Community

10 inducted into ECHS NHS

Dr. James Averhart, Kike Pettaway
Current NHS officers, from left, Deandre Lawson, Hasten Dean, Shamirica Rankins, Nataziana Staples.

By SHERRY DIGMON
News Publisher

Ten sophomores were inducted into the Escambia County High School National Honor Society Thursday, April 6.
New members are Iyriel Munlyn, Chloe Dawson, Brandon Dean, Jamarrion Hooks, Charlino Johnson, Cecillia Noll, Jacob Page, Ashley Parra, Lebron Willis, Ariyana Young.
NHS officers began the program presenting the four pillars of National Honor Society:
Scholarship – Deandre Lawson, President
Service – Hasten Dean, Vice President
Leadership – Shamirica Rankins, Treasurer
Character – Nataziana Staples, Secretary
Guest speaker for the program was Mobile native Dr. James T. Averhart, Jr., a retired United States Marine; president and CEO of J.T. Averhart Group (JTAG), a non-profit organization that facilitates ex-offenders’ re-entry into society; past national president of the Montford Point Marines Association; current executive director of the NAACP, Mobile Unit #5044; and a political figure.
Averhart congratulated the inductees on their hard work and dedication.
“An honor such as this is a way to honor good choices and what you have had to do to get to this point,” he said. “I challenge you not to rest on your laurels, but continue to strive. Education ends only at the end of life.”
Speaking on the four pillars, he encouraged the inductees to use those as a foundation for life and for service to others and to society.
Quoting Winston Churchill, Averhart said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
ECHS Principal Kike Pettaway said the standards for induction in NHS were raised this year. Candidates were required to present letters of recommendation from teachers and community members and to achieve and maintain a particular grade point average.
“Today, you are the cream of the crop,” Pettaway told the inductees.
The 10 installed into the honor society Thursday join the following members.
Juniors
Shamcshia America, Keontae Blue, David Bouler, Exavion Bradley, Jessica Cuenca, Alassiana Davis, Evereona Jackson, Scottez Johnson, Sasha Kidd, Breona Kyles, Shania Lee, Paul Martin,
Shontia Martin, Dominic McKenzie Jr., Elizabeth Mitchelle, Ava Penner, Naasia Reynolds, Treasure Robertson, Stephen Williams.
Seniors
Sy’maria Banks, C’Anna Betts, Akyrah Bradley, Davin Brown, Jayla Bullard, Ty’Anthony Dailey, Dakota DeSpain, Hasten Dean, Judah Dennis, Jacori Dortch, Donnie Fails, Thomas Fails, Breona Gaines, Timia Gaines, Daniel Gunaca, Lajavius Johnson, Lamarkis Johnson, MarQuise Kirk, Tykeria Lambert, Deandre Lawson, Anthony McCants Jr., Ja’Niya McCants, Isabella McGhee, Darron Nichols, Lexi Peavy, Shamirica Rankins, Aniya Redmond, D’Andre Richardson, Shawn Salter, Dayala Simmons, Nataziana Staples, Cleondria Thomas,Summayah Tolbert, Carmelo Turner, Hayla Weaver.
Also participating in the program were NHS member Breona Gaines, and faculty advisors Kim Yarber and Talia Wright. Other faculty advisors are Sturleen Morris, Melvin Jones and Terries Lett.