Merrill Middle School will induct 25 students into the school's chapter of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) during a special ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26.

The induction ceremony will be in the school's auditorium following the Merrill Middle School Fourth Annual Writers' Showcase, which features student writers and musicians. The showcase will start at 5:30 p.m.

Selected by a Faculty Council for meeting high standards of scholarship, service, leadership, citizenship and character, the following 25 seventh- and eighth-grade students will be inducted into membership: Danielle Burger, Julian Cabrera, Rebecca Chazin, Lydia Heasley, Vincent Jaramillo, Miyoki Kawamoto, James Leaman-Miller, Brianna Logan, Amanda Luna, Jason Martineau, Jordan Nelson, Thao Nguyen, Tuonguy Nguyen, Mercy Owusua, Libby Petcoff, Victoria Queen, Desi Raynor, Abby Reynolds, Jayne Reynolds, Julie Rhodes, Fernanda Santos, Fanisa Shamgunova, Samuel Thomas, Phuong Vo and Matthew Zeigler.

Merrill Middle School received its charter to NJHS in September 2003, and this is the first group of seventh- and eighth-grade students selected based on their first semester grades and achievements. To be eligible for membership consideration, students must have a 3.4 grade point average. Selected members were evaluated by the Faculty Council through an information sheet, an essay on the topic of character and a personal interview.

The National Junior Honor Society ranks as one of the oldest and most prestigious national organizations for middle level students. Chapters exist in more than 60 percent of the nation's middle level schools. Since 1929, millions of students have been selected for membership. NJHS is sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, which also sponsors the National Honor Society.

Merrill Middle School is located at 1551 S. Monroe St. For more information, contact Sharman E. King, secondary educator and National Junior Honor Society faculty advisor, Merrill Middle School, 303-756-3621.