Kaley Kruger, a 2010 graduate of Newtown High School, was recently awarded First Prize in the Aetna Freshman Writing  for her essay “Empirical Reality to Authenticity: Joyce’s Development of the Work of Art in The Dead.”  Kaley read selections of her essay and received her award on October 27 at the Dodd Center on the University of Connecticut, Storrs Campus, where she is currently a sophomore. Kaley is a student in the ACES Pre-Education program with plans to pursue a career in special education. She is the daughter of Heidi and Cliff Kruger of Sandy Hook.

Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, held its annual Sarah and James Bowdoin Day ceremony Friday, October 28, to honor those undergraduates who distinguish themselves by excellence in scholarship. John Sapienza of Sandy Hook was named a Sarah and James Bowdoin Scholar during the event. Students who are designated Sarah and James Bowdoin Scholars at the college are in the top 20 percent of each class for the previous academic year.

Mary George  of Newtown was accepted to Central College Abroad’s study abroad program in Paris, France, for the spring 2012 semester. Central College Abroad, in Pella, Iowa, is a university-based study abroad provider for undergraduate students from colleges and universities throughout the United States.

Newtown resident Alyssa Rodriguez was inducted into Ithaca (N.Y.) College’s Oracle Honor Society in November. First-year students who maintain a grade point average that puts them in the top ten percent of all students in their school throughout their first full academic year at the college are invited into the society. Alyssa is a composition, instrumental major in the college’s School of Music.

Sandy Hook resident Kelly Tenney was recently inducted into Phi Sigma, an honor society for students in the field of biological sciences, at Endicott College, Beverly, Mass. Kelly is a senior at the college.

William Northrop of Sandy Hook, a first-year student at Gettysburg (Penn.) College, was awarded a Presidential Scholarship by the college. Gettysburg College recognizes students’ academic achievement in high school by awarding merit scholarships. The Presidential Scholarship goes to top-ranking applicants based upon their grade-point average, class rank, and SAT or ACT scores.

Claire M. Miles, daughter of Mr and Mrs Albert Miles of Newtown, has received a major school award at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville. At a school awards ceremony, Claire was presented with The Edwards Prize, awarded annually to a student for work during their tenth-grade year that was distinguished by scholarship, athletics, and school spirit. Claire is now an eleventh grade at the school.

Austin Baldour of Sandy Hook was one of 18 Eastern Connecticut State University students who participated in the university’s Habitat For Humanity’s fundraiser October 26–27. Eastern’s Habitat For Humanity campus chapter held its annual “Shack-a-Thon” fundraiser over a 24-hour period in front of Webb Hall to increase awareness of substandard housing in the Willimantic community.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute has awarded alumna Laura M. Amodeo, ‘06, the John Boynton Young Alumni Award for Service. A Newtown resident, Laura graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a bachelor’s degree in science and biochemistry. The John Boynton Young Alumni Award for Service recognizes Amodeo’s achievement as well as her continuing generosity and dedication to the Worcester Polytechnic Institute.