Scholarship, service, leadership, character: WPHS celebrates 91 new NHS members

As candlelight flickered on the stage of the White Plains High School auditorium Thursday evening, 91 students were welcomed into the National Honor Society -- joining an organization that celebrates scholarship, service, leadership and character.

The ceremony brought together students, parents, educators and community leaders, including White Plains Mayor Justin Brasch, Superintendent Dr. Joseph Ricca and members of the Board of Education, to celebrate students whose accomplishments have distinguished them both inside and outside the classroom.

Click here to view a photo gallery from the ceremony!

 The evening began with a musical prelude by the Honors String Ensemble, conducted by Zachary May, featuring works by Handel, Mozart and Bach. Student leaders William McDermott and Olivia Tuzel led the Pledge of Allegiance before Principal Emerly Martinez welcomed the audience.

“This evening always culminates with the hard work that our students have shown over the last few years, and really over the last 11 years in their school experience,” Mr. Martinez said. “That work was not done alone. It was through the hard work and support of each and every one of you, parents and guardians.”

He praised the inductees not only for their academic success, but for demonstrating leadership and character that will continue to guide them beyond high school.

“They’ve shown their academic abilities, and they’ve shown their character,” he said. “They’re going to continue to show that character. We can’t wait to see what next year brings.”

National Honor Society advisers Marlena Simmons and Jennifer Stein organized the ceremony and guided students through the induction.

Ms. Simmons reminded attendees that the National Honor Society has, since its founding in 1921, recognized students who embody the organization’s four pillars: scholarship, service, leadership and character.

“Membership in the White Plains High School chapter of the National Honor Society is earned through effective demonstration of the four pillars that are held in high esteem by the society,” she said.

She highlighted the chapter’s commitment to community engagement, noting that NHS members performed more than 12,000 hours of service this year.

The audience also recognized the chapter’s officers for 2025-2026:

• Presidents: William McDermott and Olivia Tuzel
• Vice Presidents: Allie Garelick and Gabe Racaniello
• Secretaries: Justin Djelosevic and Stephanie Arriaga Villanueva
• Treasurer: Sofia Camila Argote
• Community Service Liaisons: Eliana Lieber and Lucy Wright
• Communications Liaison: Sinthya Azad

The keynote address was delivered by veteran WPHS social studies teacher Fred Rickles, who challenged students to view the honor not as a finish line, but as a call to action.

“You’ve already demonstrated these qualities, which is why you’re here tonight,” Mr. Rickles said. “But this honor is also a call to continue living these values out not only next year, but into the future – for the rest of your lives.”

Drawing from his own experiences as an attorney, educator, school board member and son, Mr. Rickles emphasized that leadership and service are defined not by titles, but by actions.

“True leadership is not being the loudest voice in the room,” he said. “It’s about bringing others along with you.”

He described scholarship as a lifelong pursuit that builds confidence and opens doors, while character, he said, remains the most important pillar of all.
“Define your success by integrity, respect and responsibility,” he told students. “Ultimately, it’s not what you say, but what you do.”

The symbolic lighting of candles followed, with student officers reflecting on each of the four pillars. Scholarship was presented by Allie and Gabe; Service by Lucy and Eliana; Leadership by Justin and Stephanie; and Character by Sofia and Sinthya.

One by one, the proud inductees received their NHS pins and strode across the stage to shake hands with Mr. Martinez, Dr. Ricca, Mayor Brasch and Board of Education President Rosemarie Eller.

In closing remarks, Dr. Ricca praised the students’ discipline, perseverance and commitment to excellence.

“What you’ve already demonstrated with your induction here this evening is that you have something very special,” Dr. Ricca said. “You have internal discipline. You’re able to manage pressure. You’re able to manage stress and anxiety. And you’re able to prioritize what’s important.”

He encouraged students to celebrate their achievement while recognizing that their greatest challenge will always be pushing themselves to grow.
“The biggest competition you’re ever going to face in your life is against yourself,” he said. “When things get hard, fall back on the discipline that got you to where you are right now tonight.”

Dr. Ricca reminded students that the qualities that earned them induction are talents that can never be taken away.

“When things get hard, maybe you’ve already experienced this, there are going to come times when days are tough and there are going to be times where you feel like you’ll just need to tap out and walk away,” he said. “But the most important thing is that you fall upon the discipline that got you to where you are right now tonight.”

As the ceremony concluded, the newest members of the WPHS chapter stood up and recited the NHS pledge: “I pledge to maintain high scholastic standing, to hold as fundamental and worthy an untarnished character, to endeavor intelligently and courageously to be a leader, and to give of myself freely in service to others. In so doing, I shall prove myself worthy of a place in the National Honor Society.”

Click here to view a photo gallery from the ceremony!

NHS Inductees:

• Bryce Abolafia
• Sydney Abolafia
• Maryam Ahmadi
• Luke Anselmo
• Dulce Argudo
• Michelle Arias
• Morgan Au
• Joseph Auletta
• McKenna Austin
• Mahi Ayesha
• Nicholas Balsome
• Maya Bautista
• Pierce Biffert
• Ava Blount
• Gabrielle Brice
• Hayley Brick
• Matthew Bucaj
• Jessica Camacho Rodiles
• Matthew Carone
• Naiara Carrera Thola
• Aimi Castillo
• Samantha Castro-Perez
• Josimar Chacon Quevedo
• Kailey Clark
• Emma Corona
• Jack Cullen
• Esperanza Cylich-Schneider
• Cristina Damato
• Emily Dang
• Jason Dang
• Camila Delgado
• Arin Diaz Lawson
• Connor Dominick
• Vera Driscoll
• Gianna Ebert
• Gavin Espinal
• Yael Feit
• Lia Ferrara
• Ollie Galkin
• Jonah Glazman
• Nathaniel Gosdin
• Michael Grande
• Reona Guillaume
• Elijah Haimowitz
• Nizar Hammami
• Karim Hammami
• Layla Hanbali
• Sydney Harris
• Anabella Henriquez
• George Ibrahim
• Riley Keane
• Paige Kearon
• Stella Khachetoorian
• Elisabeth Kim
• Joshua Kim
• Aiden Klein
• Remi Kuczinski
• Justin Lemere
• Anushka Mallya
• Meghann McDermott
• Tomas McDermott
• Sean Meegan
• Amir Melibaev
• Emily Moreira Ortiz
• Alisson Morocho Zhingri
• Neve Mulcahy
• Danna Ochoa Ortega
• Hector Pagan
• Amilia Paredes
• Paola Parra
• Isabella Preston
• Alejandro Prieto-Duenas
• Isabella Reidy
• Lauren Rogers
• Yvette Sadler
• Simal Sagnak
• Emma Sanchez
• Helen Sanchez Castillo
• Ethan Shifrin
• Liora Shuf
• Christian Soh
• Vienna Solano
• Luis Suarez
• Leo Tashman
• Kelly Tirado
• Mila Tomlin
• Yumiko Tonachel
• Max Towle
• Bryant Villacorta
• David Zuckerman

* Bolded names indicate elected officers for 2026–2027.