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Fifteen new members were inducted into the Luverne High School National Honor Society Monday, Nov. 22, in a ceremony at the performing arts center.
Inducted during the ceremony were seniors Pierce Cunningham, Elise Ferrell, Trygve Gangestad, Kristin Rud, Madeleine Schmuck and Hope Thorson, and juniors Parker Carbonneau, Ross Bergman, Jacie Graham, Tori Hemme, Averill Sehr, Christina Wagner, Elizabeth Wagner, Anja Jarchow and Logan Ommen.
Each of the new inductees received a membership pin from the one teacher they selected as having made an impact on their educational journey thus far.
The teachers chosen included Gavin Folkestad, Caroline Thorson, Mike Wenninger, Courtney Graanstra, Laura Louwagie, James Jarvie, Lucy Rofshus, Jon Schomacker, April Wallace, Aaron Perkins, Deb Hoogendorn, Jason Berghorst, Katie Mostad and Amy Sahly.
LHS graduate Kathryn “Kat” Dahl, a past inductee into the LHS Honor Society, was chosen to address the group.
She explained how the society’s four pillars, scholarship, service, leadership and character, have influenced her career journey to become a doctor and return to her hometown as a family practitioner.
“I was worried I didn’t have enough experience under my belt to expound wisdom,” Dahl said. “It seems like yesterday that I was sitting in your chair.”
Since graduating from Luverne High School in 2010, Dahl earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter and is now in medical school at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
She is currently a resident physician at the Center for Family Medicine in Sioux Falls and is finishing a fellowship in C-section training.
Dahl will start her practice in family medicine at the Luverne Sanford Clinic in January.
“I am at an interesting crossroads in my career right now, where the years and years of education are about to come to an end and I will start my forever job,” Dahl said.
“If you would have told me 13 years ago that my forever job would take me back home, I would have thought you were kidding.”
Accompanying Dahl back to her hometown are her husband, Brooks Maurer, a teacher with Luverne, and their one-year-old son, Myles.
Guiding her for more than a decade have been NHS pillars of scholarship, service, leadership and character.
Her experience with each pillar, especially scholarship, is still with her today.
“When you think you’ve learned it all, your path will branch and there will be more to learn,” she said.
“I challenge you to keep an open mind to learning new skills. Never let yourself think you are the smartest one in the room. Stay humble and stay committed to learning more.”
For service Dahl advised students to volunteer for reasons other than listing projects on applications.
“Use that privilege that you’ve been given to help those who are less fortunate than you — put their needs ahead of your own,” she said.
“Don’t wait for good things to happen to you; go out and do good things. The world will be a better place because of it.”
Leadership and character meld together in Dahl’s experience.
She encouraged students to use experiences to lead and take the best learned aspects to be a team member rather than working to better only oneself.
“Be courageous as you go forward and be courteous with your actions,” Dahl said.
“The four pillars of National Honor Society have helped me navigate life outside of Luverne. I hope you will take them wherever your journey takes you.”
Each year Luverne High School inducts 7 percent of seniors and 7 percent of juniors into the National Honor Society.
Students with a grade point average of 3.250 or better receive a written invitation to apply to the society.
Once applications are submitted, a committee of six teachers compile comments from the applicant’s teachers and selects those for induction.
“Membership in the National Honor Society is one of the highest achievements a high school student can attain. It is a reflection of their character, leadership, service and scholastic ability,” said current NHS member senior Olivia Huisman.
“It is also a reflection on their parents, teachers and fellow classmates who have helped and encouraged them.”
In addition to Olivia Huisman, current NHS members include seniors Trista Baustian, Griffen Jarchow, Casey Sehr, Luke Thorson, Brooklynn VerSteeg and Olivia Wieneke.