On March 7, the official annual Archon Induction ceremony took place in the auditorium after school. Students were released from classes ten minutes early to participate. At the ceremony, students recited the mandatory Archon pledge and the THHS choir performed.
Sophomore Dennis R Jeffrey II said, “The ceremony was well directed. It’s nice to be in something like Archon because you have to genuinely help people to get there and make a meaningful impact with the 80 hours of service you have to get. It’s also cool to be given an achievement, especially one as prestigious as Archon and be able to be in a community with others who have also done similar achievements as you.”
Archon recognizes students that show exceptional achievement in both academics and community service. Students from grades 9-12 are able to apply, but they must meet specific criteria in order to qualify. Archon requirements primarily involve maintaining a high average, completing a set amount of community service hours, and participating in extracurriculars.
Coordinator of Student Activities Jaime Baranoff said, “I think any honor society is impressive for college applications. To do a little comparison between [interest for] Archon and Arista, students, in my opinion, seem a little more interested in Arista, which we induct in December, because that’s the National Honor Society. Archon is more of a New York City high school honor society, rather than a national one, but it’s still impressive.”
The application for Archon is done through a digital Google form released a month before its deadline. Applications are then verified based on transcripts and hours submitted through the x2VOL platform.
Freshmen-Sophomore Class President and Archon Coordinator Aki Benjamin reflected on the rigorous criteria for Archon. “Obtaining the necessary community service hours is the [requirement] people have the most trouble with, as 80 is a lot, especially for freshmen. This is important for potential applicants to keep in mind, so that they are fully aware of the challenges that come with joining the honor society,” he said.
Archon aims to reflect the Ephebic Oath, which emphasizes giving back to the community, according to Ms. Baranoff. “We take the Ephebic Oath seriously in this school […] An honor society is a big honor, so we think we could raise the standard a little bit for students [by requiring service hours],” said Ms. Baranoff.
Speaking on the importance of Archon, Junior Class-President Jenna Abdelhamid said, “Archon holds a great significance in allowing students to be motivated to give back to their communities. While community service should be an act with no intended reward, so many students at Townsend take valuable time out of their schedules to make their neighborhoods and communities a better place. It is important to honor them and encourage them to continue their efforts.”
Jenna also presented during a specific segment of the ceremony. Reflecting on it, she said, “My specific speaking [portion] was [about] passing on the Archon tradition. This part is especially important because it displays how Archon’s values are deeply embedded within the same values that Townsend Harris students represent through the Ephebic Oath. Leaving our city greater than we found it is not just something we must recite every year, but a reminder of what all the actions we take as Townsend students should be ultimately rooted in.”
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