Newtown High School students were inducted into a number of world language honor societies — the Chinese Honor Society, the Société Française, the Societa’ Onoraria Italica, the Societas Latina, and the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica — during an evening program on Wednesday, May 21, at NHS.

“We are here to celebrate the accomplishments of our students who have excelled in learning the world languages, as shown by maintaining a 90-average grade in their classes,” said NHS World Language Department Chair Paula Greenfield. “These students are truly citizens of the 21st Century because of their ability to communicate with people around the world.”

Ms Greenfield thanked the teachers of the high school’s World Language Department for their dedication in teacher Chinese, French, Italian, Latin, and Spanish.

First Selectman Pat Llodra also spoke during the event.

“I am very proud of our Newtown schools and celebrate the high school as the flagship of that excellence,” Mrs Llodra said. The first selectman also shared three messages for the inductees.

“First of all, you have my congratulations for a job well done,” said Mrs Llodra.

Her second message was that success, excellence, high achievements, and outstanding performances should be “personally seductive. You should revel in your success and want to have it over, and over, and over again. Do not dismiss the achievement of this honor and your achievement.”

Mrs Llodra then told the students the world needs them to help solve the complex problems earlier generations have created.

“Our legacy has to be more than a world in conflict,” Mrs Llodra said, “a world with climate change looming, a world of economic disasters… a world divided by people in conflict.”

Students inducted into the National Chinese Honor Society were Lilly Fulmer and Hannah Grant.

Société Française inductees were Akash Ahuja, Kelly Coughlin, Maryyam Ali, Marisa Leone, Amylee Anyoha, Kunal Marwah, John Carlson, and Gabriella Perpignand.

Inducted into the Societa’ Onoraria Italica were Sydney Chiarito, Alexis Mulski, Sophia Devivo, Tom Rahr, Kylie Galagher, Helena Reznikoff, Marisa Leone, and Bailey Solomons.

Nikole Giovannone, Hannah Grant, and Kayleigh Granville were inducted into the Societas Latina.

Students inducted into the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica were Madi Aug, Jessica Nguyen, Emily Campbell, Brandon O’Sullivan, Amanda Cirella, Stephen Price, Lauren Engels, Ana Pinckney, Lilly Fulmer, Tonya Tucker, Caitlin Filiato, Megan Weber, Kelsea Morshuk-Allen, and Katelyn Zimmerman.

Following the inductions, a reception was held in the high school’s cafetorium, provided by NHS culinary students.

More photos from the evening are available in this week’s newtownbee.com photo gallery.