Photo caption: The students in the photo above earned creative writing awards. They are, left to right: Iris Hida, Nico Andersen, Abigail Zaushny, Sarah Gaudet, and Board of Education Chairman Paul Grabowski.
The Vernon Public Schools recognized students from across the district for achievement in arts, sports, languages and creative writing at its annual special awards ceremony Monday evening at Rockville High School.
Vernon Superintendent of School Dr. Joseph P. Macary told the more than 100 honorees that they represent the best and the brightest of the Vernon Public Schools.
Here are the students recognized on Monday and the awards they received.
The Connecticut Association of Boards of Education honors two eighth graders and two seniors each year for their leadership skills, including the willingness to take on challenges, the ability to make difficult decisions, their concern for others, ability to work with others, willingness to commit to a project, diplomacy, the ability to understand issues clearly and the ability to honor a commitment.
The honorees are seniors Grace Johnson and Erin-Ted Okaikoi and eighth graders Grayson Freeman and Ainsley Owens.
Grace, who is ranged 7th of 243 students in the Class of 2026, is a high honors student who has earned college credit in a variety of UConn Early College Experience and Advanced Placement courses. She is also active in the National Honor Society and the RHS Avengers.
Erin-Ted is proud of his African-American heritage and has been a member of the RHS Youth Equity Squad and volunteered with Culture Day. He also helps students and teachers at Skinner Road School. Upon graduation, he plans to join the Army.
Grayson is a remarkable student-athlete, and is described by his teachers as organized and focused in his school work. He is also humble and has respect for everyone around him. His teachers are so proud of him and cannot wait to hear about what he continues to accomplish in the future.
Ainsley is a leader and brings consistent, quite maturity to her classes. While middle school can be full of distractions, Ainsley remains focused. Her concern for others extends not only to fellow students but to her teachers. Ainsley makes it a point to show gratitude and kindness to everyone she encounters.
The Connecticut Association of Schools/Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference recognizes a male and female student as scholar-athletes. To be eligible, students must maintain a 3.5 grade point average, participate in a CIAC sport for two years and exhibit outstanding school and community service and possess high levels of integrity, self-discipline and courage, along with personal standards that are a model to others.
Rockville High School’s honorees are seniors Caroline Burg and Molly Wilson.
Rockville High School students recognized with All Conference awards in their respective sports are:
· Indoor track: Devant Bariffe, Brayden Stremel, Otavio Pinto, Emmett Kristoff, Willie Gay, Ethan Greenwood, Shane Hawley, Victor Hernandez Jr., William Davis Jr., Melody Rowe-Cary, Aaliyah Tucker, Carly Wujcik, Brooke Enamait, Avery Westbrook, Kylie Burchell, Riley Martin and Jeanne Kasamba.
· Wrestling: Demir Sanford-Tolentino and Randall Sherman Jr.
· Ice hockey: Joseph Marchese.
· Cross country: Emmett Kristoff, Michael Scheffler, Josh Martin, Alexander Gounaris, Jensen Hurd and Gillian Liebe.
· Boys’ soccer: Joshef Penailillo Vargas.
· Girls’ volleyball: Caroline Burg, Delia Taridona and Jordyn Grant.
· Girls’ soccer: Cam Doyle and Riley Martin.
· Football: Molly Wilson, William Davis Jr., Kayden Boland, Hartland Hunter, Samuel Sutherland and Luca Houle.
· Swimming: Natalia Harnois.
Rockville High School students recognized with All State Awards in their sports are:
· Football: William Davis Jr.
· Cross country: Emmett Kristoff
· Boys’ soccer: Joshef Penailillo Vargas
· Girls’ volleyball: Caroline Burg
· Indoor track: Devant Bariffe, Otavio Pinto, Emmett Kristoff and William Davis Jr.
· Girls’ soccer: Cam Doyle
The following students were recognized with Fine Arts recognition by the Connecticut Association of Schools:
· Rockville High School: Thomas Glinski Jr., senior, visual arts; Meredith Ross, senior, performing arts.
· Center Road School: Sara Urbanska, fifth grade, visual arts; Alethea Rizzie, fifth grade, performing arts.
· Lake Street School: Audrey Kincman, fifth grade, visual arts; Brody Hardwick, fifth grade, performing arts.
· Maple Street School: Liahra Lugo, fifth grade, visual arts; Mya Rivera, fifth grade, performing arts.
· Northeast School: Ruthie Washburn, fifth grade, visual arts; Dhrish Chhajed, fifth grade, performing arts.
The Connecticut Council of Language Teachers honors high achieving language students. Nominees typically demonstrate strong academic performance, enthusiasm for language learning and a positive attitude towards cultural study. The honorees are:
Ninth graders: Abigail Wheeler, Spanish; Alexia Urbanski, Spanish; Evan Cevallos Alcivarm, French; Jensen Hurd, French; Kacey Willette, Spanish; Emanuela-Christelle Osinaike, French; Kamilah Bah-Traore, French; Kimberly Cournoyer, Spanish; Lennon Gilligan, Spanish; Madisyn Bui, Spanish; Meralda Korankye, Spanish; Mia Bushnell, French; Samantha DeMarco, French; Serenity Leuzzi-Moore, Spanish; and Sophia Staroselsky, Spanish.
10th graders: Benjamin Moreno, Spanish; Brennan Sirois, Spanish; Emily McCrystal, Spanish; Jazlynn Brown, Spanish; Tyshawn Prude Jr., Spanish; and Kasey Morales Herrera, Spanish.
11th graders: Camden Rivera, Spanish; Chloe Berard, French; Isaac Rainey, French; and Natalie Christopher, French.
12th graders: Mary Christians, French; and Prapti Panta, Spanish.
Rockville High School Creative Writing Awards winners:
Abigail Zaushny, 11th grade, creative writing; Sarah Gaudet, 11th grade, creative writing; Nico Andersen, 11th grade, advanced creative writing; and Iris Hida, 12th grade, advanced creative writing.
Tolland County and Connecticut Statewide Fire Prevention Poster Contest winner:
Jamie Fernandez, fifth grade, Maple Street School.
The following Rockville Regional Agricultural Science and Technology Education seniors were honored:
Andrew Alford
Anna Bahler
Evan Barker
Nicholas Bova
Ella Campbell
Laci Chenette
Mary Christians
Mikayla Coombs
Hannah Dunton
Imani Grant
James Grice Jr.
Natalia Harnois
Kimberlee Hoyt
Avery Johnson
Ryana Kingue
Alexis Leighton
Alejandro Lopera Arango
Jacob Pear
Otavio Pinto
Jaelynn Ramirez
Ayvah Rivera
Eden Rowley
Harper Spooner-Denmark
Tiffany Sprague
Eliza Stevenson
Zoey Stevenson
Samuel Sutherland
Leah Terry
Olivia Watts
Molly Wilson
Jaxson Wollenberg
Rianne Wright
Kaitlyn Zagorski