The Waseca chapter of the Minnesota Honor Society now has 74 members: 38 were inducted last year. They were joined by five members of the senior class and 31 members of the junior class during a ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2024.
Waseca Senior High inducts 36 into Honor Society
Wed, 11/20/2024 - 7:50pm
“That you are on this stage tonight says a lot about who you are. It is no small thing to be invited into this organization,” Waseca Junior/Senior High School principal Dr. Jason Miller told the members of the Minnesota Honor Society (MHS) during their annual induction ceremony the evening of Nov 4. “You are not here by chance.”
The Waseca chapter of the MHS included 38 members, now seniors, who had previously been inducted as juniors. They were joined by five additional seniors and 31 juniors.
Early in the ceremony, the MHS “Spirit of the Torch” was introduced and explained. The torch is the emblem of the MHS and is kept burning by four character traits expected of everyone who joins: scholarship, service, leadership and character.
Member Ashton Jenzen gave a brief original speech on the topic of leadership; Hazel More addressed the topic of service.
As the keynote speaker, teacher Larry Jacobson expressed gratitude to the group for selecting him saying, “I feel honored. I have great respect for all of you.” Jacobson included a fair number of jokes in his speech, but would occasionally stop mid-script and say something like, “Oh, that one didn’t make the cut,” claiming his wife had “nixed” much of his humor.
Of the four traits emphasized by MHS, Jacobson stated, “Character is the most important. It underlies and supports the other virtues.”
He told of having volunteered this past summer with the organization “Samaritan’s Purse,” which spent a number of weeks helping homeowners in Waterville after they experienced catastrophic flooding. “Let me tell you,” he commented, “it doesn’t take long working with those folks before you see the true meaning of service.”
Jacobson warned students against being “gossips.”
“I strongly dislike gossips,” he quipped. “They discuss me.”
In closing, he suggested, “The measure of life is character, not money, not power, not prestige, not fame.
“Character is based on what you believe yourself to be at the core. It determines who you believe in and what you believe in.”
Seniors inducted into the Waseca chapter of the MHS on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2024 were Jennifer Hernandez-Verde, daughter of Mireya Verde and Pablo Hernandez; Mia A. Kanewischer, daughter of Aaron and Deanna Kanewischer; Addison M. Kelm, daughter of Kevin and Amy Kemp; Oz J. Meyman, son of Zack and Pia Meyman; Nevaeh L. Sampson, daughter of Gerald Raetz and Sarah Born-Raetz.
Juniors inducted this year were Slade O. Barnett, son of Scott Barnett and Stephanie Greenslade; Natalie G. Berndt, daughter of Heather Bulver and Ralph Berndt; Maximus E. B. Bodenweiser, sone of Elizabeth and the late Donald Bodenweiser; Ava M. Bruhn, daughter of Meghan Campbell and the late Ryan Bruhn; Ella R. Bulfer, daughter of Philip and Amber Bulfer; Alexia M. Claybaugh, daughter of Scott and Becca Frederick; Paige M. Dufault, daughter of Jared and Stacy Dufault; Hannah M.R. Heusinkveld, daughter of Eric and Stacy Heusinkveld; Sophia H. Hillsman, daughter of Sean and Jennifer Hillsman; Haley M. Kahnke, daughter of Nick Kahnke and Natasha Grunzke; Layla M. Keith, daughter of Muriah Miller Keith and Joe Keith; Alyssa J. Kilmer, daughter of Scott and Jolene Kilmer; Allen J. Kopetzki, son of Craig and Tracy Kopetzki; Madilyn C. Larrabee, daughter of Dana and Jamie Larrabee; Jolee N. Larson, daughter of Mike and Tammi Larson; Vivian D. Mader, daughter of Andrew and Molly Mader; William P. Mansfield, son of John and Edita Mansfield; Dakotah L. Marik, daughter of Matthew Marik, Jackie Jenovsky, and Larry and LaDonna Marik; Corrick J. Medina, son of Justin and Chantel Medina; Mia Y. Mitchell, daughter of Chris and Bamboo Mitchell; Pearl A. Moore, daughter of Stacy Ewert and Chad Moore; Remy A. Murphy, daughter of Shawn and Tammy Murphy; Catherine S. Olson, daughter of Christopher Olson and Mary Jo Stangler; Chloe L. Roemhildt, daughter of Bill and Stephanie Roemhildt; Madison L. Roessler, daughter of Pete Roessler and Amy Dillon-Roesler; Sadie R. Schimming, daughter of Chris and Rebecca Schimming; Kalya L. Stagman, daughter of Jill Stagman; Andreas F. Vasquez-Neigebauer, son of Katie and David Vasquez; Ellery A. Waldron, daughter of Chris Waldron and Kara Waldron; Avery A. Wetzel, son of Ashley and Rachael Wetzel; Caleb J. Wulf, son of Rick and Jill Wulf.