Each spring, LHS honors its high-achieving students by inducting them into the school’s chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS). This year, on Thursday, May 1, a total of 293 sophomores, juniors, and seniors were recognized—either as new inductees or returning members. The event began with a student procession into the gymnasium, accompanied by the LHS Brass Ensemble, conducted by band teacher Zachary Rifkind.
In preparation for the ceremony, the current NHS senior board members verified all student names for the pamphlets, held elections for next year’s officers, and rehearsed their scripts. President Miranda Mangru also wrote and practiced her own presidential address. NHS advisor and Foreign Language Chairperson Leonard Bruno, handled printing pamphlets, certificates, insignia patches, and membership pins. For Bruno, this event is always a yearly highlight. “I truly enjoy seeing the junior/senior powerhouse of Lynbrook come together and plan great things that we can do for others both inside and outside of school,” he shared. “If NHS can’t do it, then who can? We have a lot of talent in our club, and if [everyone] contributes and pitches in, then so much can be done,” he added.
After Vice-President John-Luigi Mucciacciaro opened the ceremony and led the Pledge of Allegiance, Bruno welcomed attendees and spoke about the four pillars of NHS: scholarship, character, service, and leadership. Secretary and senior Genevieve Dellacona then inducted the new members and guided all students in reciting the NHS Pledge. Certificates and awards were presented by Principal Matthew Sarosy, along with Assistant Principals Salvatore Brescia and Bryan Garcia. Bruno especially appreciated this part of the evening. “I truly enjoyed seeing our new members and our current membership come up when their name [was] called for a handshake,” he said. “These students [deserve] the recognition that they get for commitment to doing a great job academically and in their extracurricular activities.” Mucciacciaro shared a similar sentiment: “The highlight of the ceremony was getting to congratulate everyone for either making it to or getting to continue their service within the National Honor Society. Everyone put in a lot of work, so it was nice to be able to personally recognize their efforts.”
Once all members had been recognized, Mangru delivered a speech to reflect on the core values of NHS, offer encouragement to underclassmen, and share parting words with her fellow seniors; something she has been looking forward to since she earned the position last year. “I was really proud of my speech, and I could tell my parents were too,” Mangru shared. Reflecting on her experience, she added, “As president, I definitely had a lot of hands-on tasks to accomplish and could not have done it without the help of the board. Having this role reaffirmed the importance of being organized and knowing how to command attention in a room. It’s definitely a part of my high school experience I won’t forget.”
One of the ceremony’s most anticipated moments came when Treasurer Katy Gottlieb announced next year’s NHS board. The newly elected officers for the 2025–2026 school year are Jack Murray (treasurer), Addison DiFiore (secretary), Dilnoor Nijjar (vice president), and Leah Pisano (president). As another successful induction ceremony came to a close, Sarosy shared congratulatory words to the students. Nijjar was thrilled when she found out she was elected vice president. “I never let being a new member of Lynbrook stop me from getting involved and sharing my experiences,” she shared. “This position reminds me that growth, resilience, and leadership are always seen, even if not immediately,” Nijjar added. Looking ahead, Nijjar hopes to expand the scope of NHS’s service work. “I’m most excited to deepen the heart of what the NHS stands for and transform leadership into something lived, not just listed,” she explained. “This role gives me the chance to help create a [place] where service feels personal, brings new ideas to the table, and where every project carries the kind of impact that stays with you,” added Nijjar. Bruno also shared his goals for the coming year: “My hopes for next year include the continuation of service to others – particularly in our tutoring program – and my hope of seeing greater attendance among our membership at our monthly meetings.” Bruno added, “I trust that our newly elected officers will continue the fine tradition of leadership and serve as exemplary models for our membership just as our outgoing board members have done.”
