Patch South Orange, NJ --The South Orange - Maplewood Board of Education recognized many students and faculty members for their academic, artistic and athletic accomplishments. Here is a complete list.
Seven *Columbia High School* students received *a score of 800 on their SATs* (the highest possible score) in the following categories:
*Ysa Borstel – *Reading
*Katherine Chew – *Reading
*Benjamin Fischer – *Math
*Jamie Mountain – *Reading
*Miguel O’Malley – *Reading
*Lukas Orlesky – *Reading
*Eleanor Wren Hardin – *Math
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*Columbia High School* students recently performed as members of *the 2012-2013 Essex County Honor Band* – a concert event created to spotlight some of the finest musicians in Essex County. Students who participated were:
*Hannah Buckner – *Flute
*Gabriel Kaufman – *Trombone
*Ryan Morey – *Trumpet
*Caroline Passalacqua – *French* *Horn
*Russell Pinzino – *Clarinet
*David Powell – *Alto Saxophone
*Mr. Peter Bauer* is the Director of Bands at Columbia High School.
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*Columbia High School* students won a *grand prize of $10,000* and a *Driver simulator worth $19,000* in the *U Got Brains Champion Schools Competition*. Columbia High School students created a project to promote SafeRides as a way for students to get home safely, as well as the promotion of safe driving throughout the community. Participating students were:
*Jenna Burniston*
*Diana Cohen*
*Tess Cohen*
*Tim McPhillips*
*Antonio Vayas*
*Jian White*
*Jonah Wolff*
*Jack Worth*
A video of the final wining project can be viewed at: http://ugotbrains.com/2013-columbia-hs. The project was supervised by *Anthony Campligia*, teacher, TV Arts and *Patricia Hurley*, teacher, physical education and health.
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*Columbia High School* senior, *Sydney Scruggs*, captured the boys’ 100-meter hurdles at the *Meet of Champions* clocking 14.15. Sydney also earned a *gold medal* for his 6^th place finish the 400-meter hurdles. Sydney is the only runner in the state to break 14 seconds in the 100- hurdles this season. Sydney is coached by track coach *Lisa Morgan*.
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The *Columbia High School Excelsior Singers* won first place and secured a rating of "*Superior*," at *Music in the Parks in Ocean Grove competition*. The students earned the highest score category possible in the contest. In addition, senior *Nigel Finley* won the award for *Best Solo*. Members of the Excelsior Singers are:
*Michael Anderson*
*Nora Barry*
*Zubaydah Bashir*
*William Bolles-Beaven*
*Aaron Braden*
*David Carliner*
*Christelle Daceus*
*Nigel Finley*
*Julia Galante*
*Daniel Gerstein*
*Ymani Hawkins*
*Sara Housley*
*Eliatha Josius*
*Sydnie Levy*
*Vivienne Longstreet *
*Hannah Nye*
*Alexandra Pease*
*Kendall Perkins*
*Russell Pinzino*
*Erin Reininga*
*Aaron Swain*
*Benjamin Szydlowski*
*Emma Wagner*
*Williemae Witherspoon*
*Jonah Wolff*
*Ethan Wolin*
*William Woodiel*
*Jamie Bunce*, Director of Choral Activities and CHS music and choir teacher is advisor to the choir.
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The *Seventh and Eighth Grade Select Chorus* from *Maplewood Middle School* went to *High Note Festivals in Freehold, NJ* and achieved a “*Superior*” rating for the tenth consecutive year.
The vocal ensemble, consisting of forty-two musicians, faced professional judges whom scored and recorded commentary on their performance. The adjudicators were impressed by the musical proficiency of the singers, the musicality of the student accompanist, *Charlotte Steiner*, and the depth of musical instruction being taught by *Mrs. Regina Bradshaw*, the Choral Director.
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The *South Orange Middle School Chorus, Band and Orchestra *attended the *High Note Festivals in Freehold, NJ* and all received *“Superior” *ratings. All three ensembles executed their repertoire flawlessly, noted the adjudicators.
The directors of the ensembles were *Elizabeth Harris, Don Tighe and William Cook.*
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*Jack Woods*, a fifth grader at *Jefferson Elementary School*, won the *gold medal* at the *National Fencing Championships*. With this win, Jack is ranked number one in the country in the *Youth 12 years and under Men’s Foil division*. Jack, who holds a “B” rating, captured the win by eliminating “his top competitors one by one with sophisticated moves, signature high speed and precision.”
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Two *South Mountain Elementary School *students, *Zoe Lynch* and *Hannah Rose Saurborn*, 4th graders, were among the 15 winners, selected from more than 700 entries, of the annual "*My Essex County*" *Poster Contest* in a ceremony held at the *Essex County Court House*. Students received an engraved medal and certificate and their art work will be featured in the upcoming *2014 Essex County calendar*.
