The National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS) chapter at PenTab Academy in Miami Gardens celebrated academic excellence and service last Wednesday as 17 students were formally inducted during the school’s sixth annual ceremony. Surrounded by family, faculty, and community leaders, the new inductees were recognized for their commitment to scholarship, leadership, character, and service, values at the heart of the NEHS tradition.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Lavern Deer, CEO and founder of the Female Development World Organization (FDWO) and candidate for City of Miami Gardens District 2. Dr. Deer’s message struck a powerful chord with students and parents alike, emphasizing the discipline, curiosity, and responsibility required to excel. Drawing on her own journey as a scholar, nonprofit founder, and public servant, she reminded the inductees that “education opens every door”—a theme echoed throughout her remarks.
A ceremony rooted in values and community
Chapter leader Lia Wilson, Principal Dr. Barbara Sharpe, Pastor Omar Williams, Associate Pastor Chris Wilson, and the full Executive Committee took part in the official pinning of students and the presentation of certificates. The ceremony highlighted not only academic achievement but also the school’s longstanding culture of character-building and community engagement.
PenTab Academy’s NEHS chapter has distinguished itself through active participation in the City of Miami Gardens’ Adopt-a-Road program. The school maintains a dedicated section of NW 7th Avenue in honor of the late Bishop S. Robert Stewart, demonstrating an institutional commitment to civic pride and environmental stewardship through its partnership with the Keep Miami Gardens Beautiful initiative.
Dr. Deer’s message: Four pillars for life
In her keynote speech, Dr. Deer walked students through the four pillars of the National Elementary Honor Society, Scholarship, Responsibility, Leadership, and Service, connecting each one to real experiences from her own career and community work.
- Scholarship, she told students, is fueled by curiosity and a love of learning, not just high grades. She spoke about her pursuit of higher education, including her bachelor’s and MBA degrees, and how learning propelled her into national service and recognition.
- Responsibility, she emphasized, is doing the right thing “even when no one is watching,” whether in school, at home, or in public life.
- Leadership, she said, is not about titles but about listening, inspiring others, and leading with integrity, skills she developed while serving in government and in nonprofit leadership.
- Service, the final pillar, reflects the heart of her mission. “Helping others without expecting anything in return,” she noted, is how communities are strengthened and futures are transformed.
Her address challenged students to remain disciplined, compassionate, and confident in their abilities as future leaders.
A school anchored in faith and excellence
PenTab Academy, a PreK-8 Christian private school located at the northeast corner of NW 7th Avenue and Miami Gardens Drive, has served families in Miami Gardens for more than two decades. As a ministry of Pentecostal Tabernacle International, the school blends faith-based education with rigorous academic standards. The Honor Society induction is one of its most anticipated annual events, an evening that celebrates both achievement and potential.
Looking ahead
As the ceremony concluded, proud parents embraced their children, teachers beamed, and Dr. Deer left students with one final message: “Today you are being honored for what you have achieved, but the world is waiting for what you will become.”
It was a fitting close to an evening dedicated not just to achievement, but to the promise of tomorrow.
 last Wednesday.){kind=link}