National Honor Society Receives Chapter of Distinction Award
Cara DePeri, School Counselor and National Honor Society (NHS) Moderator, announced that the NHS chapter at Mount Saint Mary Academy was awarded the Chapter of Distinction Award for its exemplary record of leadership, service and efforts to improve the school and community.
The National Honor Society is supported by its parent organization, the National Principals Association (NPA), which oversees the National Association of Student Councils.
Ms. DePeri, who noted that this distinction is only given to a few chapters per year, said, “This honor is such a wonderful recognition of all the time, effort, and heart our girls have put into the National Honor Society. It is so exciting to see our chapter being recognized for the impact that they are making. My heart is so full. I am so honored to be able to serve our Mount community in this important role.”
Senior Madeline Fretz, a member of the NHS, said, “Receiving this award is such a meaningful recognition of what the NHS students accomplished throughout the year. I had the opportunity to work alongside many of them on different projects, and it was special to see how they came together to support others and make our school community stronger. This award reflects the time, effort, and heart they put into their work, and I’m so proud to have been able to be a part of it and can’t wait to see what our chapter of NHS will continue to do and accomplish.”
The Mount Saint Mary Academy NHS has been recognized for several accomplishments made throughout the 2025-2026 academic year. These include:
- Hearts in Our Hands Valentine’s Day Project: The NHS, Peer Ministers, Peer Facilitators and Student Council assembled Valentine’s Day cards and heart-shaped lollipops to give to students as a gesture of friendship and belonging. Faculty/staff members received a personalized Valentine's Day card and a bag of candy as a thank-you for all they do for our school community.
- Girls Helping Girls: A large-scale collection drive focused on supporting girls and women in need by organizing a collection of feminine hygiene products and other personal care necessities to donate to the Starfish Food Pantry in Plainfield.
- Teacher Appreciation: NHS members created handmade bookmarks for Mount teachers featuring a personalized message of gratitude and paired each bookmark with a bag of treats. The project gave NHS members an opportunity to recognize the individual impact teachers have on students and to strengthen the relationship between students and faculty.
- Anti-Bullying Bracelet Pledge: Each NHS member received an anti-bullying bracelet as a visible reminder of their commitment to stand against bullying and be a positive role model for their peers. Members took a pledge to use their voices and actions to promote kindness, to include others, and to help create a school environment where every student feels respected and valued.
- Tutoring
“The NHS Chapter of Distinction Award celebrates chapters that truly embody what the National Honor Society stands for – students who don’t just excel academically but actively strengthen their communities,” said NPA CEO Ronn Nozoe. “The Mount Saint Mary Academy chapter demonstrates how powerful it can be when young leaders channel their talents toward meaningful service and positive change.”
PHOTO CAPTION: Student leaders from the National Honor Society at Mount Saint Mary Academy proudly smile with Cara DePeri, School Counselor and NHS Moderator, who holds their Chapter of Distinction Award. Pictured, left to right, are Uzoma Ononiwu '27, Angela Grillo '27, Catherine Minervino '27, Ms. DePeri, Celia Carnesi-Silberstein '27, Bridget Stempien '27, and Sara Mangal '27.
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