Sixteen Bobcats Inducted into National Honor Society
On Sunday, January 26 students, faculty, family, and friends gathered for the 2025 National Honor Society (NHS) Induction ceremony. Returning to Pinckney Boathouse at the students’ request, the cozy event was hosted by NHS advisor Jen Dumont.
“We are so proud to induct the newest members of the John Brewster chapter of the NHS. The organization’s central goal is to honor those who have excelled in the Society’s four pillars of scholarship, leadership, character, and integrity,” she said. (See list of inductees below.)
As is tradition, the current NHS officers (President Will Dumont ’25, Vice President Elsa Pueschel ’25, Secretary Heidi Broussard ’25, and Treasurer Abby Brodney ’25), handed each of the 16 inductees a certificate and pin, placed a tassel around their neck, and lit candles representing the four pillars.
“Being inducted into the NHS meant a lot to me,” Hanna Taylor ’26 of Bermuda shared, “because it does not only represent my academic achievement, but also my commitment to leadership, service, and character. I am honored to be selected and I can't wait to represent the NHS in the community and in the future.”
Ms. Dumont, who is also Brewster’s Director of Library Services, explained that as a club, the chapter’s main focus is to provide as much service and assistance as it can to those in need and to our community. “This is because the NHS seeks to foster the instinct in people to help others and to try to make the world a better place,” she said. “As I always tell the students, good, smart people are supposed to do good things, and this is training for how you should conduct yourselves in the future. I look forward to working with our new members in the spring—we have a great community service project in the works with the Taylor Sugar Hill Retirement Community—and into next year."
Michael Figge, a member of the History and Social Sciences faculty, delivered the afternoon’s keynote address, which recounted the writings of Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius. “I was, indeed, quite flattered that I was asked to speak at the induction ceremony. I am quite proud of the whole group, many of whom are students that I teach,” he said after the ceremony.
In his remarks, Mr. Figge noted that Marcus Aurelius’s reflections on leadership, honor, and merit continue to resonate through the centuries. “Admission to the National Honor Society is no small feat,” he began, then sharing, “At the heart of Marcus Aurelius’s leadership philosophy is the belief that a leader is not defined by power or titles, but by the integrity of his or her actions and the strength of his or her character. He believed that leadership is about serving others, not ruling over them.”
On honor, Mr. Figgee recited, “If someone can show me that I am wrong, I will gladly change, for I seek the truth, by which no one was ever harmed.” In this statement, he explained, Marcus Aurelius teaches us that honor lies in our commitment to truth and wisdom. “If we act with sincerity and pursue knowledge, then we are acting honorably. This idea frees us from the burden of living up to superficial standards or societal expectations,” he said. This led into his reflection on true merit being based not simply on external accomplishments, but on how we respond to the circumstances of life. “It’s how we act when no one is watching, how we behave when the world may never reward us. Our merit is found in the decisions we make when we choose to do what is right, not because we expect recognition, but because it is the right thing to do.” Closing his remarks, Mr. Figgee reminded the group that leadership is not about being served, but about serving others—ideally with wisdom, integrity, and a commitment to the greater good.
After new members recited the NHS pledge, they each held a yellow flower and shared a message of thanks to the person or people who have influenced them the most. Taylor noted that like others, she made sure to thank her parents for being her biggest cheerleaders. “Their unwavering support has meant the world to me, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.”
Hiro Onoguchi ’26 of Tokyo, Japan, said the recognition of being inducted was meaningful. “When it came time to thank someone, I was especially grateful to my parents for their constant support and encouragement. They have guided me through challenges and motivated me to keep striving for success, but in truth, I was so nervous that I forgot almost everything I wanted to say. Still, I hope they know how grateful I am for them,” he shared. “These are some of the words I was trying to say during the ceremony: ‘I'm so thankful that you always believed in me, even when I wasn't sure of myself. Your love and all the things you've done for me mean so much. I appreciate everything you've done to help me do my best. Thank you for always being there for me, no matter what’.”
For Luke Smolan ’26 of Cumberland, Rhode Island, the message from Onoguchi, his former roommate, was loud and clear: “Hiro's parents weren't able to attend the ceremony, but you could tell how much they meant to him during the couple of minutes when he thanked them. That moment really touched my heart,” he said, adding “I was fortunate enough that my parents were able to attend. They will come up to Brewster five or six times throughout the year, typically for sporting events. It was nice that they were able to attend for an academic and citizenship achievement for a change.”
Smolan thanked his parents for the opportunities they have given him and for being the role models from whom he learned the values of character, service, scholarship, and leadership. But first, he thanked “my Lord,” later sharing that at Brewster he feels he has had the opportunity to grow in his faith independently. “Transferring over from a Catholic school was a little weird at first. However, I began going to church downtown, and a couple of my friends at Brewster go with me every Sunday. Continuing that tradition of going to Church kind of made the transition to Brewster easier for me,” he said.
Congratulations to all the inductees and the people in their lives who have supported their success!
The NHS inductees for 2024-25 are
Will Brochu ’26
James Hatzos ’26
Augustina McGillion ’26
Allie Moore ’26
Margo Morozova ’26
Jack O’Neill ’25
Hiro Onoguchi ’26
Sophia Rock ’26
Beck Rosenbaum ’26
Hannah Ruegg ’26
Casey Shea ’26
Anna Simon ’25
Luke Smolan ’26
Hanna Taylor ’26
Katherine Twombly ’26
Reika Ueno ’26
Please enjoy photos of the ceremony here.
