NHS welcomes its newest members

CM inducted its newest class of National Honor Society members on November 19 in the Ronald Perry Gymnasium. To help inspire the newest inductees, Peter Trovato '00, who earlier in the month earned the first Vince in Bono Malum Award for Outstanding Young Alumnus, gave the keynote address.

Trovato, founder of the Massachusetts Soldiers Legacy Fund, spoke of his years at CM a decade earlier, and of his most poignant memories as a student.

"Congratulations to the juniors being inducted here tonight. You should be proud," said Trovato. "It's an honor and achievement. However, I want to stress that too many times achievements...are simply used as filler for your college application or resume. I urge you tonight to challenge yourself more as a member of the NHS."

After hearing Andrew Fanikos '10, Gjergji Evangjeli '10, Dominic Montalbano '11 and Chris Stathopoulos '11 each lit a candle in the induction ceremony speak on the NHS pillars of scholarship, leadership, service and character, Trovato further reflected on these characteristics of the NHS member and on the motto of his school.

"'Conquer evil by doing good.' Tonight the service, character and leadership and academics all come together for you to promote causes here, for you to be leaders, and for you to not forget of other people and their sacrifice," he said.

CM President Paul Sheff gave the closing remarks. "Congratulations to our newest inductees into the National Honor Society. I know how hard you worked to earn this recognition. You should be proud of yourselves and I know your parents are proud as well," said Sheff.

Sheff offered one model of an ideal scholar in discussing the famed 16th century writer Erasmus. After becoming the first writer to translate the New Testament into Greek, Erasmus became controversial in his refusal to support either the Protestant or Catholic cause in the Reformation, earning the scorn of both.

"Be honest and humble in your intellectual exploits, and keep your eyes and hear open to the great big world that beckons you. You would do well to be a disciple of Erasmus," said Sheff.

Mr. Malionek, advisor to the NHS, announced the following inductees from the Class of 2011:

Nelson Alvarez
Nicholas Barker
Joseph Botsch
Patrick Carney
Ryan Curley
Christian Durham
John Federico
John Gaffney
Michael Gallagher
James Golding
John Gorman
Aram Gurekian
Francis Hawley
Marc Hetnik, Jr.
SeungJin Hong (Philip)
Brendan Hughes
SungHo Jun
Nicholas Leney
Ryan Malone
Dominic Montalbano
Christopher Moriarty
Christian Mowles
Daniel O’Hear
Gwontaek Rho
Ryan Shanahan
Brendan Shea
Nicholas Sitar
Ryan Skiba
Christopher Stathopoulos
Sean Sweeney
Elliot Simmons-Uvin
Michael Techiera
Stephen Twerago
Jake Uminski
Sean Vitello
Peter White