Lincoln-Way East students inducted into history honor society

   More than 50 Lincoln-Way East High School students were inducted into the Pi Sigma Pi history honor society Thursday night (May 2).

   The students were nominated by their social science teachers based on their grades and enthusiasm for history.

   “All of the inductees on this stage before you are committed historians,” said John Cupp, the faculty sponsor of Pi Sigma Pi at Lincoln-Way East High School.

   Among those inducted into Pi Sigma Pi on May 2 were: Kaitlyn Bailey, Kelsey Bailey, Brooke Becvar, Michele Behrens, Nell Borys, Heather Butler, Victoria Butler, Nicholas Cesario, Megan Conry, Danielle Deering and Alexandra Doyle.

   Also inducted into the honor society were: Luke Epich, Nicholas Ferracuti, Richard Fredrick, Christian Geoppo, Stefanie Hunniford, Anant Joshi, Anthony Kaplan, Michael Karnezis, Jason Kasmierski, Damian Litwicki-Newkirk, Paul Loeffel, Allison Lundquist, Philip Mancari, John Neufeld, Margaret O’Hea, John Paskiewicz, Peyton Pazera and Lucas Puskaric.

   Additional inductees included: Madeline Ritter, Emily Rodriguez, Samuel Scaletta, Leah Seielstad, Kevin Shoucair, Ethan Slager, Bradley Stepanek, Austin Szubryt, Reed Templin, Elaine Trinh, Alyssa Vogt, Dean Welby, Kyle Zajac and Dan Zubenko.

   Before they could be inducted into the history honor society, students had to attend at least four meetings this school year where they participated in deep conversations about historical events and debated such questions as “Who would win in hand-to-hand combat – George Washington or Alexander the Great” and “Which event in history was worse – slavery or the Holocaust.”

   “Pi Sigma Pi is a society focused on lessons from history as well as how those lessons impact our decisions today,” said Cupp.

   During last week’s induction ceremony, the club’s vice president, Lucas Aleck, shared with classmates and parents what Pi Sigma Pi means to him.

   “I have been fortunate enough to travel to various destinations in the world,” he said, including France (his mother’s homeland), the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza and Boston the week after the Marathon bombings.

   “The history of these places has affected me in several ways,” he added. “Through these experiences, I have found that history serves to inspire, enlighten and remind us.”
 
   The history enthusiast encouraged students to remember the heroes who ran toward the dust and debris at the Boston Marathon bombings in order to help the wounded as well as the outpouring of support for the wounded.

   “In colonial times, Bostonians rebelled against Great Britain’s tyranny through acts of protest like the Boston Tea Party, showing their refusal to be oppressed,” said Lucas. “Today, as Americans everywhere rally around Boston, we, as a country, show our refusal to allow acts of terror to oppress us. Let this event serve as a reminder of the resiliency of our nation.

   “History is more than just a prerequisite for graduation,” he concluded. “History offers us all a unique perspective on life, allows us to learn from the mistakes of others and propels us to becoming better individuals.”