Underclassmen Also Honored At NHS Awards Night

By Larissa Lytwyn

Nearly 100 Newtown High School underclassmen were honored for their civic and academic achievements during the school’s annual 2004 Awards Night last Thursday, May 20.

Director of Guidance Elaine Schwartz, who later presented the Lion’s Club Trull Past President’s Award, AFS Award for Excellence, and Journalism Awards, welcomed the audience for the evening.

Latin instructor Jennifer Huettner recognized top scorers on the National Latin language exam. “You know, you can put these [Latin awards] right next to your sports medals,” laughed Ms Huettner. She also poked good-natured fun at the award medallion each National Latin Award recipient received. “I expect you to wear your medallion every day at school from now until the end of the year,” she joked, drawing laughter from many of the students.

Paula Greenfield, chairman of the school’s World Language Department, presented the Connecticut Organization of Language Teachers [COLT] Awards for Excellence.

The COLT award acknowledges students with the highest averages in their foreign language classes.

English teacher Cari Strand awarded each recipient with a warm hug as she presented a number of book awards, along with Ms Huettner, from premier institutions of higher education, including Wellesley College, Smith College, Vassar College, Columbia University, Brown University, Oberlin University, Harvard University, and Dartmouth College.

Recipients receive a book with a personalized bookplate and a certificate of achievement. In addition, many can apply for a fee-waived application if they choose to continue their education at that college or university.

Other presenters included Career Center Director Peg Ragaini, who recognized students who had completed exemplary service through Education Connection’s Regional Internship Awards, as well as the internal Newtown High School Internship Awards.

Newtown High School Principal Bill Manfredonia praised the students for their accomplishments.

“These are amazing students,” he said. “We are proud of you all.”

Underclassmen Awards

Justin Bass, Connecticut Science Fair – Medalist; Melanie Beck, COLT Award; Karli Beitel, AATSP Award, COLT Award; Shannon Bell, St Michael’s College Book Award, Education Connection’s Regional Internship Award, COLT Award; Jessica Biscoe, Latin Award – Gold Medal; Quincey Blanchard, Lion’s Club Trull Award, Society of Women Engineers Award, DARE Role Model; Gina Bloshuk, Latin Award – Silver Medal; Wesley Boisvert, Latin Award – Silver Medal; Katelyn Bolmer, Education Connection’s Regional Internship Award; Margaret Boushell, Chatham College Book Award, Columbia University Book Award, Harvard University Book Award, Junior Science Humanities Symposium, Connecticut Science Fair – Medalist, COLT Award; Lauren Bucci, Latin Award – Gold Medal; Jessica Budnick, NHS Internship Award; Lillian Campbell, Connecticut Science Fair – Medalist, COLT Award, AMC Award/Winner; Sophia Cerreta, Latin Award – Gold Medal; Erin Clark, COLT Award; Dorothee Cordes, COLT Award, Art Department Book Award; Katie Crevier, Latin Award – Silver Medal; Kellie Datin, Connecticut Science Fair – Medalist; Sara Davis, Brown University Book Award, Junior Science Humanities Symposium, Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award, COLT Award; Peter Dittmar, DARE Role Model; Kaelyn Eckenrode, COLT Award, Journalism Award, Michael Jeweler’s Awards; Karoline Engel, Wellesley College Book Award, COLT Award; Elizabeth Ericson, COLT Award; Alexa Feldman, Latin Award – Gold Medal; Carolyn Filler, Latin Award – Gold Medal; Amber Finlayson, NHS Internship Award; Kathryn Fullman, Latin Award – Silver Medal; Rebecca Gellis, Fairfield University Excellence in Math and Science Award; Stephen Giacolone, DARE RoLe Model; Ashley Gillespie, Library/Media Center Volunteer, Latin Award – Silver Medal; Elsa Gillis, COLT Award; Daniel Gindraux, Society of Women Engineers Award, Connecticut Science Fair – Medalist, AMC Award; Gregory Gordon, COLT Award; Robert Grauer, Junior Science Humanities Symposium, Connecticut Science Fair – Medalist, Connecticut Science Fair – Second Honors; Jacqueline, Gutbrod, Vassar College Book Award, Dartmouth College Book Award, Art Department Book Award; Andrew Harmata, Art Department Book Award, AMC Award; Sarah Hemingway, Journalism Award, Governor’s Scholars Award Nominee; Brian Hunt, Perspectives Award; Jennifer Iassogna, AMC Award; Christopher Jacob, Fairfield University Book Award, COLT Award, DARE Role Model; Hannah Kiernan, DARE Role Model; Peter Kim, COLT Award; Emily Koh, Oberlin College Book Award; Ryan Kraft, The College of the Holy Cross Book Award; Blaise LaPorta, DARE Role Model; Monica Latowicki, Mt Holyoke College Book Award, DARE Role Model, Latin Award – Silver Medal; Joshua Liska, NHS Internship Award; Alison Lones, AMC Award; Kyle Lyddy, Lion’s Club Trull Award, DARE Role Model; Daniel MacDonald, Latin Award – Silver Medal; Stephanie MacKay, DARE Role Model; Paul Marcucilli, Latin Award – Gold Medal; Max Margulies, Latin Award – Silver Medal; Nicholas Mentesana, Michael Jewelers Awards, University of Rochester Excellence in Humanities and Social Sciences Award; Justin Miller, Latin Award – Silver Medal; Catrina Morgan, Latin Award – Silver Medal; Bruno Mouro, NHS Internship Award; Emelye Neff, COLT Award; Lauren Nemeth, COLT Award; Stephanie Nordstrom DARE Rose Model; Carol O’Keeffe, DARE Role Model; Kyle Palo, Junior Science Humanities Symposium – Delegate; Krishna Patel, Perspectives Award, The Arjun Mehta Scholarship, Education Connection’s Regional Internship Award; Anna Pister, NHS Internship Award; Megan Rawson, AMC Award; Lauren Reed, Smith College Book Award, Journalism Award; Ethan Reed, Latin Award – Silver Medal; Tricia Reed, Latin Award – Silver Medal; Cory Regensburger, AMC Award; Benjamin Roche, AFS Award for Excellence; Eric Rodriguez, Latin Award – Silver Medal; Megan Rogers, COLT Award; Sean Ryan, Latin Award – Silver Medal; Elyssa Samsel, COLT Award; Marcus Schultz, NHS Internship Award; Zachary Schwartz, Latin Award – Silver Medal; Edward Small, COLT Award; Alex Snow, Education Connection’s Region Internship Award; Celia Song, COLT Award, AMC Award; Andrew Taylor, Junior Science Humanities Symposium – Delegate; Christine Terrance, Latin Award – Silver Medal; Chantal Thompson, COLT Award; Claudia Toth, Latin Award – Gold Medal; Jenny Urfer, Art Department Book Award; Henry Washburn, Education Connection’s Regional Internship Award; Samantha Wong, Junior Science Humanities Symposium – Delegate; Jenna Zigman, Business Department Book Award, Key Club/Leo Club Scholarship; Claire Zukowski, Library/Media Center Volunteer, COLT Award, AMC Award, Latin Award – Gold Medal.