Tweny-four Paynesville Area High School juniors and seniors were inducted into the National Honor Society on Monday, April 12.The induction ceremony was held in the middle school library Monday evening. High school principal John Janotta presided over the induction, and high school English teacher Richard Butler addressed the group of students and parents.
Juniors inducted for 1999 were: Erin Aagesen, Heidi Burg, Joseph Halvorson, Tricia Hemmesch, Anne Janotta, Ryan Lang, Kelly Loesch, Kenneth Mages, Bridget Mueller, Tiffany Rausch, Amanda Reeck, Jaime Robertson, Zachary Spates, and Kerry Strand. Seniors inducted were Alisha Block, Julie Glenz, James Gulbranson Jr., Kurt Habben, Laura Mages, Douglas Marthaler, Janel Meyer, Andrea Roeser, and Diane Thomes.
To be inducted, students must have a 3.0 grade point average or higher and must be on schedule to graduate in English and the social sciences. In mathematics and science, students must take additional courses beyond the requirements for graduation.
In addition to their scholastic performance, students must meet leadership, service, and character requirements. A nomination sheet is given to all 32 high school staff members listing students who meet the scholastic requirements. Teachers may nominate as many students as they want. To be considered, a student must be nominated by five teachers.
Nominated students fill out an information sheet with all their activities, both in school and in the community.
A five-member faculty council makes the final selection based on the students' transcripts, activities list, and their own recommendations.
The current system has been used since 1992.
Sixteen high school seniors were inducted for membership last spring as juniors. They are Andrew Brinkman, Camille Flanders, Mary Frandson, Edward Gardner, Rachel Gifford, Eric Glenz, Kathryn Hoyme, Elizabeth Hubert, Amber Ingalsbe, Joshua Jones, Andrew Meagher, Mackenzie Merrill, Joshua Ryan, Lynn Stoneburner, Wendy Utsch, and Gretchen Ziemer.