On March 10, 2022, 14 Notre Dame Academy students were recognized by and inducted into the National Chinese Honor Society NDA Chapter. 

The members were recognized for their academic and social service to the global community and included the following inductees: Soo-Yin Brown, Matteo D’Alessandro, Grace Del Frate, Christopher Gomez, Elise Lin, Kureryn McClannahan, Charles Rickards, Alan Schneider, James Shade, Catherine Sherman, Adam Vogel, Henry Weber, Belle Mae Williams and Katherine Zasuly. 

NCHS was established in 1993 to recognize talented high school students who study Chinese. The purpose of NCHS is to encourage its members to be lifelong learners so that they can gain a better understanding of the Chinese language and culture. 

In order to become a member of NCHS, students must have studied Chinese for at least four semesters in high school with an average grade of at least a B. Qualifying candidates must be those who work well with fellow students and serve as a positive role model of Chinese studies. 

Principal Patrick Browne was present at the induction ceremony, and he encouraged students to serve as a bridge between different cultures and to continue their study of the Chinese language. 

Students Sherman, Rickards, Lin, Zasuly, and Williams also gave speeches to fellow classmates and parents on their Chinese learning experience and how this has impacted them. Here are some memorable quotes and takeaways from their speeches.

“The community that the Mandarin program has offered me at Notre Dame over the years has been of great importance to me. I love learning the language and immersing myself further into the culture through the Chinese Club celebrations and activities,” said Sherman. 

“Learning Chinese for the past four years has been so extremely rewarding for me. It all began when I shadowed a previous NCHS member and was able to participate in a Chinese class that he had taken. I almost immediately fell in love with Chinese and China as a whole. This history behind the country and all the culture has to offer has brought me so much joy to learn,” said Rickards. 

“Learning Chinese goes far beyond what happens in the classroom. In the Chinese Club, we have organized Chinese New Year parties and meetings to share the culture with people, even if they don’t take Chinese. It has created a sense of community for people inside and outside of the classroom, and I hold this unique opportunity very close to my heart,” said Zasuly. 

“Not only did I get the opportunity to learn such an amazing language and culture, but also gained listening skills, memory skills, new problem solving abilities, creativity, and many other abstract concepts. I want to thank Notre Dame Academy for offering me the opportunity to learn Mandarin,” said Williams.