Newtown High School Honors Its Best During Annual Awards Night

By jeff White

One hundred and eight different honors were handed out to Newtown High School students last Thursday night during the school’s 17th annual Awards Night. It was a night that recognized some students for the first time, and others for the last.

In his opening remarks on May 11, high school Principal Bill Manfredonia called the students crammed into the auditorium’s front section “silent giants.”

“They are absolutely the most incredible students,” he said. “You won’t see them on the front pages of the papers … but these are the students that should be on the front pages of newspapers.”

Aside from a few minutes of remarks from Mr Manfredonia and Director of Guidance Don Elliot, the night was a steamroller of award-giving — over two straight hours honoring the best and brightest of NHS.

As a steady stream of award presenters made its way to the podium, students — mostly seniors and juniors, but also a few underclassmen — spent most of the night cheering and lauding one another for their accomplishments. Sturdy pats to shoulders between friends were the order of the night.

Though some students should have had aisle seats for the amount of awards they won, overall, honors were bestowed on a wide variety of students, celebrating the many different talents the NHS student body possesses. Art and music award winners sat next to sportsmanship and scholastic book award honorees.

In what was a celebration of the diversity of excellence at NHS, students even took the time to recognize their teachers, mostly notably in a moving yearbook dedication given to English teacher Lorrie Arsenian.

What follows is a complete list of award winners recognized during Awards Night.

NHS Awards Night

Recipients

Jessica Adams: Principal’s Award — Social Studies, and Education Connection Regional Internship Program.

Lisa Andrews: Creative Writing Award.

Rabiya Ansari: Education Connection Regional Internship Program, and Bernal H. Hertberg Community Service Award.

Adam Bagger: Education Connection Regional Internship Program.

Kristen Bandura: SWC Leadership Award, Leadership Council Award, and Social Studies Department Student Aid.

Deepa Bansal: Key Club/Leo Club Scholarship Award.

Amy Barackman: Silver Medal for National Latin Exam.

Laurie Bass: Vassar College Book Award, and Harold S. DeGroat Award.

Clare Beams: Class of 2000 Valedictorian, DAR American History Medal, AATSP Award, National Merit Finalist, Arjun Mehta Scholarship, and William Smith Memorial Math Scholarship.

Elana Bertram: Poetry Award, and AATF Award.

Joe Blanchard: Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award.

Becky Bombero: Key Club/Leo Club Scholarship Award.

Emmeline Brancato: Silver Medal for National Latin Exam.

Ryan Braun: US Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award, National Honor Society Award, and Dresser Industries Scholarship.

Elisabeth Breitling: Yearbook Co-Editor Award.

Joe Bromley: Back Door Café Leadership Award.

Evan Brooks: Back Door Café Leadership and Management Award, and Education Connection Regional Internship Program.

Steven Buchholz: Back Door Café Leadership and Management Award.

Helena Buonagurio: Arjun Mehta Scholarship.

Cathleen Byrne: Robert Glander Babe Ruth Memorial Scholarship.

Sarah Carlson: Key Club/Leo Club Scholarship Award.

Christopher Carolan: Newtown Youth Services Youth Board Scholarship, and Eleanor F. Moore Business Award.

Kevin Carolan: Connecticut Career Certificate Award.

Beth Casson: Shirley Hunter/Dana Parkinson Memorial Scholarship.

Greg Chion: Harold S. DeGroat Award.

David Clancy: Society of Creative Arts of Newtown Lawrence Newquist Scholarship.

Jessica Clark: National Honor Society Award, Newtown Youth Services Advisory Board Scholarship, Leadership Council Award, Student Government Scholarship, and Head O’ Meadow PTA Scholarship.

Aaron Coopersmith: Library Media Student Volunteer Service Award.

Benjamin Coopersmith: Quiz Bowl Award.

Jeffrey Corbeil: Sons of the American Revolution, 2nd Place Medal for Knight Essay Contest, Rotary 4-Way Oratorical Contest, Rensselaer Medal, AHSME Award, and Quiz Bowl Award.

Dan Corrigan: Education Connection’s Regional Internship Program.

Dan Cruson: Student Volunteer of the Year – Media Center.

Amanda Cruz: World Languages Department Award.

