On Thursday, October 26, 2017, The Tappan Zee High School English Honor Society (EHS) inducted more than twelve new members. The Induction Ceremony recognized the literary and academic achievements of prospective members. To be inducted, each prospective member needed to obtain 6 points, be published in Tapress, Tones, or online, and had to have been recommended by an English teacher.
At the ceremony, Ms. McMane – EHS advisor – began by emphasizing the importance of reading. She then introduced this year’s officers: Co-presidents Braeden Stout and Riya Gandhi, Vice President Kaylee Liang, Secretary Cassie Bartels, and Treasurer Jennifer Baum. Each officer proceeded to recount their favorite books and the most important take-away from each.
Jennifer initiated the sharing with The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. The novel discusses the wonders and absurdities of human life – from the point of view of a dog! Jennifer recounted that the novel truly made one ponder about the hardest aspects of life in a lighthearted fashion. Cassie took to the podium next and introduced her favorite novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini. The most important lesson she took from this novel was the significance of recognizing and understanding a culture so very different from our own. The novel truly expresses the fact that there are many things we take for granted. Kaylee conveyed the significance of challenging oneself through her thoughts on the renowned classic, Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell. Braeden put a lively spin on the ceremony with the children’s book, If the Dinosaurs Came Back, by Bernard Most and with the life lesson he learned: to question current events and traditional thought. Riya concluded the sharing with Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, a duology by Leigh Bardugo. The importance of representation in the novels of today was highlighted in her speech.
After the sharing of literature, each inductee received a certificate. All in all, the EHS Induction Ceremony was a profound success and a perfect way to kick off the year. Advisor and officers alike hope that these new inductees will share their own talents at Hepcat and other EHS events.
Written by:
Riya Gandhi, Co-President and Kaylee Liang, Vice President of the Tappan Zee High School Engilsh Honors Society
