37 Spring Ridge Middle Students Inducted Into National Junior Honor Society During Candlelit Ceremony

LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — Academic achievement, leadership, service and character took center stage Tuesday evening as 37 students at Spring Ridge Middle School were formally inducted into the Mattapany Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS).

Held May 19 at the school, the induction ceremony recognized students who demonstrated excellence in scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship and character throughout their middle school years. Family members, teachers and school staff gathered as candles were lit to symbolize each of the five NJHS pillars, and inductees pledged to uphold the organization’s values. Information about the ceremony, speakers and inductees was outlined in the evening’s program.

Assistant Principal Dr. Brooke Anthony opened the evening by welcoming families, faculty and students gathered to celebrate a milestone earned through years of academic achievement, leadership and community involvement. Anthony later announced inductees and led members in reciting the NJHS pledge, formally marking their entrance into the organization.

The ceremony continued with remarks from adviser Christina Sterling, who acknowledged the commitment required to earn membership and recognized the accomplishments of the incoming inductees.

“Mrs. Jahn and I are honored to have the opportunity to work with such dynamic students,” Sterling said. “This ceremony recognizes these students’ achievements over their middle school years. These inductees you see before you represent the five virtues of the National Junior Honor Society.”

Students Reflect On NJHS Values

Student speakers Serah Ross, Isaac Neall, Amaris Shick, Ezekiel Lemou and Lucas Haney shared reflections on the five pillars of the National Junior Honor Society: scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship and character, emphasizing the importance of education, responsibility, volunteerism and integrity.

“Scholarship means a commitment to learning,” one student speaker said while discussing the role education plays in achieving success and opportunity.

Another speaker highlighted leadership as a quality built through listening, responsibility and striving for excellence, noting that leaders “are not just presidents and political figures, but teachers, family members, and students.”

Service was described as the foundation of strong communities and an opportunity to improve schools and help others, while speakers on citizenship and character encouraged members to uphold democratic values, protect freedoms and make ethical choices daily.

“Character is achieved, and not received,” one student speaker said. “It is the product of constant action and daily striving to make the right choice.”

Following each speech, the next candle was lit on stage, representing each of the five pillars.

Students Take NJHS Pledge

Following the presentations, Assistant Principal Dr. Brooke Anthony announced inductees and led students through the NJHS pledge, where members vowed:

“I pledge myself, always to seek the light of truth, to hold scholarly habits, to engage in worthy service, and to lead forward in all things that shall advance the welfare of the school.” The pledge was followed by the formal candle-lighting ceremony.

2025-2026 Spring Ridge Middle School NJHS Inductees

Julia Bagaporo, Joseph Blackwell, Britanny Bonilla Betance, Denzel Briscoe, Ellie Buckner, Aditi Chauhan, Malakhai Curtis, KaMyiah Dickens, Ainsley Dill, Kyla Faidley, Keelan Goss, Lucas Haney, Xavier Johnson, Skylar Kirschenheiter, Ezekiel Lemou, Jacen Mascia, Jesse Melillo, Isaac Neall, Sady O’Neill, Ava Parker, Luciana Plack, Maren Priest, Joshua Ramos Solorzano, Soraya Rinaldi, Ryan Ritchie, Nalani Rivera, Serah Ross, Alyssa Russell, Amaris Shick, Madelyne Singh, Vivian Slade, Olivia Thelen, MacKayla Thompson, Lauren Wade, Ethan Weisner, Charlotte Williams and Millie Winings.

The ceremony concluded with remarks from adviser Kay Jahn and a reception for students, families and faculty members in the cafeteria. Program acknowledgements thanked administrators, teachers, faculty council members and support staff who helped organize the event.

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