Eleven chosen for National Honor Society

Eileen M. Adams/Sun Journal

Current Dirigo High School National Honor Society members pose with new inductees in front of the high school Friday afternoon after the traditional tapping ceremony. New inductees are, front, Kirstin Blood, Amber Woods, Spencer Ross, Becky Cote, Jill Schnorr, Meridith Brown, Hannah Knight, Emily Ray, Deanna Varnum and Kelly Bean. Current members, back row, except Mariah Dailey, far right, are Tyler Gates, Dakota Turnbull, Nic Crutchfield, Kyle Hutchinson, Tyler Chiasson, Eric Bolduc, Bryce Carver and Jane Hebert.

- Eileen M. Adams

Eileen M. Adams/Sun Journal

Dirigo High School Principal Michael Poulin presented National Honor Society President Dakota Turnbull with the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen of the Year 2009 award Friday afternoon during a student assembly.

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- Eileen M. Adams/Sun Journal

DIXFIELD — Eleven juniors and seniors at Dirigo High School were tapped Friday afternoon to become the newest members of the National Honor Society.

The informal ceremony, held as part of the monthly student assembly, is preliminary to the official candlelight induction ceremony set for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the high school's community room.

Dakota Turnbull, president of the DHS society, said the school's faculty council chose the 11 based on the four pillars of the organization: character, scholarship, leadership and service.

The eight current members located the soon-to-be new members seated on the bleachers, then tapped them on the shoulders to indicate they should come to the floor for recognition.

Kirstin Blood, a senior from East Dixfield, was one new member. She was also selected, later during the assembly, as the Dirigo High School student of the month.

"I was a little shocked," she said of the honor.

Among her credentials for being chosen to sit on the honor society and for being named Student of the Month by Principal Michael Poulin, are her community service with Interact, which is the local Rotary's youth club, serving on the Student Council, and being an active member of the Franklin County Wranglers 4-H Club.

"She's a role model, active in and outside of school, serious, with a sense of humor," Poulin said of Blood.

Blood plans to attend the University of Southern Maine to become a pediatric nurse.

Others tapped for membership on Friday were: Kelly Bean, a junior from Canton; Meridith Brown, junior, Dixfield; Hannah Knight, junior, Dixfield; Spencer Ross, junior, Dixfield; Deanna Varnum, junior, Dixfield; Becky Cote, junior, Peru; Mariah Dailey, senior, Canton; Emily Ray, junior, Canton; Jill Schnorr, junior, Dixfield; and Amber Woods, senior, Peru.

Turnbull was also named the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen of the Year for 2009.

Poulin said Turnbull displayed dependability, leadership, service and patriotism, which are the criteria for choosing the honoree.

Turnbull plans to attend a four-year aviation school to become a commercial pilot when he graduates in June.

eadams@sunjournal.com