While it may have only been a brief ceremony Oct. 5, National Honor Society (NHS) Advisor Josh Budden said, ‘it was significant? to recognize the 36 inductees into the Freda Quayle Chapter for their contribution to the school and community.
?(The) inductees are, after all, a group of like-minded characters who find it more important to honor others with their service than to honor themselves,? Budden said. ‘We serve, we study and we honor because it’s the right thing to do, not because we’re seeking recognition and that’s what NHS, especially the Freda Quayle Chapter of NHS, is all about and has been since our founding.?
He noted, the NHS was originally founded in 1921 ‘by secondary principals, hoping to inspire the student body to live up to the ideals of scholarship, leadership, character and community service.?
However, NHS didn’t come to Oxford until 1926, when Freda Quayle, who served as the Dean of Girls at Oxford High School Academy, had the privilege of inducting Oxford’s first 15 members.
‘The honor and pride that Frida Quayle felt in 1962, I can assure you is no greater than mine is tonight welcoming this (group of) 36,? Budden added.
NHS President Kayla Krebs congratulated the inductees for their achievements ‘in the realms of scholarship, leadership, community service and character.?
‘I am honored to be the president of this chapter of the National Honor Society. Last year, we worked in our community by donating time and raising money to support different organizations,? she said. ‘Each year, National Honor Chapters throughout the country dedicate countless hours to school and community service projects, as well as fund-raisers for local, national and international charities. Instilling these values early in life helps to lay the groundwork for a lifetime of service.?
Guest speaker was Oxford High School Principal Todd Dunckley. Instead of giving a slight variation of the same speech he’s given the past 25 years, which highlights NHS history and breaks down the four pillars, he chose to focus on character.
To drive home his point, Dunckley used president and owner of www.volunteerpower.com, Thomas W. Mckee’s book, ‘The New Breed: Understanding and Equipping the 21st century Volunteer,? which was co-authored with his son Jonathan McKee.
Dunckley explained that Mckee broke character into three levels: ‘self serving, relational and belief.?
‘The self serving is, ‘I do it because I get something out of it,?? he said. ‘Relational is, ‘I like to socialize and I like being with people. I like to get out there and do things. It makes me feel good to do things for people, or if my friends are doing it, I want to do it, too.??
Dunckley noted most people fall into the relational category, but the highest level is one of ‘belief.?
‘It’s a true belief knowing that you made a difference,? he said. ‘Knowing that your very existence has a value for other people and that you need to fully engage yourself and your actions will make a difference.?
Part of being able to do that, Dunckley said, is by reaching out to people who are ‘different than you and don’t follow your clique.?
‘They might not do things that you appreciate at all, but if you want to make a difference, you have to open up your arms, open up your heart, open up your eyes and say, ‘I can still appreciate them for being a human being and I can offer love, support and kindness.? That is a belief system,? he said. ‘That is something (as to) how we check ourselves as leaders. We all have the ability to sink or fall, none of us our gods, none of us are exempt. All of us can make mistakes, so let’s not judge.?
Dunckley said it’s often ‘first impressions that are the lasting impressions,? which is why it’s important to make a good lasting impression on someone, because those are the things that will be remembered.
‘When you leave high school, this building, regardless of whether you like to admit it or not, you like the idea of being known and recognized. Because we always look through other’s eyes and sometimes care too much about what others think,? he remarked. ‘Five years will be different than 35 years because overtime you will care less about someone’s athletic ability (which) they use to possess, how good looking you used to be, will matter zero.?
He further illustrated his point by stating the other three pillars of NHS would mean nothing if one did not have character.
‘It doesn’t matter how good your grades are, it doesn’t matter if you have a full-ride to college or not,? he said. ‘If it’s academics only, it means absolutely zero to the world if you’re not giving, you’re not caring and you don’t have character.?
Dunckley left the inductees with a challenge to be the example of how to treat fellow students.
‘To go from good to great, you don’t need your building principals, your teachers and your advisors telling you it’s time to go into action. Those hallways are free to all of you,? he said. ‘All 1,600-plus students are your family, so if you really want to go from good to great. You want to leave the right lasting impression. I think you really need to say, ‘Am I doing enough???

2015 NHS inductees
Curtis Bartz
Sophia Bell
Brooke Boger
Katlin Brantley
Chad Brown
Emily Burrows
Chloe Jones
Mckenzie Chaisson
Grace Cleland
Taylor Cole
Ethan Cutler
Megan Darocha
Joseph DeChicchis
Devan Dejong
Meghan Dolata
Naomi Forgaciu
Trinity Frey
Charity Garner
Xin Guo
Emma Gordon
Jacinta Hogan
Rachel Kady
Danielle Kemp
Chloe Lee
Kate Marsh
Madison Meeron
Ethan Moll
Lyndsey Murdock
Nataleigh Muscott
Amanda Schlicht
Jade Schramm
Alexis Sharpe
Olivia Upham
Abigail Wiseman
Caitlin Wright
Ashley Zardus