Byram Hills High School celebrated its 34 new members of the National Art Honor Society, a recognition of the students’ commitment to the arts, their academics and community service in the arts. 
Director of Fine Arts Pete Pauliks welcomed families to the induction ceremony on March 24 in the high school theater, and student leaders in the society led the event.
Chapter president Reese Ertel, a Byram Hills senior, noted that the society was created in 1978 by the National Art Education Association as a way to inspire and recognize student artists.
The Byram Hills chapter was formed in 2018. “It’s dedicated to providing students with opportunities to broaden their knowledge of the arts and use their talents to serve the community at school and in the local area,” she said.
To be a member of the Byram Hills chapter, students must maintain an A average in their arts courses and a B cumulative grade point average in all other subjects. Students need to have completed Studio Art and at least two art electives to be considered for membership, making students eligible in 10th grade.
Students in the honor society contribute to visual arts-related community service projects and participate in the chapter’s meetings, activities and fundraisers.
This year, NAHS students painted pumpkins, designed kindness rocks, created Thanksgiving cards for soldiers, and digital Valentine’s Day greetings to spread love at school.
“All of these inductees have worked hard throughout the year, completing projects, volunteering and participating monthly in the NAHS,” Reese said. “Each and every one of you helped bring the school community together through the power of art.”
Chapter treasurer Marianna Vataj, another senior, asked the inductees to recite the society’s pledge: “I will in my life, to the best of my ability through my talents in art, help to create a better world for myself, for humankind, and for all living things.”
Reese thanked the chapter’s faculty advisers, art teachers Jayne Karlin and Amy Menasche. “Their dedication to the society and the arts in general is inspiring and they are the backbone of NAHS,” she said.
Reese also announced that English teacher Catherine Eshoo was inducted as an honorary member. She was recognized for her commitment to the arts, especially through the course, Perspectives in Literature.
Reese congratulated the newly inducted students, who were called to the podium to receive a membership certificate as a slide of their artwork was displayed on the large screen on the stage.
The new members of the National Art Honor Society are:
Samantha Abraham
Elizabeth Albright
Brooke Altman
Ayaka Ammon
Lily Auster
Julia Barthelmes
Sophia Berland
Milena Chan
Carissa Chung
Massimo Colella-Albino
Olivia Corpina
Alana Curley
Rohini Das
Gemma Dean
Greg Dekker
Abby Eickelbeck
Alaska Fairbanks
Chloe Fang
Samantha Gershuny
Samantha Glusky
Lily Hirsch
Alex Ioffe
Ella Javorsky
Eerika Karttunen
Casey Maryyanek
Lindsay Miller
Jonathan Parent
Lila Raff
Elsa Rolfs
Piper Siegel
Avery Talbot
Max Teitelbaum
Abby Yallof
Olivia Zodda
Chapter members who were previously inducted were honored for their continued artistic and academic commitment:
Reese Ertel
Marianna Vataj
Sofia Mahairas
Ewa Miano
Samantha Milewicz
To view the ceremony, CLICK HERE.
