The following opening remarks were made at the 79th National Honor Society induction at DFHS on May 28, 2015.

Good morning. On behalf of the administration and faculty of Dobbs Ferry High School, I would like to welcome all of you to the 2015 Dobbs Ferry High School Honor Society Induction. Before getting started, I would first like to thank our honor society advisors: Mr. Cottingham (NHS), Ms. Addona (Italian), Ms. Sardinia (Spanish), and Ms. Irvine (French). A special thanks also goes to all of the parents who are in attendance this morning as well as our current Honor Society members who took the time from their internship to be with all of us today. I would also like to recognize  BOE member Robert Reiser who is in attendance this morning.

This morning we have students who are being inducted into at least one, and in some cases two, honor societies. They are the Italian Honor Society, the French Honor Society, the Spanish Society, and of course the National Honor Society. Admission into any one of these Honor Societies is an extraordinary accomplishment, and is a recognition of the years of hard work and service of the students in this room.

So what does it mean to be a member of an Honor Society? We know at a minimum that it means to maintain the exemplary grade point average that is required for admission. And while we as a society always place a strong emphasis on academic performance, we also know that the world is filled with many smart people who don’t always demonstrate the morals and ethics that are at the very core of what it means to be a member of an honor society. As Honor Society members, you are the leaders of your class, and represent the very best of our school. The Honor Society is built on four pillars: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character. You are already hitting the mark in each of these areas, and it is for this reason that you are sitting before us today.

However, the challenge that I present to you is not one that you will necessarily face today, but rather at many points throughout your life. There is nothing more important and honorable than hard work. I think that I’ve instilled this message in all of you during your time at DFHS, and I know that your teachers and parents have certainly done the same. And as you move into the final stage of high school and life thereafter, you will face many points where you need to decide between doing something the right way or doing something the wrong way. The moment is sometimes subtle and can even be overlooked, but the choices that you make in those key moments will make all of the difference for the life that you ultimately lead. Robert Frost reminds us that “taking the road less traveled made all of the difference” for him. As you travel down your own road, my hope and belief is that each of you will always lean on the values, ethics, and character that you have developed as you make those difficult choices throughout your life. We all know that you have the necessary foundation, and it is for that reason that you being admitted to the honor society.

In closing, always remember that induction to the Honor Society is a beginning, not an end. You are all well on your way to making wonderful contributions to our world, and are well on your way to leaving a legacy that will carry on for future generations of Dobbs Ferry students. Congratulations to all of you once again. Please continue to make your school proud, your teachers proud, your parents proud, and most importantly yourself proud. Thank you.