Spring brings many annual rites for high school students, including the start of the awards season.

On Wednesday, May 11, students from the Cranston High School East classes of 2016 and 2017 took their rightful places next to their predecessors in joining the National Honor Society.

The JROTC Honor Guard led the entrance march with the podium speakers and guests, and the Color Guard performed the traditional presentation of colors, which was followed by junior class member Rachel Fontes singing the national anthem.

Keith McAteer, the honor society’s current president, served as master of ceremonies for the evening. After introducing all the platform guests, he brought East Principal Sean Kelly to the podium to offer his remarks.

“We are here to celebrate the achievements of our best and brightest with one of the highest honors that a high school student can receive for academic success and achievement,” he began.

“In order to be inducted, you have to demonstrate a commitment to service, character, and leadership. These three qualities will serve you well in all of your future goals. Never forget these ideals, and always be true to yourself,” he added.

Kelly went to reflect about hi own induction into the honor society some 24 years earlier.

“I remember the pride I had in the validation of the hard work I had put forth in the classroom and in the community. My hope for you is that you feel the same pride in your hard work,” he said.

Mayor Allan Fung also spoke to the assembled. He told them to remember where they came from, and praised them for their accomplishments.

“I see you passing by City Hall between classes, and I am constantly impressed by how you hold yourselves. Your achievements do not stop here,” he said.

Assistant Superintendent Norma Cole and Ward 1 School Committee member Jeff Gale brought greetings and congratulations as well.

Social Studies teacher Scott Maynard offered the faculty tribute.

“We are proud of you tonight. Do not take this achievement lightly. Be proud to serve your community, refuse to accept mediocrity from yourself, do not wish your life away,” he said.

The cornerstones of the honor society’s philosophy are scholarship, service, leadership, and character. The four officers of the Cranston East chapter took turns speaking about the different virtues, and lighting a candle to symbolize the eternal light of knowledge.

Vice president Ethan Gomes spoke of scholarship, secretary Cheyenne Tillison recited the service portion, secretary Jodi Huang read the leadership portion, and McAteer spoke of character.

After the candle ceremony, McAteer invited the inductees to stand and recite the induction pledge. Kelly and Cole presented the certificates.

McAteer then called upon various teachers to present the evening’s special academic awards.

Maynard presented the Pell Medal to Miyah Lohmeier. The Saint Michael’s Book Award was given to Eileen Read-Maria and James Rowell, and the Frederick Douglass/Susan B. Anthony Award was bestowed upon James Rowell.

Science teacher Ann Walkup presented the Baush & Lomb Award to Katrina Marek, the Society of Women Engineers Award to Laney Kong and Joseph Murphy, and the Rensselaer Medal to Noah Gibb. Presenting the Junior JROTC awards was Sgt. Maj. Gerald Thifault. The recipients of the United States Army Cadet Command

Distinguished Cadet Medal for Scholastic Excellence 

were Xing Qing Dong, Laura Genereux, Yasmil Santana, and Jessica Taing. Science teacher Howard Chun gave the Johnson & Wales Business Award to Eileen Read-Maria, the Holy Cross Book Award to Samantha Levy, and the Harvard Book Award to Miya Lohmeier.

Music teacher Mark Colozzi presented the Junior Award for Musical Excellence. The recipients were Emma Araujo, Serena Bobola, Molly Botts, Ella Calderone, Sean Curry, Bianca Duran, Nicole Eaton, Rachel Fontes, Laney Kong, Alexander Norberg, Talia Parente, Rachel Pelligrino, Elena Rios, Rosemary Savath, Jessican Taing, Isabella Temporal, and Lizbeth Torres.

Julia Fagundes was given the Excellence in Art Award by guidance counselor Jodi Murphy. Murphy also presented the University of Virginia Book Award to Sam Hanley. Lastly, she gave the Yale Book Award to Laney Kong.

Math teacher Blake Danforth presented the URI Book Award to Alexandra Greene, the Brown Book Award to Emma Gherardi, and the Bryant University Book Award to Nicole DeAngelis.

Assistant Principal Chris D’Ambrosio presented the Wellesley Book Award to Samantha Levy. D’Ambrosio called Joseph Murphy to the stage to be acknowledged for receiving the Treasury Young Leader Award at a previous ceremony on May 9 at CCRI’s Knight Campus.

Assistant Principal Brian Flinn presented the George Eastman Young Leader’s Award to Alex Norberg. The Boston College Book award was given to Nicole DeAngelis. Flinn announced that the Civic Leadership Award Ceremony was held at the Rhode Island State House on Friday, May 5, with Nicole DeAngelis and Elias Hill among the recipients.

The Stonehill College Book Award was given to Shantel Orellana by Assistant Principal David Aulenbach. He also gave the Wesleyan Book Award to Katerina Rodriguez, and presented the Louis A. Bruno Foreign Language Award to Yasmil Santana.

The last awards of the evening were presented by Assistant Principal Joseph Potemri. The Dartmouth Book Award was presented to Joseph Murphy, and Kadie Carter won the Smith College Book Award.

Flinn was called upon to perform the installation of the new honor society officers for the 2016-17 school year. Taking the pledge to serve were president Nicole DeAngelis, vice president Katrina Rodriguez, secretary Julia Fagundes, and secretary Shantel Orellana.

After the new officers accepted their charge, McAteer closed the ceremonies and invited everyone for refreshments in the cafeteria.

The junior students who have earned their membership into the National Honor Society for the 2016 school year are Morgan Andrews, Brittney Bidwell, Ella Calderone, Hayley Calderara, Kadie Carter, Ying Chen, Sean Curry, Nicole DeAngelis, Abbegail DeSista, Zachary Dionizio, Hadassah Duplan, Bianca Duran, Nicole Eaton, Julia Fugundes, Laura Genereux, Emma Gherardi, Noah Gibb, Maria Gonzalez, Alexandra Greene, Samuel Hanley, Jane Heath, Robert Hernandez, Melanie Hession, Elias Hill, Melany Jimenez, Charmannie Kong, Laney Kong, Klara Kosto, Samantha Levy, Miya Lohmeier, Yeng Chuong Ly, Katrina Marek, Taylor Marsella, Onaysia Martinez, Hannah Mason, Emma McDermott, Joseph Murphy, Annabelle Neville, Alexander Norberg, Irma Ordonez Tiu, Shantel Orellana, Isabella Palombo, Ashley Paquin, Talia Parente, Rachel Pellegrino, Eileen Read-Maria, Isabell Rennick, McKenzie Richards, Elena Rios, Katrina Rodriguez, James Rowell, Harrison Sailer, Samantha Sanchez, Yasmil Santana, Megan Scarborough, Erika Spitznagel, Alexander Sprague, Sean Su, Taylor Sukys, Jessica Taing, Yoselin Tiu Morales, Lizbeth Torres, Demi Villanueva, Juliette Xiong, and Zhonglin Zhen.

Seniors earning society membership this year are Xing Qing Dong, Cody Kong, Carissa Iacobucci, and Donita Irwin.