May 2006
Contact: Dorothy Wills-Raftery
(845) 255-1400 xt. 1209

Forty Students Inducted into National Technical Honor Society

High school students representing eight Ulster County school districts were recognized for their academic excellence during a candlelight ceremony at the Ulster BOCES Career & Technical Center in Port Ewen recently.

Friends, family members, and teachers looked on with pride as 40 outstanding juniors and seniors from the Ellenville, Highland, Kingston, New Paltz, Onteora, Rondout Valley, Saugerties, and Wallkill school districts were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS).

“Congratulations to you and your parents for a job well done,” said Gary Suraci, principal of the Career & Technical Center. He commended the young men and women for their dedication to academics, as well as their commitment to community service. “But it doesn’t stop here,” he continued. “It’s up to you to keep the fire burning, the enthusiasm growing, and to pass it on to others throughout your lifetime.”

To be eligible for induction into the NTHS, students must meet specific requirements including exceptional academic achievement, be actively involved in community service, and most importantly, be recommended by a teacher. Founded in 1984, the purpose of the NTHS is to encourage students toward higher scholastic achievement, cultivate a desire for personal excellence, and help them find success in today’s highly competitive workplace. More than 1,500 schools and colleges throughout the U.S. and its territories are affiliated with the NTHS.

In the past year, the NTHS members have been involved in the annual Ulster County Toy Drive, as well as Daffodil Days for the American Cancer Society and the Relay for Life at Kingston’s Dietz Stadium, both of which raised money for cancer research. The students also continue to maintain a memorial garden in memory of those who lost their lives in the 9/11 tragedy.

Michael Fresina, co-advisor of the NTHS, along with Gloria Middaugh and Radmila Haviland, brought the evening to a close. “These people truly exemplify what the Honor Society is all about – honesty, responsibility, initiative, teamwork, leadership, citizenship, and scholarship. We’re all going to miss them.”