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The students were recognized for their scholarship, service, character, and leadership, core tenants of the National Honor Society, founded in 1921. To be eligible, students must have a GPA of 3.0 or better and must apply for membership. Their applications - including scholarship, service, character, and leadership - are reviewed by a five-member faculty committee at PAHS.

Seniors inducted on Friday night during a brief ceremony at the middle school media center were: Amber Jensen, Ashley Lieser, LeAnn Nepsund, Kristin Nietfeld, Jessica Sheets, Amanda Skalicky, and Lauren Vaske.

Juniors inducted were: Dugan Flanders, Celia Frieler, Erica Geurts, Brad Hemmesch, Mary Keller, Kristi Louis, Marissa Mackedanz, Emily Mergen, Kirsten Miller, Alexander Naujokas, Cory Nietfeld, Karla Schaefer, Randi Schaefer, Jacqueline Schlangen, Cary Schlick, and Peder Thompson.

Inducted into the National Honor Society at Paynesville Area High School on Friday night were: (front) Kristi Louis, Marissa Mackedanz, Randi Schaefer, Mary Keller, Emily Mergen, and Jacque Schlangen; (middle) Lauren Vaske, Amber Jensen, Ashley Lieser, Kirsten Miller, Karla Schaefer, Celia Frieler, Peder Thompson, and Amanda Skalicky; (back) Cory Nietfeld, Alex Naujokas, Kristin Nietfeld, Cary Schlick, Jessica Sheets, LeAnn Nepsund, and Erica Geurts. Not pictured are Dugan Flanders and Brad Hemmesch.

"You are being honored for being the best of the best," said superintendent Todd Burlingame to the inductees on Friday night. "Academically, you have worked hard over the past years to maintain your grade point average. You demonstrate leadership by participating in athletics, extracurricular clubs, and volunteer organizations. You have provided service to your fellow classmates, community, and family members in a variety of ways. All of these things exemplify class and the character traits necessary for successful leaders of tomorrow."

"You are being honored for all that you have accomplished," added Burlingame, "but this is just the beginning of all that is to come. You have the ambition and resources to set high goals and know that you can accomplish them."

The 23 juniors and seniors inducted into the National Honor Society join 19 seniors at PAHS who were inducted last year. These are: Mark Andrie, Shawn Buermann, Ashley Frank, Kelly Herzberg, Sheena Hoekstra, Allyson Klenke, Breana Kochmann, Jessica Lahr, Stephen Lenzmeier, Lynn Lieser, Mitchell Mueller, Kayla Nelson, James Paul, Lindsey Pelton, Megan Reeck, Katie Schlick, Stacy Thomsen, Laura Weidner, and Tanya Whitcomb.