By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
LIMESTONE — Limestone’s NHS chapter has just over a dozen members, but don’t let their size fool you; the tight-knit group is focused on improving their school and community.
Leading the group are Co-Presidents Dean Clavet and Daniel Haley, both seniors and three-year members of the organization (and after Haley’s birthday on Saturday, they’re both 18 now).
“We do what we can to make the school and community a better place,” Haley explained.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Members of the Limestone NHS chapter are, from left, front row: Annie Sinclair, Courtney Chartier, Marian Williams, Daniel Pelkey and Kareena Woodworth. Back row: Alexis Bell, Bailey St.Pierre, Jordan Hopkins, Chris Bernier, Dean Clavet, Daniel Haley, Jason Sprague and Tristan Kirk. Absent at the time the photo was taken is Melissa Cantafio.
The scholastic year may be winding to a close, but there are still two major events Limestone NHS members will participate in — their annual volunteerism at the Special Olympics on May 17 in Presque Isle and the annual breakfast preparation for staff and faculty of the Limestone Community School.
Haley says that helping out at the Special Olympics is one of the most memorable aspects of participating in NHS.
“You see these people who have disabilities, and they’re able to go run track, get a medal and feel so accomplished – it just lights up your day,” he said. “It makes your whole year.”
“We always focus on the Special Olympics because that’s the one thing that really every NHS goes to and helps out with,” Clavet added.
While Limestone NHS members will volunteer with other regional NHS chapters during the May 17 track and field events for the Special Olympics in Presque Isle, the Limestone chapter had an opportunity to mingle with NHS members from all over the state last month during the annual NHS Convention, held early March in Bangor.
Parts of the convention were filled with fun — like the dance and the banquet — but other sessions were devoted to service, leadership and charity.
Haley explained that the Maine NHS members packaged over 4,000 meals for hungry people in developing nations during the convention, and raised thousands of dollars to help stop hunger — Haley said that those numbers really show how unified NHS members can be.
Students also participated in the program Savannah’s Soldiers and sent letters to servicemen and women in Afghanistan.
Aside from service and volunteerism, Clavet said that some of the most memorable parts of the convention were the guest speakers.
“I think all of the NHS members really heard what the guest speakers said; they really inspired everyone there,” he explained.
While a big part of NHS is service, Limestone NHS members will be cooking and serving a made-to-order breakfast next month for their school’s staff and faculty to show their appreciation of all the work that goes into the educational process (and with a bit of humorous bravado, Clavet assured that he can cook).
The annual breakfast means getting to school hours before the first bell rings, but the students do it with a smile on their faces and serve up plenty of cheer and camaraderie.
Even before they’re officially made NHS members, students have to show ample volunteerism — like, for example, Limestone NHS member Jason Sprague who’s always on call to help out at the Limestone United Methodist Church.
“He helps clean up the gardens and the grounds, he helps out at suppers and Vacation Bible School, he helps out in the nursery — you ask him to do something and he’s right there helping,” said Carol Castle, youth group coordinator for Limestone United Methodist.
Another member of Limestone NHS, Tristan Kirk readily volunteers with the Limestone Recreation Department when he’s needed and even helps other youths learn important subjects like water safety.
Each of Limestone’s 14 NHS members have worked to strengthen their greater community through their own service projects and work together through NHS to organize contributions to the local food pantry and other charitable acts.
On top of their service projects, students have to maintain a high academic standard.
“You need to be a leader, you need to give service, you need to be devoted to what you believe in,” said Haley,
“… and you have to be academically successful, too,” Clavet added.
Five students made the cut this year and were asked to join the society in a new way this year. While a tapping ceremony was traditionally held, this year a new approach was taken to surprise inductees.
Veteran NHS members piled in their cars and planted signs on inductees’ front lawns welcoming them to NHS.
“It was a brand new thing for our inductees this year,” Clavet explained. “We thought it would be cool — like a surprise. I think it’s pretty neat that we can do that with a small community like this.”
Haley agreed that it was pretty fun for inductees to come home to a sign telling them that they’d been invited to join NHS, but there was a little snafu with the sign placement … they went out in mid-March.
And the ground was rock solid.
Of course, the NHS members pushed through the permafrost and as such, started a new tradition.
Though Clavet and Haley have been in NHS for three years now, they still remember how exciting it was to be asked.
“When you get the paper, you’re thinking it’s a lot to fill out. But once you complete it and send it in, you’re just waiting for the teacher to call your name and be brought up to stage,” he said referring to the school’s former tapping ceremony days.
While the five new members have officially been asked to join the society, their formal induction ceremony will take place in May.
All 14 members, including the new inductees, include Clavet, Haley, Annie Sinclair, Courtney Chartier, Marian Williams, Daniel Pelkey, Kareena Woodworth, Alexis Bell, Bailey St.Pierre, Jordan Hopkins, Chris Bernier, Dean Clavet, Daniel Haley, Jason Sprague, Tristan Kirk and Melissa Cantafio.
Providing guidance for the group is longtime adviser Alva King.
“She’s a great adviser for us,” Clavet said. “She gets us motivated.”
