On Tuesday, June 3, the Independence Middle School Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) proudly welcomed a new class of seventh-grade inductees during its annual Spring Induction Ceremony, held in the Bethel Park High School Auditorium. The event recognized students who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the core NJHS pillars of scholarship, leadership, service, character, and citizenship.
The evening began with a choral selection by a small ensemble of the Independence Singers, directed by Mrs. Tricia Quinque, setting a tone of excellence and unity. NJHS Co-Advisors Mrs. Kathy Foster and Mrs. Rachelle Schaum opened the ceremony with a welcome and the Pledge of Allegiance.
NJHS President Addison Will delivered the President’s Report, highlighting the organization’s accomplishments and community service initiatives over the past year. She, along with fellow Executive Board Officers Camdyn Cekus, Phoebe Willis, Annabella Laffey, and Bentley Beck, later delivered remarks explaining the five foundational pillars of the National Junior Honor Society.
Superintendent Dr. James Walsh introduced the Executive Board, and Ms. Schaum introduced keynote speaker Mr. Andy Amrhein—a lifelong Bethel Park resident, business owner, and dedicated community servant. In his remarks, Mr. Amrhein inspired students to embrace leadership through service, sharing personal stories from his decades of civic involvement.
Certificates were presented to new members by Faculty Council Chairperson Elisa Scheuerle, and Bethel Park school board member Mrs. Kimberly Walsh-Turner led the NJHS oath. Principal Mrs. Racquel Sutton concluded the ceremony with heartfelt closing remarks.
A highlight of the evening was the announcement of this year’s Outstanding Achievement Awards, presented to Audrey Kirstein and Annabella Laffey for their exceptional leadership, volunteerism, and academic performance.
Seventh Grade Inductees – Spring 2025:
- Blake Beck
- Bradley Bench
- Kendall Betzler
- Kathryn Bronson
- Reese Chropka
- Miles Clancy
- Violet Conroy
- Ava Deckard
- Cayden Diener
- Rose Doman
- Nash Doman
- Lilly Eckoff
- Caleb Erbrecht
- Giamaria Fonzi Moscatiello
- Abby Gerginski
- Ashlyn Geis
- Juliette Hall
- Faith Hartman
- Gulianna Headley
- EJ Kloss
- Delaney Kautzman
- Lucy Kelly
- Aubrey Kuhn
- Lily Kuszaj
- Bria Lang
- Kylie Lang
- Matthew Lawton
- Arianna Loeffert
- Martina Lutz
- Cleo Manley
- Ashley Mattes
- Quinn McCann
- Brooke Mellinger
- Abby Miller
- Frankie Messinger
- Perry Myers
- Nagina Neopaney
- Dylan Petras
- Christina Priore
- Gabrielle Rose
- Emily Sabanovic
- Brielle Schafer
- Landon Sirera
- Leah Strack
- Hannah Strock
- Noel Thimons
- Addisyn Voytko
- Taylor Waldrop
- Hannah Watkins
- Rachel Weiss
- Penelope Werts
- Corsica Willets
- Jordyn Wolf
Celebrating Eighth Grade Accomplishments:
The ceremony also honored graduating eighth-grade NJHS members for their remarkable contributions throughout the year, including organizing fundraisers, volunteering at district events, and completing over 1,000 hours of community service collectively.
2025 Outstanding Achievement Award Winners:
- Audrey Kirstein was recognized for her academic excellence, musical talent, athletic achievements, and extensive volunteer work. She has led initiatives such as a school-wide clothing drive for Craig’s Closet and regularly supports local schools and community organizations.
- Annabella Laffey, a dedicated NJHS Executive Board member and student leader, was honored for her outstanding academic record, service involvement, and leadership, including serving as a student representative at a Bethel Park School Board meeting.
What It Takes to Become a Member:
NJHS members must meet rigorous criteria, including a 3.9 QPA, two teacher recommendations, an essay, and a demonstrated history of leadership and service. The selection process is overseen by a faculty council and emphasizes strong moral character and citizenship.