The National Honor Society induction ceremony was hosted in the SM East auditorium on Nov. 19 to recognize students’ hard work and dedication to the four pillars of the society: scholarship, leadership, character and service. Students are encouraged to excel in all pillars to be eligible for the NHS.
“My favorite part [of the induction ceremony] is recognizing all the students that have been going above and beyond and really showing that they do stand for those four pillars,” senior and leadership pillar representative Georgia Boyd said.
During the ceremony, each senior representative gave a speech about their respective pillar, detailing the attributes needed to succeed in that pillar.
The ceremony is a large event full of tradition that takes weeks of preparation but is always done with high precision, according to the sponsor of the SM East chapter of NHS and English teacher Melinda DiGirolamo.
“When [the induction] is over and we've had a successful ceremony, you feel like you've really accomplished something,” DiGirolamo said. “Because when we tackle hard things, there are some nerves and it helps to push yourself to do the best and make sure every last little detail is attended to.”
Hundreds of people are expected to attend the 40th annual Prairie Village mayor’s tree lighting on Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. in Corinth Square, according to special events coordinator for the City of Prairie Village, JD Kinney.
The lighting will feature several performances from members of the community before and after the actual lighting. Dancers from the dance studio Dancerz Unlimited, the Indian Hills Middle School choir, the SM East drumline and mascots from local schools will provide entertainment.
“When the procession starts, Santa's in the car with the police and he's coming, and you can hear the drums from a little bit far off, and they're closer and closer and closer,” Kinney said. ”When they turn the corner, and the drums sort of get in front of the crowd, and Santa comes around the corner, and everybody starts hollering. It’s great.”
The lighting isn’t only a way to spread holiday cheer, but it’s also a fundraising event for the Prairie Village Foundation, a charity organization that focuses on families in need in the community, according to Kinney.
“[The] Prairie Village Foundation is the only charity that I'm aware of that has a hyper-local mission of helping vulnerable families in Prairie Village and the immediate surroundings,” Prairie Village Mayor Eric Mikkelson said.
The foundation is aided by monetary donations and donations of food and entertainment from local businesses and people. Free fudge and other treats will be donated by Laura Little’s and other local businesses.
Several ‘local celebrities’ will attend the event to help the mayor light the tree, including Princess of America Teen Miss Kansas and sophomore Libby Morris.
“I love getting to be a part of a city tradition,” Morris said. “It makes me feel really connected to the community. I really appreciate getting the honor of being on stage in front of my peers.”
The tree lighting sets off the holiday season and gets people in the spirit of giving, according to Mikkelson.
“It’s just the looks on the children's faces, and there's the screams of joy when Santa comes, when we flip that switch [to light the tree],” Mikkelson said. “The whole thing fills with kids in the front rows, and the family's in behind. But just hearing their laughter always warms my heart and puts me in the holiday spirit.”
Construction began on the former Macy’s building in the Shops of Prairie Village in the first quarter of 2025.
The redevelopment plans, put forth by the city and First Washington Realty, a national real estate investment and management firm, are to update the shopping center and create a gathering space for the community, which is set to finish in late 2026, according to Mayor of Prairie Village Eric Mikkelson.
“I think it's gonna be a community gathering space that people are really proud of,” Mikkelson said. “It's gonna be more inviting, more aesthetically pleasing, just warmer. It's really going to be, I believe, a dramatic improvement to one of the crown jewel shopping areas of all of Prairie Village.”
The plans include a much larger and more modern Hen House on the ground floor of the building and multiple tenants on the top floor, including Big Grove Brewery, according to Mikkelson.
While there is much anticipation surrounding the redevelopment, there’s minor apprehension concerning the construction, according to students who work in the Village.
“The WiFi has been slow [due to construction], which messes things up, but other than that, it doesn't affect us a ton,” Scoobie employee and sophomore Paige Wildman said.
The construction has caused some inconvenience for employees and shoppers at the Village as well.
“[The construction] is annoying because Mission's always closed and it’s blocked off for a lot of stores,” Minsky’s Pizza employee and sophomore Ana Pyakuryal said.
Despite the suboptimal construction, the community is looking forward to having new places to shop and a state-of-the-art grocery store, according to Wildman.
“It's going to be a source of immense pride,” Mikkelson said. “It's gonna be where you see your neighbors and friends on a regular basis, whether you're shopping for groceries or having lunch on a beautiful fall afternoon.”
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