Veronica E. Connor Middle School

8^th Grade Moving Up Ceremony was held June 22. 2010

in the Grand Island High School Auditorium

Vice Principal Eleanor Payne welcomed the family and friends of 8^th grade students, and Sarah Dollendorf and Joseph Gioeli, III, 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 8^th grader by Principal Bruce Benson.  Mr. Benson reminded the students that this was a benchmark on a long path and a very excellent beginning.  He also told the class that he expected to see exceptional accomplishments from their class in Grand Island High School.

Academic Awards were presented by the middle school teachers:

·        Orchestra, presented by Ms. Debra Remson to:

                Most Improved:
                        Brigid Wilton, Viola
                        Maren Russell, Violin
                        Madalyn Wright, Violin

                Outstanding Musician:
                        Zachary Jones, Violin
                        Anna Nicolia, Violin
                        Justin McCarthy, Cello
                        Alexander Cousins, String Bass

                Outstanding Orchestra Member:
                        Sarah Dollendorf

·        Art Awards presented by Ms. Nora Klein to:

                    Michael Battaglia

                Kai Ellsworth

                Ashley Gugino

                Alessandra Price

·        Foreign Language Department recognized the following students who received 100% on the grade 8 Foreign Language Proficiency Exam in Spanish:

                Brian Ailinger

Kali Aronica    

Sukhdeep Baiwa

Kevin Freedmon

Kristin Kalman

Brentyn Mendel

Derrick Schutrum

Christopher Swagler

Timothy Utz

Lillian von Reyn

Matthew Zabaldo

Griffin McGuire

Sara Colon

Christine Herman

Sarah Dollendorf

Ashley Kroetsch

Jack Boyko

Quinton Corrao

Brian DeRubes

Alexandra Dzielski

Tyler Ford

Michael Paternostro

Stephanie Voyzey

Jackeline Wilson

Nicholas Young

Steven Howard

Julia Kelly

Natalie Schultz

Benjamin Goc

     100% on the grade 8 Foreign Language Proficiency Exam in                           French:

        Natalie Baldassare

Michael Battaglia

Sierra Besl

Heavyn Dreher

Elizabeth Figler

Emily Glose

Kathryn Lamarco

Justin Lavis

Emma MacIntyre

Elliott Michki

Anna Nicolia

Jenna Paternostro

Jillian Sheehan

Vincent Shores

Jenna Stufkosky

Marisa Atkinson

Andrew Hannah

Zachary Jones

Anna Niland

Macey Porter

Marissa Ruffolo

Brian Cooper

Amanda Jelonek

Alexa Kalinowski

Mary Frances Koch

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

        Mrs. Campbell’s honors classes:  Sarah Dollendorf

        Mrs. Campbell’s English classes:  Aaron Cook

         Mrs. Hahn’s classes:  Jackeline Wilson

• Social Studies department award for Highest Overall Average

          Mrs. Hayes’ classes:          Emily Kernin

          Mr. Randles classes:         Emma MacIntyre

        Mrs. Murray’s class:            Sarah Valvo

• Science department award for Highest Overall Average

        Mr. Butcher’s classes:  Kevin Borowicz

        Mrs. Hegarty’s classes:        Ashley Gugino

        Ms. Schaber's classes:     Henry Huang

        Earth Science:          Emma MacIntyre

• Math department awards for Highest Overall Average

        Mrs. Slowinski’s classes:  Math 8 -  Christian Wallinder

    Mr. Brodie’s classes:    Math 8 -   Michael Kleinschmidt

                               Algebra – Emma MacIntyre

    Mrs. Murray’s class:        Alicia Bianco

    "Mathletes" Awards:

                                          1st place, Michael Paternostro

                                        2nd place, Vincent Shores

• NYS Attorney General Award for Commitment, Character, and Courage:         Kia Ellsworth

Alicia Bianco

• NYS Comptroller’s Award for Academic Excellence and Civic Commitment:

