Ledyard - Twenty five of Ledyard High School's students who exemplify outstanding qualities in service, character, scholarship and service were inducted into the Serena B. Mowry Chapter of the National Honor Society on Monday.

More than 70 family members, friends and town officials gathered in the school's auditorium to mark the special occasion.

During the ceremony, a total of 19 juniors and six seniors pledged to uphold the society's four pillars: service, character, scholarship and leadership.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Mayor Fred B. Allyn Jr. spoke briefly and thanked the veteran honor society students as well as the new inductees for continuing a tradition in service that has benefited Ledyard for years.

As a gift, he gave each veteran honor society member an official town pin, which he said he wears every day.

"There will be times where it will be appropriate for you to wear it and I hope that you wear it with the sense of pride this community has in you because this is what you're all about, service with pride," he told the students.

Senior Jenna Farquhar said during the ceremony that it is a requirement for every NHS member to participate in at least five hours of community service each month.

Porter Reim, a senior, lit the first candle for scholarship.

"A scholar is someone who makes the most out of an opportunity and someone who works to better themselves," Reim said. "Learning is only a small experience of what scholars do. They must take their knowledge and share it with others."

Senior Erin Strickland lit the second candle for leadership.

She said leadership is about learning everyone's strengths and weaknesses and working together as a cohesive group.

"Becoming a leader means taking the initiative to start a project because there's a need in the community. Honor society has taught me to be a leader in that I can take an idea and act on it," she said.

The 25 inductees, with red flowers pinned to their shirts, stood at the conclusion of each pillar description and named a person who has been a positive influence in their lives.

Senior Victoria Jones lit the third candle for service.

"Although it is a requirement for community service, it is not a chore," she said. "Service doesn't have to be done by yourself, but the smallest amount of time invested in something can make a difference in someone's life, so can something as simple as opening a door for someone."

The fourth and final candle for character was lit by senior Hayley Schneider.

"Honesty, integrity and accountability are all qualities that set our inductees apart from their classmates. A true test of their character is in store for our inductees but you have all proven that you have excellent character."

j.hanckel@theday.com