It was a special day for 37 students at the St. Croix Career and Technical Education Center Thursday as they were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society for the 2023-2024 school year.
The occasion, that was held at the St. Croix Educational Complex auditorium, gathered families, friends, and other students to witness the momentous occasion.
The event included a description of the society’s purpose, colors, emblem, motto, and slogan, a candlelight ceremony, followed by the induction of the students to include the students selected as NTHS officers.
In describing the NTHS, one of the inducted officers, Eriana Rivera said, “The National Technical Honor Society colors are silver, white, and purple. Silver represents value at work, white represents truth and honesty, and purple represents achievement of honor.”
The mission and vision of the National Technical Honor Society is to honor student achievement and leadership, promote educational excellence and enhance career opportunities.
Former senator and Board of Career and Technical Education member, Genevieve Whitaker, shared some words of praise to the inductees saying, “education has always been the cornerstone of progress, and today as we gather to recognize your outstanding achievements, we affirm the value of career and technical education. Your commitment to excellence in your chosen fields not only speaks volumes about your education, but also serves as a testament to the transforming power of education.”
Department of Education Deputy Superintendent Karen Chancellor gave the closing remarks and said, “if you give a man a fish you feed him for the day, but if you teach a man how to fish you feed them for a lifetime. These students this morning have chosen to learn how to fish, and it is their motivation for me because National Technical Honor Society is not a requirement, but it is a choice. These students are not only honor students, but they are the ones who have chosen to embrace the honor society way of life. These inductees have a bright future. You are role models and mentors for your peers and other youth coming after you. Always find ways to give back to your community because you were created intentionally and for a purpose.”
According to the National Technical Honor Society’s history, the society was established in 1984 and prior to its conception nothing was being done to lift outstanding career and technical students. Over the years, educators have seen the National Technical Honor Society at work, lifting-up students, advancing excellence in career and technical education and raising the bar for students’ achievements.
