Hopi Tribal Vice Chair urges Hopi students to aim high<br>

The vice chairman recounted how his son Michael flunked music theory in high school, but eventually became an accomplished musician.

“Don’t get discouraged. If you get an F, retake the course,” he said.

Vice Chairman Johnson praised the inductees for making it into NHS, but urged them to be involved with community service. He told the students that they will graduate from high school and then go to the university of their choice. Then, he said they should repay the favor.

Johnson said when he attended Princeton that they pounded it into him that it was such a privilege to go there that after they graduated they owed a debt to society.

“When you succeed you should bear in mind that you owe a great debt to society,” he said.

Johnson told the students about the difference between college and high school. He said some colleges have 600 students to a class and the professors won’t get after them to attend.

“It’s up to you,” he said.

Johnson said that he and Hopi Chairman Wayne Taylor Jr. want each tribal member to be well cared for and want each high school student to succeed.

“Make your family and tribe proud,” he said.

Johnson praised Hopi High School senior Daryn Melvin for being accepted to Dartmouth.

“This is a reflection on his character, his parents and all who inspired him, especially his teachers,” he said.

Hopi High Principal Glenn Gilman praised the NHS students as the elite two percent of their class. He said the inductees passed the scrutiny of their teachers and peers.

John Cadigan, sponsor of NHS at Hopi High, spoke of various service projects that the NHS members will be involved in during the next year.

The inductees were accepted into NHS after short speeches by the current members. President Dominque Peter spoke about citizenship; Historian Kelsy Hardt spoke about service; Parliamentarian Jeremy Jelle spoke about character; Treasurer Michael Adams spoke about scholarship; and member Randi Boucher spoke about leadership.

(Stan Bindell, former Observer editor, is journalism and radio teacher at Hopi High School.)

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