This year 22 juniors and three seniors were inducted into the NHS to join 29 returning members.

In order to qualify for NHS, a student must maintain GPA of at least 3.5 and have 30 hours of service to the community. Four tenants of National Honor Society are leadership, scholarship, character and service.

This year’s guest speaker was 2007 NUHS graduate and former National Honor Society member Dr. Danny Hawkins. Hawkins is a chiropractic doctor at New Ulm Chiropractic.

Hawkins said 20 years ago, he was inducted into NHS. He said in those 20 years of ups and downs he has discovered where true joy comes from.

Dr. Danny Hawkins, a chiropractor at New Ulm Chiropractic and a former member of New Ulm School’s National Honor Society (NHS) served as a guest speaker during the 2025 NHS induction ceremony. Hawkins said the secret to being satisfied in life was “putting others above yourself.”

“The things that will will satisfy you endlessly, and fill up your cup more than anything in this world is putting others above yourself,” Hawkins said.

He asked students if they have ever worked really hard for something, reached the goal and then felt unfulfilled? Hawkins said this happened to him. After years of working to become a chiropractor he achieved the goal, but was left wondering ‘what is next?’

“Personal accomplishment and achievement are great and rewarding,” he said “[but] don’t expect your own personal accomplishments to be the thing that satisfies you.”

Hawkins said this was not something he considered when he was 17, but he found that building up others does make work more rewarding and helps a person stand out in their field.

“Everyone has greatness in them, but it remains dormant in them because no one calls it out,” he said.

Kaylee Evans, president of New Ulm High School’s National Honor Society (NHS) spoke on leadership, the first tenant of membership in NHS. She said leadership went beyond holding a title or being the loudest voice in the room. “True leadership is about providing direction, setting a purpose and being willing to guide others,” she said. “A leader isn’t someone who controls everything. A leader is someone who motivates others to action.”

As members of the NHS, Hawkins said students are all gifted with intelligence and high levels of motivation.

“Take that gift and pour it out to those around you,” he said.

Hawkins said he could think of no better way to meet the four tenets of NHS: leadership, scholarship, character and service.

The induction ceremony concluded with four NHS officers speaking on the four tenets.

NHS President KayLee Evans spoke on leadership. She said leadership went beyond holding a title or being the loudest voice in the room.

Elizabeth Joyce, the vice-president of New Ulm High School’s National Honor Society (NHS) speaks on scholarship tenant of NHS. Joyce reminded her fellow students that scholarship only ends once a person decides to stop learning.

“True leadership is about providing direction, setting a purpose and being willing to guide others,” she said. “A leader isn’t someone who controls everything. A leader is someone who motivates others to action.”

NHS Vice-President Elizabeth Joyce spoke about scholarships. She said that as members of NHS, the goal is to instill academic excellence in the community, school, and in each other.

“It is learning and doing,” she said, “it is taking what you know and using it in the real world.”

Joyce reminded her fellow students that scholarship only ends once a person decides to stop learning.

NHS treasurer Tyson Goold spoke on character. He said character is something everyone has but comes in different forms, but it is often shaped by actions taken when no one is looking. He advised his fellow NHS members to let their character drive them to be the best version of themselves.

Tyson Goold, treasurer of of New Ulm High School’s National Honor Society (NHS) spoke on character, the third tenant of membership in NHS. He said character is something everyone has but comes in different forms, but it is often shaped by actions taken when no one is looking. He advised his fellow NHS members to let their character drive them to be the best version of themselves.

NHS secretary Aubree Schmidt spoke on the service. She said service is more than a requirement on line on a resume.

“Service is a commitment,” she said, “an understanding that actions have the power to strengthen our school, community and people around us.”

NHS was initially chartered in 1921 by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. NUHS principal Mark Bergmann said today there are over 20,000 NHS chapters worldwide.

“No honor conferred by the school exceeds that awarded by this society,” Bergmann said.

Aubree Schmidt, the secretary of New Ulm High School’s National Honor Society (NHS) speaks on the service component of NHS. NHS secretary Aubree Schmidt spoke on the service. She said service is more than a requirement on line on a resume. “Service is a commitment,” she said, “an understanding that actions have the power to strengthen our school, community and people around us.”

Members of the New Ulm High School National Honor Society gather for this years induction ceremony. Sixth row L to R: Henry Albrecht, Gracie Baker, Crosby Batt, Everly Batt, Violet Beranek, Carson, Boe, Daniel Brownfield, Mason Buegler and Bridget Bushard. Fifth row L to R: Hunter Dauer, Brady Dennis, Boston Dorschner, Spencer Drill, Alessandro Enamorado, Kaylee Evans, Estelle Fischer, Cole Frederick and Charles Gag. Fourth row L to R: George Gag, Nolan Gag, Tyson Goold, Joshua Gordon, Jaxon Hage, Makaylin Hester, Levi Hopp, Mitchell Hopp and Zacahry Hubbard. Third row L to R: Casey Johson, Ryan Johnson, Elizabeth Joyce, Lauren Kveno, Alyson Leslie, Brooklyn Lewis, Annie Loberg, Isabelle Longtin and Sophia Lund. Second row L to R: Paul Martinka, Kieryn Nachreiner, Lydia Osbourne, Marquise Poncelet, Jonas Rainwater, Owen Rasche, Kaden Schaefer, Rowan Schlagel and Aubree Schmidt. First row L to R: Kate Schmidt, Lauren Schmiesing, Brady Seidl, Jesalyn Skoglund, Keira Sullivan, Frankee Vara, Charlie Weidman, Addysen Wieland and Kendrea Yankauskas.