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Luverne NHS chapter inducts 15 new members, brings membership to 24

Lead Summary
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By
Mavis Fodness

If members of Luverne’s National Honor Society follow Ron Honken’s advice, they will read every day, help find solutions, stay local, and give back to their communities.
Honken was the guest speaker for the 2022 induction ceremony Nov. 14 in the Luverne Middle-High School performing arts center.
Fifteen new members joined the nine seniors inducted to the society last year.
New members include seniors Emma Beyer, Brady Bork, Lauren Hansen, Camden Hoven, Camden Janiszeski, Ethan Nath, Isabella Oye, juniors Brynn Boyenga, Jenna DeBates, Henry Hartquist, Julia Hoogland, Patrick Kroski, Tori Serie, Elizabeth Smidt and Sarah Stegenga.
They joined existing members, seniors Parker Carbonneau, Ross Bergman, Tori Hemme, Anja Jarchow, Logan Ommen, Averill Sehr, Christina Wagner, Elizabeth Wagner and Jamie Graham.
Honken, an LHS 1983 graduate, used personal experiences and offered some sage advice after returning to southwest Minnesota two years ago with his wife, Cathy, also an LHS alum.
“If I can leave you with a little gold nugget that will come to you at the right time and allow you to make a great decision, I am going to feel really good about that,” he said.
Using the NHS pillars of leadership, service, scholarship and citizenship, Honken used knowledge gained from almost 40 years working in the business world.
“Learn how to disagree without being disagreeable. It will serve you well in life,” Honken said. “If you do that, it will set you apart.”
A part of learning to disagree is a daily education in what’s happening around the world and locally.
“If you spend ten minutes a day just reading the national and international news, local news, you’re going to be way ahead,” he said. “The other thing that’s better is to read opinions from someone who you don’t agree with.
“You can learn from them — you don’t have to agree with them.”
Honken’s noticed in his career in banking and finance is that people are more eager to become angry, wanting to prove themselves right.
“When dealing with issues, take the person out of the problem and deal with only the problem,” Honken said. “I’ve found focusing on the problem versus not the person, we can get some things done.”
As future leaders, Honken said it’s easy to be caught in the trap of putting oneself first. Effective leaders do the opposite.
“Share the credit and bear the blame. That’s hard for people to do but raise people up and celebrate with them,” Honken said.
With today’s technology, being a leader within an international business doesn’t mean leaving southwest Minnesota to accomplish their dreams.
Honken works as the chief growth officer for Aon, an international insurance brokerage and consulting company. He works from his home in Leota.
“Today you guys don’t have to go anywhere to go somewhere. You can stay in this area if you so choose and accomplish all your dreams,” Honken said.
Effective leaders also give back — time, talent and treasure.
As an example, Honken offered to be a contact for each of the 24 LHS National Honor Society members.
“This is a tremendous thing you have done but don’t let this be your finest moment. Your finest moment is coming and I look forward to reading about you and hearing about you and connecting with you in the future and helping you,” he said.
“This is just the beginning for you.”

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