Sparta High School seniors recognized for academic achievements

Sparta — Sparta High School recently celebrated their annual Academic Awards Dinner at the Diamond Ballroom at Minerals in Vernon. There were nearly 300 people in attendance to share in the recognition of Sparta High School's high achieving students including family members, SHS guidance counselors, administrators, department supervisors, faculty and the parent student teacher organization (PTSO).

Most of the students, approximately one-third of the 2013 graduating class, were recognized for having earned the President's Award for Educational Excellence. These outstanding students maintained a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.75 for seven semesters.

Each of the academic supervisors presented department awards. Students also received awards from local businesses and various religious, service and military organizations. The PSTO, sponsors of the event, also distributed five scholarships.

Several memorial scholarships honored former students or community members who passed away, transforming loss and grief into opportunity for SHS students.

A total of $72,850 was awarded in academic scholarships and awards for this event alone.

The evening's events were led by Rory Fitzgerald, director of guidance. He took a moment from honoring the students to publicly wish beloved guidance counselor MaryAnn Fallone well in her retirement.

The Valedictorian, Christine Scaglione, and Salutatorian, Maya Drummond, were publicly announced for the first time at this event.

Jennifer Dericks addressed those gathered: "It is a joy to share this evening with the families of these dedicated students. Once again, nearly a third of the graduating class is represented here this evening — something to truly be proud of."

Department Awards
English, presented by Mary Hassenplug:

Creative Writing Award - Matthew Pridham; English Department Award - Holly Rudel

Mathematics, presented by Denis Sheeran:

AP Computer Science - Joseph Kullmann; AP Statistics - Reema Navalurkar; AP Calculus – Nicole Rotyliano

Science, presented by Glen Stevenson

Science - Christine Scaglione; Chemistry – Erini Christodoulou; Biology - Nicholas Jascewsky; Physics - Brad Pettigrew; Bio-Chemistry - Tanya Townsend; Jerome Amend Scholarship -Clair Schmitzer

Social Studies, presented by Steven Schels

Modern European History - Eric Knittel; AP-Art History - Marki Wolfson; History of Genocide – Maya Drummond

World Languages, presented by Barbara Maneri

Spanish Award - Elisabeth Cueva; Chinese Award - Matthias Decker; German Award - Gabriella Lagana; French Award - Alexandra Skinner; Russian Award - Tanya Townsend

Outside Scholarships and Awards

German Christmas Market - Gina Castellano, William Bliss, Amanda Schreck, Eric Smuda, Ryan Bray; Germania Park - William Bliss; Pass It Along – Charles Doyle; Mountain Broadcasting Corp WMBC-TV- Lindsey Cappetta; Mary Ann Stanek Founder's Award - Maya Drummond; RoNetco Supermarkets - Daniel Duffy, Eric Smuda; Newton Medical Center Nursing and Health Career Scholarship - Lindsey Fisher; Lakeland Bank - Nicholas Jascewsky; Sussex Bank - Amanda Sobotor; Sodexo - Genevieve McDonough; Daughters of the American Revolution - Steven Penna; Sparta Junior Women's Club - Claire Romine, Christine Scaglione, Maya Drummond; Sparta Women's Club- Allison Marcino, Lauren Petrin, Claire Romine; Sparta Elks - Erini Christodoulou; Sparta Kiwanis Club - Christine Scaglione, Grant Hagedorn, Holly Rudel, Eric Smuda, Benjamin Thomas, Erini Christodoulou; Sparta Education Recreation Foundation - Michael Walsh; Sparta Ambulance Herb Orel - Christy Smetana, Amanda Salmeri; UNICO – Lauren Petrin; Saint Kateri Knights of Columbus – Emily Corrice, Christine Scaglione, William Bliss, Joseph Whitney; Steve Kepler Memorial Key Club - Eric Smuda; NJ Schoolwomen's Scholarship – Allison Marcino; SHS PSTO - Erika Bethmann, Megan Casey, Seth Dyer, Brittney Nielsen, Kristin Stetzel

