Date: Fri 28-May-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Staple-Sobo-valdictorian

Full Text:

Newtown's Top Students Look Ahead

(with photo)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Newtown High School seniors Jennifer Staple and Dan Sobo are the valedictorian

and salutatorian for the 1999 graduating class. Both students are bound for

Yale University in New Haven next fall. They will address their classmates at

commencement ceremonies June 14 at Bruce Jenner Stadium.

Earlier this week, both students sat down with The Bee to discuss their high

school achievements, their dreams for the future and the people who have

helped lead the way. Jennifer and Dan also gave a brief preview of their

message to classmates.

Medical Research

Jennifer Staple hopes to one day become a doctor or become involved in some

form of medical research, and she plans to study that at Yale. However, this

year's valedictorian is well ahead of the game having already invented a piece

of medical equipment.

"I'm working on an invention device to simplify a tracheotomy. It is patent

pending right now, and I'm hoping it will go through clinical trials and then

be manufactured," Jennifer said.

It's called a "tracheosimp" and it would allow paramedics and EMTS to more

easily perform sanitary tracheotomies in the field. Most of these delicate

procedures are performed by skilled physicians in an operating room. However,

some emergency situations call for it to be performed in less controlled

environments. Often, EMTs are forced to make an incision in the throat area,

then insert the tube from a pen. The "tracheosimp" consists of an oxygen

chamber and suction chamber allowing for a constant supply of oxygen and for

aspiration.

The lifelong Newtown resident plans to double major in biology and American

studies at Yale.

Jennifer excelled as a student from the first day she stepped foot inside the

NHS doors, taking an interest in the sciences as well as the humanities. She

enjoys biology, especially genetic research, but she has also done well in her

history and English studies.

But the interesting young life of Jennifer Staple goes well beyond academics.

The daughter of Arthur and Caryn Staple of Brookwood Drive has spent more than

800 volunteer hours tutoring other students. She also gives of herself at

Ashlar where she makes regular visits to play checkers with an elderly man

there who had been getting few visitors. Jennifer is also a member of both the

Key Club and Interact, two NHS clubs specializing in community service. She is

also a member of the school's math team and science club.

Understanding the need to flex both mind and body, Jennifer also takes part in

recreation gymnastics at the Gymnastics Spectrum in Danbury.

Jennifer's favorite teachers are Irene Stotts and Joe Buccellatto at Head O'

Meadow School, Lorrie Arsenian and Bunni Kovacs at the middle school, and

Linda Buonagurio (English), Gwen Parks (social studies) and Susan Henderson

(biology) at the high school.

A self-motivator, Jennifer said she has always worked hard to do her best and

never concerned herself with what others were doing around her. Instead of

always following the crowd, this year's valedictorian was looking out for what

was best for her.

Jennifer's sister, Lauren, is an eighth grader at the middle school.

In her commencement address, Jennifer will talk about the past and what's

ahead for the future. She will urge her classmates to set goals for

themselves.

A Mind For Music

Few aspiring rock stars have walked the hallowed hallways of Yale University

over the years. But NHS salutatorian Dan Sobo heads to the Ivy League school

next fall with just such a dream.

At least that's his sort-of-half-hearted plan. His actual goal will involve

music, however -- some sort of music composition. He'll major in English and

music.

Like another famous Yaley who went on to be President, Dan plays the tenor

saxophone and did so in the NHS marching band, the jazz band and the symphonic

band. This year, he was the marching band's drum major, leading one of the

state's top high school bands. Dan is also a member of the NHS choral program

and the Singers, a small chamber ensemble at the high school.

Dan is also a singer-songwriter guitarist for folk rock music. He had been

playing in a band until a couple of his fellow band members went off to

college last year.

But the 1999 salutatorian's background goes well beyond a love of music. In

addition to his singing, he has done a great deal of speaking... on one topic

in particular -- the Holocaust. The tragedy of the Nazi concentration camps

has always been for him a painful part of his Jewish heritage. He couldn't

help but notice, however, that some young Americans had become "desensitized"

by the Holocaust as it recedes further and further into the past. He was

disappointed during his sophomore year that his history class did not spend

more time on this monumental horror. As he pointed out, the black and white

images of the Holocaust terrors don't even seem real. Dan reminded his peers

that human atrocities are all too real and continue to happen worldwide.

"I wanted to make people understand that these are real people," Dan said.

The son of Dr Simon and Linda Sobo of Castle Hill Road recently completed a

radio production about the Holocaust, during which he interviewed survivors,

rabbis, local students and teachers.

Dan grew up in Newtown but was born in Houston. He credits much of his success

to his parents' guidance and the great experiences he has had with NHS

teachers like Jenetta Miller and Jan Brookes. But when it comes to his own

success, Dan has always been at the head of the band.

"My mom jokes that I've been on auto pilot since I was three, but standards as

far as working hard come from my parents," noted Dan, this year's National

Honor Society president.

Dan's artistic musical aspirations contrast with his parents scientific

careers. His father is a psychiatrist with a practice in both New Milford and

Brookfield. His mother is a psychotherapist.

"I've had enough psycho analysis over 17 years to last a lifetime," he joked.

Dan has a younger brother, Michael, an NHS freshman, and two older half

sisters, Rebecca and Ilana, both in their 20s.

His graduation message to classmates: "Keep an open mind. You have all had

great experiences at Newtown, but there's a whole wide world out there and if

you keep your eyes open you'll really love it."