It is with immense pride that Walt Whitman High School was able to recognize and celebrate their exceptional students at the first in-person Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society induction ceremony on March 21, 2022. Rho Kappa is the only national organization tailored to high school students that recognizes excellence in the field of Social Studies. The mission and purpose of the Walt Whitman Chapter is to acknowledge excellence not only in social studies but also civic engagement, leadership, community service and scholarship.

We were delighted to welcome Whitman’s new inductees and honor our senior members. “Mr. Milazzo and I often refer to our senior members as our ‘founders,’ as they established solid precedents for our members to follow,” shared co-advisor Jillian Casey, who was proud to recognize those senior members who were inducted during last year’s virtual ceremony. “Our founders set high standards and we are proud of their commitment, enthusiasm for learning, and drive for success.” Last year, WWHS inducted 31 members and at our recent ceremony, 28 new junior members joined this prestigious group.

Commitment to community service and leadership is the foundation and cornerstone of being a member of Rho Kappa. The Walt Whitman Chapter encompasses volunteers who lead by example and are strongly dedicated to the South Huntington community, to helping others, and being active participants through their roles as club leaders, captains, team-players, managers, student officers, and scholar-athletes. These students share a common excitement and enthusiasm for learning about historic trends that have shaped the world we know today, allowing their knowledge of historical eras and the important contributions of individuals and groups within history to aid in their abilities to contribute to their own communities. We are thankful for their dedication to exemplary leadership, exceptional achievement in Social Studies, and their energetic dedication to community service.

A special thank you goes out to co-advisors Jillian Casey and Ralph Milazzo for making this year’s induction ceremony possible, Social Studies Department Chairperson Dr. James Corcoran, as well as our Social Studies Honor Society Officers, President Joshua Alms, Co-Vice Presidents Maya Biblow and Owen Connolly, Treasurer Angela Shedlow, and Secretary Erin Torres.

Congratulations to our 2022-23 Inductees: John Addis, Jordan Badalamenti, Marina Bonvicin, Kate Buckshaw, Sofia Caporusso, Shelly Chen, Hasham Choudrey, Sydney Cusack, Sawyer Diamond, Vladimir Guberman, Michaela Grosso, Natalie Gugliuzza, Emma Kowalczyk, Joseph Lombardo, Lorianna Mattutat, Colin Murphy, Jacob Philip, Alexa Rapacciuolo, Samantha Regalado, Lauren Ritchie, Emily Rollman, Shaelyn Scharpf, Elizabeth Schreiber, Monica Sorto, Angelina Todaro, Candida Villaltameza, Kasey Wagner, and Nicole Yerys.

Congratulations to our seniors members: Sergio Acajabon, Joshua Alms, Maya Biblow, James Boccone, Christopher Bonilla Funez, Anthony Carino, Owen Connolly, Liam Curtain, Molly Dugan,Victoria Fiorelli, Gabriel Gonzalez, Justin Grillo, Joseph Gurba, Liam Hill, Jonathan Holleran, Victoria Isernia, Alyssa Katwala, Kristina Lineen, Ashley Magee, Lana Maniatis, Ashley Magee, Lana Maniatis, Alianna Mauro, Carly McEntee, Anthony Orgera, Noah Ramos, Ryan Rowe, Bianca Russell, Daniel Schlansky, Angela Shedlow, Mia Stampfel, and Erin Torres.

Social Studies Honor Society co-advisor, Jillian Casey, distributes certificates to new inductees.

Walt Whitman's Senior members of Rho Kappa were recognized at the in-person ceremony.

Co-Vice President and Senior Maya Biblow lights one of the ceremonial candles prior to the induction of new members.

BOE President Nicholas Ciappetta, Assistant Superintendent Dr. John Murphy, Social Studies Department Chairperson Dr. James Corcoran, and Superintendent Dr. D'Elia join WWHS Principal Ken Costa, and Co-advisors Ralph Milazzo and Jillian Casey in congratulating this year's new Rho Kappa members.

Congratulations to our old and new members of the Walt Whitman Chapter of the Social Studies Honor Society!