With Honors
Shiprock students making the grade

Inducted into the Shiprock High School Chapter of the National Honor Society were, from left,: Preston Toehe, Raphael Taliman, Ericka Charley, Jennifer L. Yazzie, Brandi Johnson, Samantha Woods, and Karina Todachine (not pictured: Vanessa Begay) (Photo courtesy Central School District)

By Brian Hassler
Staff Writer

SHIPROCK — She may only be a sophomore but Ericka Charley is a smart girl with big plans.

In addition to taking Advanced Placement classes, biology and English, serving as her class treasurer at Shiprock High School and being involved in Talent Search and Upward Bound; Charley is the newest member of the Shiprock Chapter of the National Honor Society.

Not that Charley is alone in that honor; in fact there were seven others that received that honor on Monday evening at Shiprock High School.

"I've been asking if I've been accepted for the past month because it's a big honor," said Charley.

Charley has been asking school librarian and chapter advisor Kyla Johnson what the requirements were for acceptance since she was a sophomore but isn't close to her goals.

"My biggest goal is to be my classes' valedictorian," said Charley. "That and to be accepted into an Ivy League school, either Harvard or Yale.

Others that were honored on Monday were Vanessa Begay, Brandi Johnson, Raphael Taliman, Karina Todechine, Jennifer L. Yazzie, Samantha Woods and Preston Toehe.

And Charley isn't the only one that has shown the desire and determination to earn the required 3.5 G.P.A. and the teacher approval that is necessary for students to be accepted into the National Honor Society.

"Preston qualified last year but wanted to wait and see if he could handle it while being involved in sports," said Johnson. "Some of them are real shy like Vanessa, others are into sports. Jennifer is in here a lot and is very bubbly and is always happy to be here."

Also impressive to Johnson was the time she watched Taliman taking a standardized test.

"With Raphael, I had him in here when we were doing the testing for the sophomores, it's a long and dreary test and at first he was sitting there so quiet and I wondered if he could read," said Johnson. "Then I walked over and he was writing and writing and writing on the essay part and I was just flabbergasted. He's got a 3.8 G.P.A. and he was just getting his thoughts together before he started which was impressive. High school students find it hard to be that driven on a standardized test but he was cranking it out. I'd like to see his scores because I'll bet that he'll be close to maxing out on the scores."

Each of the eight members is expected to maintain at least a 3.5 G.P.A. at all times to maintain their respective memberships and all members must be approved by their teachers, counselors and the principal before they are offered membership.

Additionally, outside community service and service in school activities are considered before students are offered an opportunity to join the National Honor Society. Of the 30 students that have joined the National Honor Society, only one has left since Johnson has taken over as the chapter advisor.

For now, Charley is one step closer to the goal of Ivy League attendance, but she'll stay busy with her school duties, school band work and the time she spends after school working at her mom's store.

— Brian Hassler is The Independent's Four Corners reporter based in Shiprock. Contact him at (505) 360-7862 or via email at brianhassler@hotmail.com.