Leadership, character stressed at NHS ceremony

The four essentials of earning induction into the National Honor Society were on display Wednesday at Iola High School.
Seven new NHS members were inducted while IHS prepares to bid adieu to 19 graduating seniors — one of the largest such groups in recent memory.
Keynote speaker and IHS math instructor Dianne Kauth spoke about the four NHS tenets — character, leadership, scholarship and service — and how it’s often impossible to exhibit one without the others.
Leadership, for example, requires both character and service to others, Kauth noted, while excelling in the classroom requires character and leadership.
She lauded the program members for their service to community, particularly in light of instructor Amanda Thompson’s declaration that Iola National Honor Society students volunteered a cumulative 1,219 hours over the past year, more than triple 2014’s record.
Bobbi Sinclair (192 hours), Tyler Holloway (186) and Joie Whitney (86.5) were singled out for their volunteer efforts.
The outgoing Class of 2015 has so many NHS members the school ran short of distinctive yellow cords they are to wear at commencement.
Not to worry, Thompson explained. More are ordered and will be at the school prior to the May 17 ceremony.

AS HAS become custom at IHS, the induction ceremony preceded a night of entertainment by Iola High forensics students, who will be in Topeka Saturday for the 2015 Class 4A Speech and Drama State Championship Tournament.
Fifteen students will compete at Washburn Rural High School.
Senior Garrett Prall and junior Olivia Bannister will be out to defend their state title in improvised duet acting.
Others competing for Iola are Trilby Bannister and Zach Cokely, each in humorous solo acting; Karly McGuffin and Judd Wiltse, each serious solo acting; Emma Piazza and Abigail Taylor, each in impromptu speaking;  Katie Terhune, Olivia Bannister and Emma Weseloh, each in oral interpretation of poetry; Rylee Knavel, informative speaking; Catherine Venter, oral interpretation of prose; Katie Terhune and Aaron Terhune and Wiltse and Yohon Sinclair, improvised duet acting; and Piazza and Prall, duet acting.
A state sendoff ceremony is planned for 1:30 p.m. Friday in the alley behind the Bowlus Fine Arts Center.
The public is invited.