Club Spotlight: Schools unite during pandemic to induct artists in honor society
Clapping for the new inductees as she sits more than 6 feet from others, Madison Woodard holds the society flower, a red carnation. Woodard, a former member of National Art Honor Society, earned “Gold Seal” at the Texas Art Education Association Visual Arts Scholastic Event four years ago with her piece called “Sea Dragon.” Former students, their parents, as well as district staff attended the ceremony, which carried rules designed to keep people safe from COVID-19. “I thought we were able to make it more elegant this year with the table settings,” sponsor Judy Seay said. “For me, that kind of compensated for what we missed out on as far as personal togetherness. I felt like we were able to compensate by going into slightly more elegant settings with tablecloths and centerpieces. It was more like a banquet as opposed to receptions.”
As they light the candles on the tables, families entered the Rock Hill High School Cafeteria with their students to attend the National Art Honor Society induction ceremony. The Prosper and Rock Hill NAHS held their joint induction ceremony Jan. 14.
With the COVID-19 guidelines regarding after-school events, the officers and sponsors adjusted the ceremony format from previous years. Sponsor teacher of Prosper NAHS Judy Seay highlighted challenges they experienced.
“We had to have it in the cafeteria instead of the auditorium, and snacks had to be individually packaged,” Seay said. “People couldn’t sit together. They had to be apart. I don’t think we had as many opportunities to visit. Usually, I have a lot of conversations with parents and students, and I think because of COVID, we didn’t have the opportunity to do that.”
As social-distancing guidelines restricted large-group gatherings, the two groups found another way to bring the community together.
“I thought we were able to make it more elegant this year with the table settings,” Seay said. “For me, that kind of compensated for what we missed out on as far as personal togetherness. I felt like we were able to compensate by going into slightly more elegant settings with tablecloths and centerpieces. It was more like a banquet as opposed to receptions.”
One of the parent attendees, Amy Pedersen said she had three favorite parts of the ceremony.
“I loved the candle ceremony, recognizing volunteers and focusing on what art brings to the world,” Pedersen said.
A senior member of Prosper NAHS, Abigail Aguwa, highlighted the process of preparing for the banquet-style ceremony.
“It was extremely different,” Aguwa said. “I can’t say it was much more difficult though. I think it ran very smoothly. It was put together very well. Everything was extensively thought out.”
Prosper NAHS secretary Gillian Diel said the members worked together to create an event that honored inductees and followed guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“We made the best of what we had,” Diel said. “I think it was a great night.”
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Julia is a senior at Prosper High School. She was born in South Korea but had lived in Vancouver, Canada, for three years before moving to Prosper in the summer of 2019. This is her second year on staff. She works to improve design elements of each page of the website. Julia designed ENO's nameplate for this year. She is also the Vice President of the National Art Honor Society. Julia hopes to major in graphic design or art therapy. Click HERE to view her portfolio.
Honors & Awards:
1 Best of SNO publication
Academic All-State Prosper HS Men's Soccer, 1st Team 2022
Texas Association of Journalism Educators (TAJE) Best of Texas, "Excellent" in Photo Gallery, 2022
Texas Association of Journalism Educators (TAJE) Best of Texas, "Honorable Mention" in Photo Gallery, 2022
Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) Texas Art Education Association (TAEA), 6 medals 2019, 2020, 2022
Association of Texas Photography Instructors (ATPI) Fall Photo Contest, 2 Honorable Mention in "Travel" 2020, 2021
Prosper High School Student of the Month, "AP 2D Design & National Art Honor Society" November 2021
Prosper High School Student of the Month, "Newspaper Graphic Design" October 2021
Prosper High School Academic Awards, "Graphic Design & Illustration II" Student of the year 2021
Quill & Scroll Writing, Photo & Multimedia Contest Awards, 3rd place in "Profile Portrait" 2020
Association of Texas Photography Instructors (ATPI) Fall Photo Contest, Honorable Mention in "Travel" 2020
Burnaby Mountain Secondary School Top Student of Fine Arts Award 2018, 2019
Prosper HS Men's Soccer 2022, Manager
National Art Honor Society 2019-present, Vice President
National Honor Society 2020-present, Member
Mu Alpha Theta 2021-present, Member
Science National Honor Society 2021-present, Member
Psi Alpha Psychology Honor Society 2021-present, Member
Rho Kappa 2021-present, Member
Diverse & Inclusive Society 2021-present, Member
Adobe Illustrator Certificate 2020
Adobe Photoshop Certificate 2019
