This article was first published in December 2001. It is from the second issue of the seventeenth volume of The Classic. This article was chosen as the Arista National Honor Society induction ceremony is upcoming in December.
Arista welcomes inductees
The annual Arista Induction ceremony on December 6 at Colden Auditorium at Queens College not only honored the inductees, but also celebrated former Arista advisor, Margaret Landry. After serving as the Arista Advisor for eight years, she is stepping down.
Ms. Landry was presented with flowers for her years of commitment by the new Arista advisor, Marict D’Souza. Jennifer Sheth, junior, is sad to see Ms. Landry leave as Arista advisor because she has done so much for the society.
Throughout the ceremony there were speeches from principal Thomas Cunningham: the Parent-Teacher Association co-presidents, Daphne Manhart and Joseph Dubowski, and Queens College liaison, Dr. Marvin Leiner. Arista President, Laura Kim, along with Maryann Tan, secretary Susan Cheng, 2nd Year Vice-President Susan Chang, treasurer, and Marina Polyakova, 3rd Year Vice-President, each lit a candle that represented a quality an Arista member should possess: scholarship, leadership, service, and character.
Following the candle lighting ceremony, Assistant Principal of Pupil Personnel Services, Joan Walsh, administered the induction pledge. She was joined by the Arista Board, First Year Vice-President, Eimear McDermott, and faculty members Harry Rattien, Assistant Principal of Mathematics, Wanda Nix. Dean Miriam Zambrano, Assistant Principal Languages; Antoinette Teague and Cheryl Kramer, guidance counselors:
Susan Brustein, Assistant Principal of Science, and Maria Laderoute, Latin Teacher; in presenting inductees with pins and certificates, In order to be inducted into Arista, one must have a minimum average of 90, have performed at least 50 hours of community service, and participated in at least one school club.
Susan Cheng said that, “I enjoyed the ceremony because it wasn’t too formal but welcomed all of the incoming members. It was a place where everyone could be proud of their accomplishments.”
Stephanie Lew, senior, conducted the Concert Band in the processional, while Peter Lustig, music teacher, conducted them in “Suite from The Magic Flute” by W.A. Mozart. The ceremony concluded with the Tuwnsend Harris alma mater and a performance of “We Are Family” from the Concert Band.