*Mr. Brent Jones* and *Mrs. Tamara Murphy* are the South Mountain fourth grade teachers for these local young artists.
Jefferson fourth grader *Zander Rhodes* won an Honorable Mention in the contest as well. Her teacher is *Mrs. Deborah Bialer*.
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Columbia High School students join the ranks of writers Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, and Joyce Carol Oates in earning kudos in the *2012-2013 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards*. Regional winners of the competition have been announced; those students who have earned a "Gold Key" will see their work advance in the competition.
· *Abigail Baker, Columbia High School sophomore, *won a Silver Key for her short story "D Prime" and a Gold Key for a poetry collection.
· *Anna Ferguson, Columbia High School freshman,* won honorable mention for her personal essay/memoir, "Scattered."
Student submissions are judged by luminaries in the literary arts, some of whom are past award recipients. Notable past jurors include Langston Hughes, Robert Frost, Judy Blume, Paula Poundstone, Lesley Stahl, Billy Collins, and David Sedaris.
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*Columbia High School* junior, *Olivia Baker*, makes state history by winning *4 gold medals* at the state’s *Meet of Champions (MOC)*. She is the first athlete – boy or girl – to win four MOC titles in the 40-year history of the meet. Baker won 3 individual events: the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 400-meter run, as was part of the winning 4-x-400 meter relay.
Joining baker in the winning 4-x-400 meter relay were *Columbia High School Girls Track Team* members *Cheyenne Trigg*, freshman, *Shanika Dessein*, senior and *Maya Hinton*, junior. The CHS girls’ team earned several other medals at the MOC. Notable finishers for the girls’ track team included:
*Simone Brownlee*, senior – 12^th in the 100-meter hurdles
*Imani Coleman*, junior – 8^th in the 800-meter run
*Shanika Dessein*, senior – 10^th in the 800-meter run
*Kenya Gaston*, senior – 8^th in 400-meter run
*Jasmine Keegan*, freshman – 20^th in the discus
*Kayla Richardson*, junior – 5^th in the long jump and 14^th in the triple jump
*Cheyenne Trigg*, freshman – 13^th in the 200-meter dash
The girls’ track team is coached by track coach *Lisa Morgan*.
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*Seth Boyden* first grade teacher, *Mirian Tager*, was invited to present her paper, The Shameful History of Early Childhood Education, on April 29^th, at the annual conference of the *American Education Research Association* in San Francisco. Ms. Tager is a doctoral candidate at CUNY.
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*Tuscan Elementary School* received the First Step Recognition Award for their Safe Routes to School program. Parent coordinators *Candice Davenport* and *Camilla Zelevansky* collaborated closely with *Principal Malikah Majeed* to establish this innovative program which encourages students to walk and bike to school to promote healthy, active lifestyles and less traffic congestion.
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*Tony Mazzocchi*, Supervisor of Fine and Performing Arts, was named a quarterfinalist for the first-ever *Music Educator Award* presented by the *Recording Academy* and the *Grammy Foundation*. This award recognizes educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education.
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The *Achieve Tutoring Program* was a huge success for the 2012-13 school year with over 200 volunteers helping hundreds of students in our district. At a recent reception honoring tutors, nine students received the *Achieve Volunteer* *Super Senior Awards **– an** *exceptional group of high school seniors who have dedicated three or more years to the Achieve Volunteer Tutor Program. Recipients were:
*Precious Ehizele*
*Julia Fine*
*Isabel Gibson*
*Matthew Kadish*
*Emma Katz*
*Zachary Knowles*
*Erica Perchick*
*Aurora Rojer*
*Saif Zaman *
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In addition, six students received the *2013 Dubrow Awards*. The award was established in 2008 by the Achieve Foundation in memory of *David Noah Dubrow*, long-time champion of Achieve for tutors who have demonstrated outstanding service to the Achieve Volunteer Tutor Program. Recipients were nominated by their site supervisors for the Dubrow Award from among this year’s over two hundred Achieve tutors and include:
*Sofia Gouin *
*Allene Johnson*
*Emma Katz*
*Zachary Knowles *
*Kelsey Moore*
*Julia Hernandez Ribicoff*
The district extends their gratitude to *Amy Forman* for her tireless efforts to coordinate tutoring throughout the district, *Karen Weiland, Director, Achieve Volunteer Tutor Program, *for overseeing the tutoring program this year, and *Deborah Prinz, Executive Director, Achieve Foundation,* and the Achieve Foundation for supporting our students and schools in so many ways, including this fantastic initiative.
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*Judy LoBianco*, Supervisor of Physical Education, Health, K-12 received the *2013 President’s Council of Fitness, Sports & Nutrition Communication Leadership Award*. Ms. LoBianco was nominated for the award based on her commitment to improving the health and lives of others by promoting or enhancing fitness, sports or nutrition opportunities. Reported by Patch 5 days ago.