Patrick Curran: American Movie Classics and Charter Communications Scholarship.

Sara Daniels: Smith College Book Award.

Carrie Danner: Principal’s Award – World Languages.

Christopher David: Connecticut Career Certificate.

Colleen Davis: Wendy’s High School Heisman Award Nominee.

Kyley Davis: Newtown Greenery Merit Award.

Jason DeMuth: Principal’s Award — Physical Education.

Kathy Deng: Chatham College Book Award.

Thomas Denninger: National Football Foundation Scholar/Athlete.

Geoffrey DiBenedetto: Education Connection’s Regional Internship Program.

Lisa DeConstanza: Education Connection’s Regional Internship Program, and Connecticut Career Certificate.

Paul Dolzall: Harvard University Book Award, and Columbia University Book Award.

Deidre Dougherty: Wellesley College Book Award, and Michael’s Jewelers Award.

Stephen Dukenski: Quiz Bowl Award.

Lawrence Dworkin: Math Team Award.

Ryan Eberts: Town and Country Garden Club Award, and Horticulture Club of Newtown Award.

Caitlyn Elf: National Latin Exam, Silver Medal.

Richard Engel: Lt. James A. Goodrich Memorial Scholarship, Fred Davidson Soccer Scholarship, VFW Sports Award, and SWC Leadership Award.

Travis Finlayson: Quiz Bowl Award.

John Fiscella: Wendy’s High School Heisman Award Nominee.

Kelly Fuller: Art Department Book Award, and Society of Creative Arts of Newtown Lawrence Newquist Scholarship.

Heather Gibbons: Fairfield University Book Award.

Laura Hammond: Class of 2000 Salutatorian, The William Smith Memorial Math Award, and Senior Science Award.

Dan Henry: Production Achievement Award.

Tate Hoeffel: Student Government Award, and K-12 Language Arts Curriculum Student Representative.

Matt Huisking: Production Management Award.

Mark Huot: National Latin Exam, Silver Medal.

Ryan Ignatius: Michael’s Jeweler Award.

Jonathan Jossick: Rotary Haiti Community Service Award.

Jennifer Joy: Education Connection’s Regional Internship Program.

David Kaza: Principal’s Award – Tech Education.

Ami Kilchevsky: Dan Dorman Book Award.

Naomi Kim: National Latin Award, Silver Medal.

Shawna King: Nurtury Award, and Newtown Federation of Teachers Scholarship.

Casey Kirch: National Latin Award, Silver Medal.

John Kirrane: Quiz Bowl Award, and National Merit Commended Student.

Melissa Knees: Principal’s Award – Math Department.

Elizabeth Kochuba: Helen Amaral Scholarship, and Creative Writing Award.

Bryan Kotwicki: National Latin Exam, Silver Medal.

Amy Kraycir: Society of Creative Arts of Newtown Lawrence Newquist Scholarship.

Brendan Kreuger: Highest Scoring Sophomore, Fairfield County Math League.

David Krohn: Quiz Bowl Award.

Nicole LaChapelle: National Latin Exam, Gold Medal.

Taneya Lamb: District K-12 Social Studies Curriculum Committee Representative.

Lydia Lanzetta: Art Department Book Award.

David Larson: Principal’s Award – Guidance Department.

Sarah Letson: Fairfield University Excellence in Math and Science Award.

Erin Lewis: Newtown Youth Services Advisory Youth Board Scholarship.

Heather Liljengren: Poetry Award.

Crystal Lucsky: Back Door Café Leadership Award.

Christopher Lyddy: Lion’s Club Trull Award – Outstanding Junior Boy, and Bernal H. Hertberg Community Service Award.

Erin Macknight: Newtown School Nurses Book Award, and Newtown Visiting Nurses Association Scholarship.

Daisha Manfredonia: Lt James A. Goodrich Memorial Scholarship, Newtown Youth Services Advisory Youth Board Scholarship, President’s National Service Challenge and NHS PTSA Scholarship, Impact Editor’s Award, and Coca-Cola Scholars Program Semi-Finalist.

Amanda Marsillo: Lion’s Club Trull Award – Outstanding Junior Girl, and Coach Ann Anderson Sports Award.

