WILMINGTON — After nearly 20 years, there is an active chapter of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) at Wilmington City Schools.

An induction ceremony for the middle schoolers was held Tuesday evening in the high school auditeria, making use of its stage, sound system and lighting.

Family members were present to watch the founding members of the new Linda Floyd Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society take the NJHS pledge led by the president of the National Honor Society at the high school, Regan Sparks.

The inaugural group of inductees includes 13 eighth-grade students and 10 in the seventh grade.

During the ceremony, five candles were lit, symbolic of the five pillars associated with membership in the organization since its inception in 1929. Those pillars are scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship.

The eighth-grade inductees are Zane Smith (chapter president), Katie Bayless (vice president), Bella Earley (vice president), McKinley Maia (secretary), Shauna Brown (treasurer), Kylie Fisher, Reagan Henry, William Hildebrandt, Layna Holmes, Bailey Moyer, Kensey Parker, Rhianna Rahiel, and Colin Wood.

The seventh-grade inductees are Janelle Beck, Lauren Diels, Abi Earley, Mia Hollingsworth, Kaliana Kennedy, Shelby Leaming, Carissa Preston, Jeremiah Schlabach, Trever Shultz, and Sara Weller.

“I pledge myself to uphold the high standard of the National Junior Honor Society to which I have been selected …,” begins the NJHS pledge. Twenty-three eighth- and seventh-grade Wilmington Middle School students took the pledge Tuesday at the induction ceremony of the new Linda Floyd Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society.

https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2021/05/web1_hon_soc_pledge_c.jpg“I pledge myself to uphold the high standard of the National Junior Honor Society to which I have been selected …,” begins the NJHS pledge. Twenty-three eighth- and seventh-grade Wilmington Middle School students took the pledge Tuesday at the induction ceremony of the new Linda Floyd Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. Gary Huffenberger | News Journal

Zane Smith, president of the new National Junior Honor Society chapter at Wilmington Middle School, welcomes attendees to the NJHS induction ceremony.

https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2021/05/web1_smith_prez.jpgZane Smith, president of the new National Junior Honor Society chapter at Wilmington Middle School, welcomes attendees to the NJHS induction ceremony. Gary Huffenberger | News Journal

In the right foreground, Regan Sparks, who is president of the National Honor Society chapter at Wilmington High School, presents the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) pledge during the middle school’s NJHS induction ceremony. Pictured in the left background with his right hand raised for the pledge is Zane Smith, president of the new NJHS chapter at Wilmington Middle School.

https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2021/05/web1_regan_c.jpgIn the right foreground, Regan Sparks, who is president of the National Honor Society chapter at Wilmington High School, presents the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) pledge during the middle school’s NJHS induction ceremony. Pictured in the left background with his right hand raised for the pledge is Zane Smith, president of the new NJHS chapter at Wilmington Middle School. Gary Huffenberger | News Journal

Standing at the induction table, from left, are Katie Bayless and Mia Hollingsworth.

https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2021/05/web1_mia_c.jpgStanding at the induction table, from left, are Katie Bayless and Mia Hollingsworth. Gary Huffenberger | News Journal

Sara Weller lights a candle representing “service”, one of five NJHS pillars.

https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2021/05/web1_weller_c.jpgSara Weller lights a candle representing “service”, one of five NJHS pillars. Gary Huffenberger | News Journal

Lauren Diels, left foreground, lights a candle symbolic of the NJHS pillar of citizenship, accompanied by McKinley Maia, right foreground.

https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2021/05/web1_lauren_c.jpgLauren Diels, left foreground, lights a candle symbolic of the NJHS pillar of citizenship, accompanied by McKinley Maia, right foreground. Gary Huffenberger | News Journal