Erica Janning lights her candle as an acceptance into the National Honor Society at Gehlen Catholic Schools. Janning was one of eight new members welcomed Wednesday. [Click to enlarge]

Eight students were inducted into the National Honor Society at Gehlen Catholic Schools Wednesday.

Erica Janning, one of the inductees, said it was a huge honor.

"It shows how much work we put into everything," Janning said. "It's just nice to be acknowledged."

All 27, including eight new members, of the National Honor Society at Gehlen Catholic Schools joined together Wednesday during a ceremony to welcome the new members. [Click to enlarge]

Kayla Hatting, another inductee, said a large part of being in National Honor Society is the service students perform both in the school and beyond.

As a part of the Christian Leadership Team, Hatting said she has visited area care centers.

"We just go out in our community," Hatting said.

National Honor Society member Keith Klein talks about an activity, experience or person that has helped inductee Paige Ellensohn develop her service, scholarship, leadership and character skills. Gehlen Catholic Schools inducted eight individuals into their NHS Wednesday. [Click to enlarge]

The other six inductees are Sarah Jentz, Emily Hutchins, Leah Ruhland, Josh Schreiner, Paige Ellensohn and Alexis Wiltgen.

To be eligible for NHS students must meet certain criteria including being a junior or senior with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better.

NHS officers on Wednesday lit candles and explained the roles each inductee and member must exhibit in the four categories of scholarship, character, leadership and service.

For example, Eric Rohe, NHS treasurer, spoke about character as "the force within each individual that distinguishes that person from others," and that it gives "each one individuality and personality."

As each of the eight inductees were welcomed into the NHS they lit a small candle from the large one that signified their acceptance and agreement with NHS roles.

All 27 students, the current 19 members of the NHS and the eight new ones, joined together to make their commitment by repeating the NHS Pledge, which talks about "striving in every way, by word and deeds, to make its ideals, the ideals of my school and of my life."

The Rev. Roger Linnan, of Hawarden, who had served at Gehlen previously, was asked to give a final blessing on the inductees.

He asked that God, "place your grace on them as they may demonstrate through their words and actions all that the National Honor Society membership holds true."