Students can be recognized at Ankeny High School (AHS) for all sorts of things. They can be the quarterback of the football team, the lead role in the spring musical, or the star of the track team. To be recognized for their accomplishments in their academics and service in the community, they are inducted into National Honor Society (NHS).

On April 22, 2026, the NHS inductees walked across the stage and were welcomed into NHS. They recited a pledge, acknowledging their commitment to the four pillars: scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Finally, they will sign their name, just like all of the past members have done before them.

“Everything we do and every action that we make under the National Honor Society name should support all four pillars, and every student should always support all four pillars,” NHS President Addison Meyer explained.

NHS is an important part of AHS because of the service the students can do for the community. Even students who are not in NHS are encouraged to participate in the donation drives that are held throughout the year. Another example is the Study Buddy Program, which is available to any student at the high school who would like help studying for one or a couple of their classes.

“With our name, we have a lot of power. Just like the recognition that other people hold so we can really make changes that people wanna see in the school,” Meyer stated.

NHS recently held their biggest event of the year: Dance Marathon. Even a couple of weeks before the event, their fundraising goal had already been passed. In total, $10,249 was raised to support the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

“We raise a lot of money for good causes and it just makes people better people,” NHS secretary Violet Freeman stated.

Any 10-12th grade student is eligible to apply, and will receive a letter if accepted. It will congratulate them for being accepted into National Honor Society, and include information about the induction ceremony. Georgia Rasko, an AHS sophomore who was accepted into NHS, explained how she felt when she received the news.

“I was really excited. I wasn’t really expecting a physical letter like I got, but it just felt really official to get a physical letter,” Rasko said.

At the induction ceremony, the officers read about the four pillars as they lit a candle representing each one. Following speeches by some of the officers, all of the students received handshakes and their certificate of induction. President Addison Meyer had the largest role at the induction ceremony. She talked about the accomplishments of the inductees, introduced the officers, and read off the names of the new members as they walked across the stage. 

“This is my senior year. I’m saying goodbye to NHS, and I get to induct all the new people,” Meyer said.

The National Honor Society also has high hopes for next year. After she graduates, Addison Meyer knows that the new inductees have a fresh set of eyes and can bring new ideas to the table. Violet Freeman also talked about what she hopes for the leadership for the upcoming year.

“[I hope] that the leadership can be just as good. Over half of us are seniors this year and so [I’m] just hoping that next year’s president will be good,” Freeman said.

All members were able to run for a leadership position and elect the new officers for the 2026-27 school year starting May 5th. Violet Freeman was elected as the president, which was revealed at the NHS meeting on May 20th. The inductees also have high hopes for what NHS can bring them next year. Rasko talked about how she hopes NHS can be just as successful with their service projects as it is with improving her character.

“I hope that it’ll bring me more leadership and that it empowers me to be a stronger leader,” Rasko said. “I’m excited to kind of see what it’s all about and see what we do, what activities we partake in, and how I can help.”