                        Christopher Swagler

• The Silver Presidential Awards for Outstanding Academic Achievement went to: 

Madalyn Wright               Ashley Weiser

Victoria Van Norman        Sarah Valvo

Max Tafekski            Rebecca Symon

Paul Sukmanowski        Jacob Stromberg

Kristin Stark         Chelsea Sinicki

Natalie Schultz             Ryan Ross

Kaitlyn Rose         Kristopher Rasaga

Dominic Prine         Dominic Petrilli

Catherine Navagh             Wyatt Mock

Griffin McGuire             Andrew Masiello

David Madigan             Austin Loveric

Ryan Kubic                 Stephanie Kowalak

Amanda Kinmartin        Jessica Keller

Alyssa Karb                  Curtis Johnson

Katlyn Jennings           Sala Islami

Patrick Hall                        Nicolas Hernandez-Rojas

Jack Gorman             Elijah Fields

Kai Ellsworth           Ashley Dragonette

Jensen Dorey                Thomas Corrao Jr.

Jason Cichon              Qian Chen

Aaron Certo         Amanda Cancilla

Jon Busch                        Grace Bolton

Alicia Bianco              Michele Aronica

Jennifer Argy          Eyad Abdelltif

Rana Abdelal

• The Gold Presidential Awards for Outstanding Academic Excellence went to: 

Mathew Zabaldo             Maren Russell            Gabriella Liberatore

Nicholas Young                Marissa Ruffolo          Justin Lavis

Brandon York          Shannon Robillard        Julianne Lavalle

Brigid Wilton               James Pufpaff            Kathryn Lamarco

Jackeline Wilson               Alessandra Price         Kyle Krueger

Jadon Wegrzyn            Zoann Pittman           Ashley Kroetsch

Christian Wallinder        Michael Paternostro        Mary Frances Koch

Stephanie VoyZey        Jenna Paternostro        Emily Kernin

Lillian von Reyn         James Osborn            Julia Kelly

Emily Valint                        Aaron Noyes                Kristina Kasprzycki

Timothy Utz           Anna Niland               Addison Joslyn

Christopher Swagler        Benjamin Moorish        Zachary Jones

Jenna Stufkosky           Elliott Michki              Amanda Jelonek

Tara Stewart              Brentyn Mendel          Henry Huang

Lindsey Spiker                Jacob McMahon            Ciara Howley

Tanner Speer         Austin McCoy             Steven Howard

Jeremy Smith                Justin McCarthy            April Hippert

Lucas Siebert              Johnna Marinello         Christine Herman

Vincent Shores               Emma MacIntyre                Alyssa Heitman

Derrick Schutrum           Elizabeth LoBrutto        Ashley Gugino

Kyle Schoener            Brittany Little             Andrew Grinchishin

Grace Scherrer             John Lillian                        Benjermin Goc

Emily Glose                        Bryce Callen                Joseph Gioeli III

Ashley Butler                Emma Garten            Liana Buscaglia

Kevin Freedman           Jacob Burford              Tyler Ford

Jack Boyko                 Elizabeth Figler         Kevin Borowicz

Yousuf Eltagouri            Sierra Besl                  Alexandra Dzielski

Keegan Beldstadt           Jenell Duxbury             Michael Battaglia

Heavyn Dreher               Natalie Baldassarre        Sarah Dollendorf

Sukhdeep Bajwa                Thomas Doctor           Robert Augugliaro

Matthew Dimura              Marisa Atkinson          Jaskiran Dhaliwall

Griffin Atkinson            Sean DeRubes            Jacob Athoe

Frank DeRubes            Kali Aronica                      Brian DeRubes

Natalie Argy          Nicholas Demita         Brian Ailinger

Quinton Corrao               Brian Cooper               Aaron Cook

David Cich III             Magdalyn Chauby              June Ann Chadima

Emily Certo