Newly selected members of the National Honor Society (NHS) filed into the cafeteria with soft chatter at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9, as the lights dimmed, leaving a warm spotlight on the stage to indicate the start of their induction into the school’s NHS chapter. To open more opportunities for new members, the NHS officer team spent months planning over the summer to hold the induction ceremony in October, reviving Westwood’s long-standing tradition of fall induction — a change from last year’s ceremony in March.

In late August, NHS Sponsor Ani Carrillo sent an email encouraging juniors and seniors who have maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout high school to apply for NHS membership. Complete with numerous forms, each application went through an intensive review process facilitated by the school’s small team of counselors and teachers. Those who proved they exemplified the four pillars of NHS (Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character) through their volunteer work and recommendation signatures were most likely to be selected.

After a colorful presentation by the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC), the evening kicked off with an opening congratulatory speech from NHS President Sarah Jung ‘26, followed by shorter speeches from the other NHS officers and a couple of words of wisdom from Principal Erin Campbell; their speeches emphasized the four pillars of the society. As one of the nation’s most prestigious student recognition programs, NHS continued to thrive at Westwood, where the strong concentration of high-achieving students led to an impressive 226 new inductees. Most were juniors looking for an opportunity to make a difference in and out of school.

“I’ve always admired how NHS recognizes students who [epitomize all 4 pillars],” inductee Amira Benchouia ‘27 said. “I like being part of things that have a real impact [on our community]. NHS seems like a place where I can grow as a leader [and] also [contribute to] my school. It’ll push me to stay disciplined, motivated, and prepare me for college and medicine, [the path I want to do], in the future.”

Following opening remarks, the atmosphere grew solemn as four officers stepped forward to the podium for the candle-lighting ceremony. Four candles, each representing an NHS pillar, were brightly lit by the officers after a brief introduction of the quality. Then came the long-awaited moment: one by one, each present inductee was invited up to the stage and handed a golden cord and certificate as Ms. Campbell recognized them. Audience members and fellow students below smiled, clapped, and cheered for their friends and family. After the last inductee was recognized, the NHS pledge was recited, and NHS Vice President Howell Wu ‘26 closed the ceremony with a hopeful and bright message to the inductees.

“NHS is important to high school students [because] it emphasizes the importance of being a well-rounded and multifaceted individual,” inductee Naila Farhataziz ‘27 said. “[NHS core values] teach students to recognize and strive to be the best they can be in multiple aspects of society which is important [for students now.]”