By Joseph Souza | Reporter

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Why did you want a leadership position in NHS?

 Victoria Zinyemba: I wanted a leadership position because I thought it would be interesting, I’ve been a leader in other things, but NHS is a bit prestigious and I liked the idea of having more responsibility over my classmates [whom] I’ve known for such a long time. I wanted to be able to make that impact and mark on my school.

Renee Wright: I wanted a leadership position because I wanted to help the NHS community be more publicized and help myself grow.

Jacie Little: As I said, I have a passion for community service and I wanted to promote the importance to my peers.

Jessica Miller: I saw the opportunity and no one else was running so I ran for it.

Megan Castrataro: With basically everything I’m involved with, it really branches from the idea that I want to help others. I really like to put others before myself. That makes me the most happy.

 

What does NHS do? 

Victoria Zinyemba: NHS is an honorary society throughout the U.S that encourages good citizenship and being a good student, so in addition to academic requirements we have required community service hours and required meetings so students participate in the community and come together more to encourage you to be a more active and conscientious person in society.

Renee Wright: NHS does leadership training and community service.

Jacie Little: Basically you have to attend five meetings, and we tell you about volunteer opportunities in addition to promoting the four pillars. We also have guest speakers.

Jessica Miller: NHS is a way to keep you on track school wise and builds on characteristics such as scholarship, character, leadership and service. It builds on those so you can become a better member of society.

Megan Castrataro: We just had our first meeting, so we haven’t done much yet, we just laid the groundwork. Further into the year we reach out into the community and do activities that really benefit people. I’m hoping that we can come together as a club this year and create a big event that represents our club and us reaching out to the community as a whole.

 

What extracurricular activities are you in?

Victoria Zinyemba: Besides NHS, speech team and knitting.

Renee Wright: I’m in marching band and I also work at Chick Fil A.

Jacie Little: Besides NHS, I’m treasurer for UNICEF, director of school activities for Interact, and I’m in other orchestras outside of school.

Jessica Miller: I am in ASCAP, NHS, Spanish Honors Society, and I’m in AIM.

Megan Castrataro: I’m a drum major for the marching band, I play trumpet for the wind symphony, I’m in brass choir, Spanish Honor Society, and I’m in ASCAP.

 

What do you hope to gain from NHS?

Victoria Zinyemba: I hope to gain a better understanding of my classmates that I’ve been with for 12 years and my community.

Renee Wright: I hope to gain volunteer experience and also leadership experience with the other people that also have a position, as well as the other NHS members because I believe we are all leaders.

Jacie Little: Just promoting the importance of community service because that is something that I value and something I’ve been doing for all four years of high school.

Jessica Miller: I hope to gain leadership skills, but also volunteer experience. Volunteering is something I really enjoy doing and NHS gives me an opportunity to do so.

Megan Castrataro: The whole idea is that we are bonding through our service to the community. My main goal to get out of this club is to have everyone come together in our club and reach out to the school and community and show that we can unite the student body and the Avon community.

 

Was NHS hard to get into?

Victoria Zinyemba: I think it depends on your viewpoint. It wasn’t that difficult for me because I’ve always been academically oriented, but if it was a goal of yours and you don’t think you’re up to that caliber it could be difficult to get that GPA.

Renee Wright: I believe it’s hard to get in because you have to have a 4.0 and that takes a lot of studious work.

Jacie Little: Yes. You have to go through an application process in addition to having a 4.0 [weighted gpa]. You have to list extracurriculars, work experience, and anything else you do outside of school.

Jessica Miller: I would say yes because we only took 140 people out of a class of about 825, and there are a lot of stipulations you have to follow. A lot of people who may have wanted to get in and could have in a different year, couldn’t this year because of the high level of scholarship of students this year.

Megan Castrataro: Not necessarily. From the moment you start the AP courses you work from there. It’s a reflection of the hard work you do in school.

 

What’s your favorite course this year? 

Victoria Zinyemba: My favorite course is AP studio [art], we have a lot of fun in there, painting, and ragging on each other a lot.

Renee Wright: My favorite course is anatomy and AP biology because I hope to be a health professional.

Jacie Little: Definitely AP Spanish with Señor Emmons.

Jessica Miller: I really enjoy AP government with Mr. McKinney.

Megan Castrataro: My favorite course is computer tech support. I’ve already learned so much and it’s what I want to do in the future.