New goals for a new year

The National Honor Society (NHS) is a worldwide organization that has been around since 1921. Dr. Edward Rynearson, the founder of National Honor Society, wasn’t just any regular principal; he had a vision, a vision where he saw young minds being able to embody the skills of leadership, intellectual rigor, service and character.

NHS has made a great impact on young individuals throughout the decades from only being a program that high schoolers could join if accepted into, to the organization expanding to National Junior Honor Society and National Elementary Honor Society.

National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the dedicated team that organizes and ensures that the program is indeed carried forward in the manner that Rynearson dreamed of, but who are the people behind the work of the induction ceremony, meetings and volunteer opportunities?

The NHS sponsors are usually faculty members. These individuals take on the job of keeping each member up to NHS standards and expectations.

Jennifer Sudduth and Ellen Augustine are the new two new sponsors at Omaha South High School who have stepped up to the job when Josephine Zbylut-Birky retired after giving the members of NHS her time and service for more than 20 years.

Sudduth and Augustine heard of the opportunity over the summer. By chance they ran into each other while grocery shopping, and the topic was brought up. From there, both teachers came to the conclusion that it would be a fun experience to take on together.

It definitely wasn’t something that Sudduth and Augustine had time to necessarily prepare for. “It was a shock because Mrs. Z-B had been doing it for so long,” Augustine said. Both teachers had the chance to speak with Zbylut-Birky before she left and with her help, they received additional information and tips for their new roles as the new sponsors.

So far, Sudduth and Augustine haven’t fully divided the work between them as the school year has just begun, and they are both trying to involve themselves equally. But as of now, Sudduth does most of the electronic work, while Augustine does the paperwork.

Aside from the sudden change, both Sudduth and Augustine state that the work has run smoothly through the help of Zbylut-Birky and the NHS members.

Sudduth and Augustine said they are both looking forward to working with non-profit community organizations like Heartland Hope Mission to accomplish different service opportunities. At the moment, a goal for how many volunteer hours want to be met is not set, but they are looking forward to surpassing the number of hours that were reached last year.