With small chatter floating around the auditorium, beautiful cello music playing in the background, and proud students dressed up, it was a calm evening for the Wenatchee High School National Honor Society chapter to induct 26 new members on April 20.

Attorney and City Councilwoman Ruth Esparza was invited to speak at the event.

“It’s not my first time speaking to Wenatchee High School students,” Esparza said. “My years at WHS were a struggle. I know that other kids struggle. So that’s why it’s something dear and close to my heart to at least relate to the kids and hopefully be a role model.”

During her speech, Esparza reflected on her journey of dropping out of WHS and then continuing with her education at WestSide High School. She graduated from high school two or three years after she was originally supposed to. She later became pregnant and was a single mother. Her daughter was her main motivation in staying in Gonzaga University, which was where she had attended college.

“Aim high,” Esparza told the crowd. “Challenge yourselves. Do not lie to yourselves and think that something is above you.”

The following students were inducted: seniors Garrett Britt, Tessa Britt, Ravyn Frazier, Eduardo Ramos, Marnie Rimes, Ali Sealby, Zach Smith; juniors Brenda Castaneda, Ethan Knutson, Braden McDarment, Thomas Smytheman, Sean Tamngin; sophomores Brendan Britt, Tobias Butler, Tammy Doan, Kathleen Dodge, Spencer Engel, Julian Hernandez, Cameron Kunz, Moses Lurbur, Hope McPhetridge, Alysha Stroscheim, Ian Tamngin, Aria Tornabene, Lizbeth Valencia and Sabrina Zhu.

The club volunteers in activities such as Math is Cool, tutoring, and this year they participated in the Polar Bear Plunge.
“I’m excited,” adviser Mary Symonds said. “It’s very exciting to see a group of kids want to be part of a service club where basically they are going to be volunteering and working for other people.”