Wandi Hadebe

Harrison High School National English Honor Society: A New Era

BY WANDI HADEBE

After putting in service hours and hard work for a year, candidates for the National English Honor Society (NEHS) at Harrison High School (HHS) were welcomed as the newest members of the organization during an induction ceremony last spring.

The James Joyce chapter of NEHS operates out of the Hoya Writing Center, where students can stop by for help in the mornings and afternoons, by appointment or walk-in. English teachers Jordan Motsinger, Stephanie Tatum and Danielle Crandall serve as advisers. Students in the society can hold a variety of offices, including president, vice president, social media director, secretary, treasurer, activities chair and writing center coordinator.

At the induction, last year’s president, Arrey Enow, spoke on how meaningful NEHS was to her, as well as how it is the “steppingstones for students at Harrison to better their talents in the English department.” This outlook came not only from her two years with NEHS but also from the help she received from teachers and students in the writing center during her freshman year.

This year, senior Jack Lakis has taken on the role of club president. Coincidentally, it was Enow who convinced him to apply to NEHS. “Honestly, I kind of did it off a whim almost, but I’m really glad I did because it turned out really well,” he said.

As president, Lakis has been working hard with the other officers to create an immersive environment for this year’s candidates. In the first two months of this school year, NEHS already had seen a variety of new community service and writing opportunities, including the reading buddy program with elementary

Peyton Owens, left, and Jack Lakis at the National English Honor Society induction.

students started by Vice President Kitty Calhoun, new features at the writing center and the upcoming literary magazine. All HHS students were encouraged to submit a piece of original writing, and after fall semester, selected pieces will be published.

When asked why she wanted to be writing center coordinator, instead of president, Peyton Owens replied, “I love the writing center so much. I think that this place has so much potential and that all it takes is a little love and care.” Owens has been working diligently to revitalize the center. “We’re trying to make it a more welcoming place to be, a more fun place to be for students who didn’t know about it last semester,” she said.

The writing center is the heart and soul of NEHS’ community service. Members and candidates tutor students there daily, and Owens is doing everything she can to make it a place where people are comfortable. NEHS has created a space within the walls of Harrison High for students to embrace English and for the society to leave its mark.

Wandi Hadebe is a junior at Harrison High School and is in her second year of the journalism program. She’s passionate about literature and is a member of Harrison’s literature-based clubs.