With the traditional club pie, sparkling cider toasts, and plenty of laughter, the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) held its induction ceremony for new members.
The event, known now for its lighthearted atmosphere and creative activities, welcomed its newest 12 members to the chapter. Officers led the ceremony with an introduction to the club and shared some past memories over snacks and desserts.
The club’s president, known as “El Presidente,” senior Megan Brady, instructed the members in screen-printing the NAHS logo onto t-shirts. Her passion for printmaking inspired the creation of a silkscreen from her home, where she burned the logo into the design and used fabric ink to spread it onto shirts.
“I really enjoy [printmaking] as a medium and I definitely want to spread the word about it because I feel like it’s an underrated medium in today’s society– it’s kind of forgotten. So I want to show that to the club,” said Brady.
The shirts became the centerpiece of the evening, with members excited to learn about the screen-printing process and bring home a personalized memento from the night. For many, it was their first time trying screen printing and the activity helped bring the group together.
“I think doing group activities like this and starting right off the bat with an art project made people a lot more comfortable,” said senior officer Isabella Maddaleni. “It allowed us to bond over something that we all clearly enjoy because that’s the reason we’re here.”
Aside from the screenprinting activity, many of the members enjoyed the wide selection of foods. New inductees like senior Maya Schildkraut found the food to be a highlight of the night.
“People really turned up with the food. That was pretty impressive,” said Schildkraut.
With options like cookies, brownies, chips, candy, and even an apple pie, there was something for everyone to enjoy, adding to the festivity and inviting environment. Though this was the first time the new group got together, the event made it clear that the group was well on its way to forming a close-knit community for the third year in a row.
“I think there was definitely some awkwardness at the beginning just because these people have maybe never seen each other before, but I think that once we started doing something that was art-related, it started feeling like we were all just friends hanging out instead of at a club meeting,” said Maddaleni.
The combination of art and shared experiences created a joyous atmosphere with laughter arising in each conversation. Officers and members were able to connect and find commonalities, forming a sense of belonging right from the start.
“I think [the ceremony] went fantastic. I don’t know about you, but I think it was great. It went much smoother than other induction ceremonies– I’m not being biased with screen printing, but I think it was pretty sweet,” said Brady.
Junior officer Sienna Anvari agreed that the night was a success.
“I think everyone enjoyed it, they learned a lot more about the club and we have a lot of fun activities planned, so it was a lot of fun,” said Anvari.
The group intends on hosting similar gatherings, where students can bring art into the classroom and throughout the Tri-Town. Members are getting excited about the upcoming community service project at the Topsfield Holiday on the Green, where they will be face painting and connecting with others. The induction ceremony helped members to break the ice, feel motivated to participate in future opportunities, and create a strong foundation for the year ahead in NAHS.