8th graders in moving up ceremony

Grand Island Dispatch, July 6, 2007

Veronica E. Connor Middle School celebrated on June 19, as the eighth-grade moving up ceremony was held in the Grand Island High School auditorium.

Vice Principal Carl Guidotti welcomed the family and friends of eighth-grade students. Stephen Vitello and Geoff Federspiel, Student Council president and vice president, reviewed their three years in the middle school. Academic awards were presented, followed by the presentation of a certificate to each eighth-grader by Principal Bruce Benson. Benson and Guidotti encouraged the students to follow the Viking Values throughout their high school careers.

The following are the academic awards presented by middle school teachers:

•Orchestra and Musical Awards Participation in Three Musicals: Shannon Becker, Lizzie Davis, Emma Henderson and Kathleen Rustowicz.

•Musical Rookie of the Year: Sarah Stewart.

•Musical Spirit Award: Lizzie Davis and Julie Hasselbeck.

•Best Actress Award: Emma Henderson.

•Most Improved Orchestra Members: Bethany Cinelli and Anna Ferrante.

•Outstanding Orchestra Musician: Emma Henderson, Jessica Osvath and Alyssa Yeager.

•Art Awards were presented to: Jaime Magaris, Aren Shanor and Amanda Sutter.

•The Foreign Language Department recognized the following students who received 100 percent on the grade 8 Foreign Language Proficiency Exam in Spanish: Jenna Cardone, Sara Diletti, Shannon Moody, Jessica Osvath, Sarah Stewart and Jessica Yarnes.

•The English Department presented the following awards for “Highest Averages” in ELA 8:

Mrs. Campbell’s classes: Nicholas Battaglia, Sara Diletti, Alan Endres, Ariana Mendel, Jessica Osvath, Evan Shaw and Sara Victor.

Mr. Meaney’s class: Christopher Field.

Ms. Stevens’ classes: Bethany Cinelli, Aliena Cook, Christopher Ernst, Christopher Rose and Amanda Sutter.

•Perfect Score on the New York State English Language Arts 8 Assessment: Nicholas Battaglia, Sara Diletti, Sara Dzielski, Alexzander Prine and Shelbi Milkas

•Social Studies Department Award for Highest Overall Average.

Ms. Brooks’ classes: Sarah Stewart.

Mr. Zaleski’s classes: Michael Seaman and Nicholas Battaglia.

•Science Department Award for Highest Overall Average:

Mr. Butcher’s classes: Ava Jackson and Taylor Bedford.

Mrs. Hegarty’s classes: Chris Rose, Christina Marinez and David Gerfin.

Ms. Schaber’s classes: Lucas Madia, Kevin Neary; Earth Science: Emma Henderson, Amy Schooping and Evan Shaw.

•Math Department Awards for Highest Overall Average:

Mrs. Slowinski’s classes: Math 8 - Ava Jackson, Paige Rockwood

Math A: Sara Diletti.

Mr. Brodie’s classes: Math 8: Christian Gibson; Math A: Emma Henderson and Evan Shaw.

“Mathletes” awards for the top 3 finishers: Ben Sherman, Korin Frantz and Anna Ferrante.

•New York State Attorney General Award for Commitment, Character, and Courage: Ashley Swiantek and Aren Shanor.

•New York State Comptroller’s Award for Academic Excellence and Civic Commitment: Jessica Osvath.

•The Presidential Awards for Outstanding Academic Achievement went to: Danya Abdellatif, Samira Amin, Matthew Arida, Shannon Becker, Taylor Bedford, Alexandria Bleich, Justine Call, Brianna Catanzaro, Jason Chadwick, Stephanie Cleveland, Nicholas Colao, Samuel Cummings, Dominque DeGregario, Brooke DeMarco, Alexandra DeMita, Kaleigh Deuser, Robert Dickinson, Samantha Ducette, Matthew Edwards, Geoff Federspiel, Christopher Field, Jennifer Fiels, Carson Filips, Carmela Gentile, Heather Graff, Rebecca Hammett, Julie Hasselbeck, Amanda Heftka, Molly Higgins, Lindsay Hodan, Mark Jurga, Jordan Kaufman, Nicholas Kellner, Taylor Kozlowski, Justin Lee, Kelly Lorence, Lucas Madia, Jaime Magaris, Ryan McCarthy, Elizabeth McLean, Shelbi Milkas, Jaclyn Nusstein, Jack Pilie, Alexzander Prine, Jenna Raepple, Christopher Rose, Chelsea Rupert, Kathleen Rustowicz, Rachel Schauger, Michael Seaman, Samuel Serra, Aren Shanor, Rachel Spiker, Allison Stewart, Amanda Sutter, Ashley Swiantek, Megan Tates, Benjamin Tomkins, Stephen Vitello, Jenelle Walters, Danielle Wegrzyn and Patrick Worbs.

The Presidential Awards for Outstanding Academic Excellence went to: Karl Albrecht, Dale Baran, Nicholas Battaglia, Kathryn Boutet, Kathleen Brady, Jenna Cardone, Brooke Chamberlain, Bethany Cinelli, Aliena Cook, Austin Dee, Sara Diletti, Thomas Dzielski, Alan Endres, Christopher Ernst, Anna Ferrante, Korin Frantz, Edward Gauthier Jr., Christian Gibson, Kyle Held, Emma Henderson, Ava Jackson, Alex Killian, Matthew Killian, Donald MacIntyre, Julia Manuszewski, Christina Martinez, Ariana Mendel, Shannon Moody, James W. Mysliwiec, Jessica Osvath, Emily Pease, Paige Rockwood, Amy Schooping, Evan Shaw, Christopher Shemik, Benjamin Sherman, Sarah Stewart, Rebecca Sturniolo, Patrick Thompson, Sara Victor, Alyssa Yaeger, Jessica Yarnes, Andrew Yockey and Megan Young.