Orono High School
National Honor Society
Nov. 28, 2006
Robert A. Kennedy, President, University of Maine
• Thank you for the
invitation to be here tonight, and to be part of this important event.
•
My personal congratulations to all of the Orono High National Honor
Society members, especially tonight to the new inductees.
•
Academic achievement is something to be celebrated. It signifies much
more than intelligence. It also shows work ethic and dedication. And
those are the characteristics that will really make a difference as you
go through life.
•
At UMaine, we have many honor societies, and I am proud of all of them.
•
There are two in particular that remind me of NHS. They're called Senior
Skulls and All Maine Women. Although each is for one gender, they work
together so closely that they are really just like one organization.
•
In addition to scholarship, NHS emphasizes leadership, service and
character. Senior Skulls and All Maine Women are built on a similar
foundation.
•
Members of those groups are among our very best students, and not only
because they have good grades. They also show leadership, service and
character. They participate fully in the university experience. They
are, to use a term that must be familiar to you from your parents and
teachers, "well-rounded."
•
When Senior Skulls and All Maine Women leave UMaine, they do
exceptionally well, in all walks of life. They succeed professionally,
and they are community leaders.
•
Each of you is on that same track. You have shown the academic ability
to gain this important recognition, and you have demonstrated the other
important characteristics.
•
I hope you'll always remember that community service and school
activities are critical to becoming truly educated, and to being
prepared to take an important role in society.
•
We at UMaine are proud of our connection to Orono. Two of my four sons
are Orono graduates, and I think very highly of the Orono teachers and
staff.
•
Just looking around this room, I see lots of familiar faces, many proud
parents in particular who are important members of the UMaine community.
•
Those connections make it that much more gratifying for me to be with
you tonight. Thank you, and congratulations once again to each of you.
Back to Speeches
