 2021-2022 academic year. 

“This year we were able to bounce back better than ever,” Kathir said. The chapter this academic year volunteered at the Cheshire Community Food Pantry and at Temple Beth David’s mitzvah garden, promoted agricultural access, hosted a successful community Thanksgiving dinner, fundraised more than 100 cans of food for the Food Pantry, and initiated a peer tutoring program “that will continue to help students for years to come.” 

“When I look around today, I see students that not only thrive in the classroom out of a genuine interest to learn, but will thrive in life out of a drive and unrivaled passion,” Kathir said. 

James Guo ’22, chapter treasurer, expanded on the peer tutoring program, which he said began in the fall 2022 semester. He noted the challenges of developing the program and expressed optimism that it will be effective starting next year. 

“We have planned to make the program widely available in the upcoming school year,” Guo explained. “Everyone—this would be the opportunity for us to help and give back to our community. This is also the chance for us to show what we are capable of in our position in the school.” 

Emma Dransfield ’22, chapter secretary, told her peers that being inducted is a recognition and reward of their strong academics, athletic achievements, extracurricular activities, and service work. As a graduating senior, she is confident that the new inductees will successfully lead the chapter. 

“You are all truly remarkable people in and out of the classroom. The Society is only going to improve and increase the positive impact we have on our own CA community and the Cheshire community at large,” Dransfield said. 

See more photos from the event on our Flickr photo gallery.