At a ceremony held recently in the school district’s auditorium, forty-six students were inducted as new members of Tamaqua Middle School’s Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). Members were selected by the chapter’s Faculty Council for meeting high standards of scholarship, leadership, service, character, and citizenship.
Faculty Council member, Mrs. Barbara Leiby, and the current NJHS officers, Cory Cunningham, president, Molly Clemson, vice president, Brad Clemson, treasurer, and Maddie Mace, secretary,  participated in the traditional candle lighting ceremony. Other faculty council members that were unable to attend the ceremony are Mrs. Sue Brickler, Mrs. Jenn DiSante, Mr. Ed Mariano and Mr. Joe Ruddy. Mrs. Megan Frantz, the chapter advisor, presented each member with a certificate, and Mr. Christopher Czapla, the middle school principal, presented congratulatory remarks.
Staff stated that this was the middle school’s eighth induction of members into the National Junior Honor Society, an organization that has over six thousand chapters nationwide. Throughout the year, the chapter members will participate in both group and individual service projects for the school and the community.
Membership requirements are determined by the criteria of scholarship, leadership, service, character, and citizenship. Student academic records at the end of the school’s third marking period determine candidacy. Students who have a cumulative average of 90 or above and a satisfactory school discipline record are notified by the adviser of eligibility. They must then document at least five service hours and obtain a letter of recommendation.
The National Junior Honor Society ranks as one of the oldest and most prestigious national organizations for students. Since 1929, millions of students have been selected for membership.  NJHS is sponsored nationally by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

New members of the Tamaqua Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society from front left are Brianna Dinsmore, Brandi DeAngelo, Miranda Chinchar, Daniel Chinchar, Angeline Castagna, John Buchala, Kaitlyn Bender, Emily Barrett, Emily Amershek and Kali Alabovitz . Second row from left are Sierra Klinger, Hannah Kistler, Morgan Houser, April Gerber, Elizabeth Gehman, William Frederick, John Franko, Matthew Franklin and Emily Fisher. Third row from left are Brady Moyer, Dylan Miller, Britney Miller, Meghan McArdle, Sarah Maue, Luke Mateyak, Sarah Martinez, Morgan Lusch, Talia Lewis, Olivia Lattanzia, Takota Kromer and Airyanna Kowalski. Back row from Kayla Zamudio, Mariah Williams, Brooke Williams, Elizabeth Wagner, Dimitri Verta, Shelly Valentine, Maximillian Valentine, Derian Stianche, Melanie Shimko, Kayla Sherry, Theron Schlecht, Jacob Rudy and Gavin Richards.