Erik Martenson: UNICO Scholarship, Student Government Award, and Student Government Scholarship.

Brittany McClure: Ashlar of Newtown Scholarship.

Bret McEvoy: CIAC Scholar/Athlete, and Connecticut HS Coaches Association Boys Basketball Academic All-State Award.

Jessie McGlassen: Art Department Book Award.

Julia-Jane McNulty: Student Government Award, Superintendent’s Award, National Honor Society Award, SW Connecticut Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa Scholarship, Key Club/Leo Club Scholarship, and Middle Gate School PTA Scholarship.

Stephanie Miles: Society of Women Engineers Award.

Jared Miller: HOM School PTA Scholarship.

Katie Miller: Art Department Book Award.

Steve Moulton: Principal’s Award – Culinary Arts.

Tracy Mulholland: National Honor Society Award, Sandy Hook School PTA Scholarship, and IBM Thomas J. Watson Memorial Scholarship.

Jennifer Murphy: National Latin Exam, Silver Medal.

Kyle Nowak: National Latin Exam, Silver Medal.

Cara O’Neill: Yearbook Co-Editor Award, Graphic Arts Scholarship.

Thomas Oristaglio: Sons of the American Revolution, Knight Essay Contest 1st Place.

Christopher Piselli: Briarwood College Book Award.

Marlene Pixley: Art Department Book Award.

David Portanova: Art Department Book Award.

Andrew Portnoy: College of the Holy Cross Book Award, Society of Women Engineers Award, National Latin Exam, Gold Medal, and Highest Scoring Newtown Math Team Member.

Stuart Ratcliff: Principal’s Award – Special Education.

Danielle Riccio: Principal’s Award – Child Development.

Bryon Roberson: Sandy Hook PTA Scholarship, and The Vincent Voccia Vocational Award.

Tony Rocca: Principal’s Award — Music Department.

Michael Rostafin: Richard Sperling Award.

Andrea Rustine: Superintendent’s Award, and Weller Medical Health Scholarship.

Kate Ryan: Student Government Award, and Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award.

Kest Schwartzman: Principal’s Award – Art Department, Art Department Book Award, and National Merit Commended Student.

Michael Sciarretto: Dresser Industries Scholarship.

Angela Shannon: Oberlin College Book Award.

Emily Sheehan: Journalism Award, Senior, Paul Broggi Communication Award, and CIAC Scholar/Athlete.

Cassie Shewmaker: US Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award, and Connecticut State Student Advisory Council on Education (SSACE).

Shannon Solheim: Journalism Award, Junior.

Shelley Solheim: National Latin Exam, Silver Medal.

Bonnie Soucey: Library Media Student Volunteer Service Award.

Joshua Stern: DAR Good Citizen Award.

Glenn Stiewing: Newtown Jr Women’s Jane Symes Scholarship, US Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award, Governor’s Coalition on Employment Opportunities for Youth with Disabilities Award, Principal’s Award – English, and Hawley School PTA Scholarship.

Matthew Sullivan: National Latin Exam, Gold Medal.

Michael Taylor: National Latin Exam, Gold Medal.

Jessica Tendler: Yearbook Co-Editor Award.

Brandt Thompson: Principal’s Award – Entrepreneurship (Greenhouse).

Janelle Tracy: US Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award, and Dresser Industries Scholarship.

Jared Trillhaase: World Affairs Seminar Delegate.

Eme Walker: Education Connection’s Regional Internship Program.

Renee Whippie: National Latin Exam, Gold Medal.

Greg Williams: Production Detail Award.

Laura Willing: Cornell University Book Award.

Maggie Wolowitz: Principal’s Award – Business Department.

Jacqueline Wurtz: Education Connection’s Regional Internship, and Connecticut Career Certificate Award.

Daniel Yacashin: Principal’s Award – Science Department.

Jonathan Yacashin: Society of Creative Arts of Newtown Lawrence Newquist Scholarship, and Art Department Book Award.

Kate Yackel: Latin Award.

Peter Yemc: Dartmouth College Book Award, Bausch and Lomb Award, and Xerox Award.

Greg Zencey: Dresser Industries Scholarship.

Thomas Zimmerman: Quiz Bowl Award.