SGMS Holds NJHS Induction Ceremony

The Ste. Genevieve Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society held its annual induction on Monday, April 24, 2023, in the Ste. Genevieve County R-II Performing Arts Center. 

In addition to the strong academic records that established the eligibility for membership, the NJHS chapter members are leaders in many student organizations and serve their school and community through many activities, including volunteerism, fundraising for charity, and hosting social events. 

Chapter officers President Jake Parker, Vice President Kacie Schemel, Secretary Kailyn Warren, Treasurer Kierstyn Reeves, and Historian Anna Fischer led the ceremony and installed 35 new members with the traditional NJHS pledge and presented them with their membership pins. Also in attendance were nearly 50 returning members, students who continue to live up to the five standards of NJHS: knowledge, service, leadership, character, and citizenship. These returning members have volunteered a collective 2,558 hours in our school and our community since May 2022.

Each year, the NJHS members nominate one teacher and one staff member to be recognized as the NJHS Teacher of Honor and the NJHS Staff Member of Honor. These are employees who uphold the ideals of the organization and serve as positive examples for SGMS students every day. 

This year’s NJHS Teacher of Honor is Mrs. Ashley Mertzlufft, an English-Language Arts teacher. Nominations described how Mrs. Mertzlufft is a great role model for her students, how she always has a smile and a kind word to say, and how she is always ready to help any student, even those students she doesn’t have in class.

This year’s NJHS Staff Member of Honor is Dr. Ed Draper, an SGMS counselor. Nominations describe how Dr. Draper is always positive whenever he is around students, how his kindness is infectious, and how he is always willing to listen whenever a student needs to talk. 

The faculty sponsor, Mrs Bre Uzzell, and SGMS principal Dr. Scott Mercer, and assistant principal Mrs. Kristen Huffman, also assisted with the program.

The returning members and new inductees are recognized below. Congratulations to all!

Returning Members:

  • Jadyn Barron

  • Nate Basler

  • Nino Batucan

  • Nolan Bauman

  • Olyvia Beckermann

  • Clementine Birkenstock

  • Kennedy Bowen

  • Allison Boyet

  • Emmerson Browne

  • Lillian Crossland

  • Hailey Davis

  • William Elder

  • Dane Evelsizer

  • Anna Fischer

  • Simon Fritsch

  • McKenzie Greer

  • Kyler Gugel

  • Carter Howell

  • Gracie Ladd

  • Cadence Lanterman

  • Maria McGuire

  • Lilah Nix

  • Rebecca Palmer

  • Jake Parker

  • Laurie Parker

  • Brayden Pfaff

  • Kaia Plati

  • Jersey Quinn

  • Kierstyn Reeves

  • Colton Roth

  • Josef Rottler

  • Kathryn Rowland

  • Lily Saupe

  • Kacie Schemel

  • Kale Schmelzle

  • Elcie Schweigert

  • Hazel Schwent

  • Parker Stomberg

  • Kailyn Warren

  • Gabriella Watts

  • Trenton Weber

  • Chloe Wehner

  • Hailey Wells

  • Reese Wibbenmeyer

  • Halle Wichern

  • Franki Wittu

  • Alia Wolk

  • Bryna Wolk

  • Chase Yamnitz

  • Ava Zerwig

Inductees:

  • Blayre Bauman

  • Barrett Bowers

  • Ethan Boyer

  • Easton Cambron

  • Chris Conwell

  • Ashton Damm

  • Ricky Ditch

  • Kate Fischer

  • Ally Gegg

  • Chase Gegg

  • Peyton Gegg

  • Claire Giesler

  • Wyatt Green

  • Rori Hughes

  • Emma Jokerst

  • Mabrey Jokerst

  • Noah Kertz

  • Addison Lorance

  • Alice McConkey

  • Kamrie Meyer

  • Parker Meyer

  • Kaiden Mueller

  • Anya Naeger

  • Sydney Nesslein

  • Brylee Pollock

  • Wyatt Schmelzle

  • Paige Schwent

  • Abbey Stomberg

  • Brooklyn Strong

  • Elizabeth Sulser

  • Cierra Voelker

  • McKinnley Vogt

  • Kamdyn Wehner

  • Addison Wilson

  • Aubree Worley