131 students inducted into National Technical Honor Society at Isothermal
By: Blakely Hollifield
Published: November 09, 2026
SPINDALE, N.C. (Nov. 9, 2026) — Isothermal Community College hosted the annual National Technical Honor Society induction ceremony Nov. 4, recognizing 131 students from the college and four area high schools for their achievements in career and technical education.
The ceremony, held at the Foundation Performing Arts and Conference Center, honored students from Chase High School, East Rutherford High School, R-S Central High School, Polk County High School and Isothermal Community College for their academic achievements, technical skills and leadership.
The National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) recognizes outstanding career and technical education students while promoting the values of knowledge, skill, honesty, service, responsibility, scholarship, citizenship and leadership.
Scott Queen, vice president of economic and workforce development at Isothermal, welcomed attendees. Kaye Harris, NTHS adviser at Polk County High School, shared the organization's goals and purpose.
The program included the installation of chapter officers for the 2026-27 academic year and the traditional Candles of Knowledge presentation, highlighting the qualities of NTHS membership.
Cindy Stewart, career and technical education and special programs coordinator for Rutherford County Schools, introduced the new members. Susan Newman, scholarships and chapter services specialist with NTHS, led the membership pledge.
The inductees are:
Chase High School
Seniors: Hope Bailey, Peyton Bradley, Avery Collins, Janett Guillen-Zavala, Savannah Hill, Alexis Jack, Faith Perry, Abigail Thompson.
Juniors: Kalyn Allen, Palyn Allen, Kailynn Ayers, Alayna Berry, Parker Bradley, Chance Dayberry, Jude Garland, Zella Gordon, Josiah Hodge, Mikenna Holland, Canaan Houser, Paytin Hutchins, Kendall Luckadoo, Serena Ruff, Mikaela Shahan, Taylor Silvers.
East Rutherford High School
Seniors: Merritt Gaddis, Marvin Hernandez, James Hollifield, Tyler Laney, Kaylee Pendergraph.
Juniors: Katherine Cardenas Lopez, Liliana Davis, Katherine Elliott, Kaitlyn Francis, Emily Glover, Avery Hudson, Samya Lowrance, Marley McKinney, Cragan Outling, Blakely Scoggins, Jaylen Stacey, McKinlee Swink, Alyeri Ventura, Lucas White, MaKyla Williams.
R-S Central High School
Seniors: Hannah Chapman, Anna Delaforce, Nelson Epley, Jahcaries Gay, Michael Owen Guyer, Austin Hopper, Kelty Oakman, Mia Pittman, Frederick Woody, Addie Yelton.
Juniors: Abbygale Austin, Teagan Bigelow, Mylee Boone, Bryndle Digh, William Enloe, Brody Fowler, Olivia Harris, Ella Hawkins, Henry Harper, Kelly Huddleston, Rylan Holley, Camryn Johnson, Jacob Jones, McKinley Krause, Gabriel Lewis, Emma Mace, Jordan Mercer, Emmanuel Nyamiwa, Valor Rippy, CJ Simpson, Lydia Skipton, Kyndra Stroud, Mackenzie Tuttle, Melanie Tuttle, Colby Whiteside, Noah Wright.
Polk County High School
Seniors: David Duffy, Luis Gutierrez Yanez, Chayse Hagins, Caroline Lawrence, Samantha Stephenson.
Juniors: Josefine Abrahamsen, Aubrey Bell, Renee Bright, Jillian Brown, Reeve Carroll, Taylor Deel, Luke Garrison, Amelia Gondek, Elena Greve, Daniel Griffin, Simms Harris, Emma Hayford, Angelina Jackson, Matthew Jarrett, Molly Justice, Claire Lawrence, Abigail Lewis, Zoey Moore, Emily Nance, Addison Queen, Kennedie Ross, Madalyn Varnadore, Trinity Watkins, Paige White.
Isothermal Community College
Mark Banks, Caitlyn Bowen, Amanda Brown, Jordan Brown, Kaitlyn Byars, Austin Carter, Uriel Chavez, Emanual Cruz Ramirez, Darounee Davis, Joshua Davis Jr., Kendra Gibson, Andrew Herring, Nicholas Kennedy, Carol Ledbetter, Soledad Montiel, Isabella Reid, Kayla Searcy, Navada Splawn, Elisa Stallings, Jean Pierre Umanzor, Robin Vaughn, William Weiss.
Isothermal congratulates the inductees on their accomplishments and their commitment to excellence in career and technical education.