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Luverne High School honored 21 students in an earlier-than-usual National Honor Society initiation ceremony April 8.
Three seniors and five juniors joined the elite group this year that already included 13 returning members, who conducted the evening’s ceremony.
Each year the Luverne chapter can select 5 percent of the junior and senior classes for membership.
Retired district court judge Tim Connell, a 1967 LHS graduate, was the event’s guest speaker. He talked with the students about the four NHS membership qualities.
“People have seen these qualities in you,” he said. “People saw in me those qualities — that I didn’t know I have — and built on that.”
A professor at St. John’s University in Collegeville suggested Connell consider becoming a lawyer.
“As a result, I changed my focus,” Connell said. “You know if he sees that, maybe … he’s telling me something that I don’t see in myself.”
Connell earned his law degree in 1976 and returned to Luverne, serving in private practice and as the county attorney for 11 years.
District Court Judge Gary Crippen pulled Connell aside, encouraging him to apply for the district judgeship, and he spent 25 years as a district court judge before retiring.
Connell said he learned to be attentive as a judge and listen to people, and he passed this advice to the students.
“Realize what you have,” Connell said. “Use those gifts to your benefit … as you go through school and go through life, remember if someone sees something there, you might want to take a look at it.”
The Luverne NHS chapter traditionally conducted the initiation ceremony in May, combined with the school’s Awards Night.
By inducting students earlier in the school year, the honor can be mentioned on college applications.
This is the first year Luverne did not select sophomores for membership, which is more in line with the national chapter guidelines and allows teachers to know students better.
All junior and senior students with a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher are eligible for membership.
Students applying for admittance detail their scholarship, leadership, service and character achievements.
Teachers then weigh in on the applicants, indicating which students they had in class. A teacher committee selects those students meeting the NHS criteria and they are offered membership into the society.
This year’s ceremony was also expanded to a half hour and included the presentation of society pins by the teacher who made an impact on each nominated student’s educational journey.
Junior Graham Cunningham said science teacher Jeffrey Weber influenced him the most.
“He inspired me to work hard every day and do what I do well every day,” Cunningham said.
Other selected teachers included Hillary Neisteadt, Carmen Thompson, Amy Sahly, Mike Wenninger, Chris Nowatzki, Caroline Thorson and Aaron Perkins.
The April 8 event had been twice postponed due to weather on Feb. 11 and Feb. 25.
Current NHS members conducted the ceremony.
“Membership into the National Honor Society is one of the highest achievements a high school student can obtain,” said senior NHS member Jacinda Hustoft. “It is a reflection of their character, leadership, service and scholastic ability. ...They all worked hard for this honor and we should be proud.”
Senior inductees include Carissa Cunningham, Lindsey Roemeling and Riley Severtson. New junior members include Colby Crabtree, Graham Cunningham, Madigan Flom, Nicole Hoogland and Heather Huether.
Previous members include senior members Jadyn Anderson, Julia Ferguson, Gabrielle Ferrell, Derek Lundgren, Mackenzie Petersen, Emilie Staeffler and Grace Sweeney.
Junior members are Claire Baustian, Alexa Chesley, Amelia Jarchow, Gunnar Oldre and Jordan Winter.