Military
Scholastic Excellence Award USMC - Christine Scaglione; Distinguished Athletes - Emily Corrice, Grant Hagedorn; "Semper Fidelis" Music – Luke Giugliano; NJ Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Scholarship - Steven Penna; Sparta Fraternal Order of Police Scholarship – Christy Smetana

Memorial Scholarships and Awards

Ryan Kerr Memorial - Steven Penna; Ryan Scott Quinn Memorial – Claire Romine, Joseph Whitney; James Abel Scholarship - Allison Marcino, Gerard Calderone; Jeff Syberg Theater Patrons' Memorial - Kimberly Bollard; Jerome Amend PhD Life Science Scholarship - Clair Schmitzer; Brian M. Laddey Memorial Scholarship - Kristina Genovese; Tony Pompelio Award of Courage - Maxwell Alben; Smile Award- Knight Family Scholarship - Erini Christodoulou; Dave Karlberg Scholarship -Luke Giugliano, Danielle Farrand (Christy Graham); Joseph Domareki Art Scholarship - Katie Lane; Thomas and Agnes Murray Scholarship - Katherina Kapur, John Velella; Paul E Simpson Memorial - Zachary Davis

Academic Scholarship Recognition

Sparta Youth Business Competition Finalists – Courtney Czapelski, Samantha Sanguinetti, Charles Doyle; DECA Northern Regional - Samantha Sanguinetti; NJ DECA Scholarship- Samantha Sanguinetti; Sussex County School Counselors High School Caring Award – Eric Smuda; Distinguished Student Award - Christine Scaglione; Superintendents' Roundtable Award - Christine Scaglione

Certificates of Achievement
National Merit Special Scholarship – Holly Rudel; National Merit Letters of Commendation – Eryk Banatt, David Chiariello, Rushi Patel; National Hispanic Recognition Program – Eryk Banatt, Ollie Fishstein; President's Award for Educational Excellence- Abigail Anker, Eryk Banatt, Melissa Barry, Leanna Bernstein, Erika Bethmann, Kimberly Bollard, Ryan Bray, Jessica Brucker, Gerard Calderone, Lindsey Cappetta, Megan Casey, Gina Castellano, David Chiariello, Erini Christodoulou, Connor Claffey, Emily Corrice, Mailin Craig, Elisabeth Cueva, Courtney Czapelski, Claudia DiSomma, Neale Donovan, Maya Drummond, Daniel Duffy, Seth Dyer, Stephen Epstein, Adrielle Espinosa, Michael Fairchild, Danielle Farrand, Shawn Fiorito, Lindsey Fisher, MIchelle Fishstein, Kristina Genovese, Austin Giardullo, Luke Giugliano, Joelle Gratkowski, Grant Hagedorn, Kristin Hart, Lauren Hunt, Maureen Irwin, Aleksandr Jouravlev, Joseph Kullmann, Chase LaBeau, Gabriella Lagana, Katie Lane, Elise Lee, Sydney Lizarazo, Allison Marcino, Genevieve McDonough, Vasil Mico, Nicholas Munro, Reema Navalurkar, Brittney Nielsen, Juhie Patel, Rushi Patel, Steven Penna, Brad Pettigrew, Sarah Rhodes, Claire Romine, Nicole Rotyliano, Tyler Roy, Holly Rudel, Samantha Sanguinetti, Mikayla Sarafin, Christine Scaglione, Melissa Schlomann, Clair Schmitzer, Kevin Schoenfeld, Lindsay Schuele, Alexandra Skinner, Eric Smuda, Kristin Stezel, Melody Tillyer, Tanya Townsend, Breanna Vitolo, Joseph Whitney, Marki Wolfson, Matlin Xenakis, Katarzyna Zembrzuska

Valedictorian- Christine Scaglione

Salutatorian – Maya Drummond