NASHUA – Families, teachers and students filled the Nashua Catholic Regional High School gymnasium recently when 30 seventh-grade students were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society.

Claire Reynolds, chapter president and master of ceremonies welcomed guests and introduced the current officers: Arushi Kalpande, Charlotte Gehan, Garbrielle Whitaker, Haley Schmitt, Chloe Tardiff and Elizabeth Ross.

Elizabeth, the chapter historian, delighted the audience with information about the history of the chapter and the work it does throughout the year, including projects that benefit the Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter, Toys for Tots, Operation Care for Troops and others.

The evening continued with the recital of the chapter pledge and a candle-lighting ceremony symbolizing the five pillars of the National Junior Honor Society: scholarship, service, leadership, character and citizenship.

Principal Glenda McFadden, OFS, congratu­lated the new members and presented them with their membership cards.

"Each of these outstand­ing students has demon­strated an inherent sense of leadership, community service and character," faculty adviser Julie Wiswell said. "What they will accomplish together next year will be nothing short of remarkable."

After the ceremony, Sandy Belknap, communications director for the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation, spoke to the seventh -graders about community service and being an inspiration to others. Belknap appointed Haley Schmitt as the "keeper" of an inspiration bracelet to pass on to other inspiring students.

Students inducted were:

FROM AMHERST: Molly Graybill, Tracy Rutagengwa.

FROM HANCOCK: Claire Laplante.

FROM HOLLIS: Ryan Stack.

FROM HOOKSETT: Nicole Christian.

FROM HUDSON: Amelia Piercy.

FROM MANCHESTER: Amelia Ballingall, Gabrielle Blomquist, Thomas Cairns, Emma Jedow, Lauren Sutton.

FROM MERRIMACK: Abigail Block, Randal Brown, Blayne Laliberte, Andrea Vegliante.

FROM MILFORD: Reilly Hansen.

FROM NASHUA: Grace Bellevance, Evelyn Blecharczyk, Maegen Corriveau, Aarohi Darisi, Daniel Dockrill, Nicole Dsouza, Kaylie Keegan, Shriya Mareedu, Arya Patel, Jordyn Sherry, Haleigh Swabowicz, Ria Talwar.

FROM NEW BOSTON: Alex Fox.

FROM WINDHAM: Madison Dube.