138 Students Honored at Top Scholars at VHS North

One hundred thirty-eight students were honored Thursday at the 20th annual Vineland High School North Academic Awards Ceremony.

The event was held in the school theatre, with a capacity crowd of parents, family members and staff looking on.

“At the midpoint of their high school careers, we are celebrating the academic excellence and success of these students – your sons and daughters,” said Theodore E. Peters, VHS North Principal. “These students have maintained the highest degree of achievement in what is certainly the two most difficult years of high school.”

“These students have had to go through so many transitions entering the world of high school – the academic rigor, the social transitions, even the change to a much larger facility,” said Peters. “Attaining a high level of academic achievement under those difficult circumstances demonstrates the significance and prestige of the recognition your sons and daughters are receiving this evening.”

Peters said several weeks ago he spoke to the entire group of students who had achieved academic honors. “I told them there are a lot of other students who could be in that group if they worked just a little bit harder,” he said. “That’s the difference --- because this group did give that extra effort and they deserve to be recognized for it.”

Beyond academics, Peters said the top students excelled in athletics, music, art and other extracurricular activities.

Peters also praised the dedication and support of parents, teachers, district administration and the board of education for providing the many levels of support and the environment necessary for students to excel.

The evening was a valedictory of sorts for Peters, who will leave the high school July 1 to assume the post of Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education. A plaque was presented by event co-chairpersons Jan LoBiondo and Marlene Casazza, in recognition of Peters’ 15 years service as VHS North principal and for continued support of the academic awards program.

Also speaking in praise for the student scholars and Peters’ work at VHS North was N.J. Senator Nicholas Asselta, R-1, a Vineland High School graduate and former Vineland Board of Education member who rarely misses a program highlighting student achievement. Each of the scholars received a special certificate of recognition from the N.J. Senate, presented by Sen. Asselta.

Also lauding the students’ accomplishments were Frank Giordano, Vineland Board of Education President, Charles “Chalky” Ottinger, Superintendent of Schools, and Dr. Thomas McCann, VHS South Principal. Dr. McCann will become Executive Principal of both high school buildings on July 1.

Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Gloria M. Sabater Award for Academic Excellence. This award is given to the student or students with the highest grade point average earned for seven marking periods at Vineland High North. The award is given in memory of the late Ms. Sabater, who taught at VHS North for many years.

“I would like to thank Mr. Peters and the entire VHS North administration for honoring me with this award,” said Tomasso. “It is a great tribute to Mrs. Sabater and I am very pleased to become part of continuing her legacy.”

Tomasso said he was sharing the award with all of the school’s top scholars.

“Every one of us deserves this award,” he said. “Class rank is immaterial. It fluctuates every marking period and it really shouldn’t matter anyway. We are in this together. Every one of us studies, and tries to get good grades, while at the same time juggling sports, clubs and community activities.”

“It’s an honor for all of us to be here, because we’ve all worked very hard. This award is for all of us. Let’s try to worry less about class rank, and what it entails, and just continue to do our best and have fun during our last two years of high school.”

Tomasso was among 32 students honored as Summa Cum Laude scholars. Each member of this group also earned a Charles J. Neely citation, a tribute named for the retired VHS North principal.

To qualify for the Neely award, students must:

• maintain at least a 3.75 grade-point average for seven marking periods;

• never receive an F in any course for any marking period;

• not exceed school attendance policy limits; and

• exhibit good behavior in school.

In addition to Brandon Tomasso, the list included: Justin Acosta, Josue Adorno, Hannah Ahrens, Christopher Castellini, Carla Catrambone, Carli Cherwien, Alicea Clendaniel, Paul Cohen, Amanda Creech, Lauren Daplyn, Katlin Davis, Nicholas D’Ottavio, Victoria Druziako, Jessica Dzindzio, Andrea Handy, Laura Heller, Pak Ho, Maritza Jimenez, Francesca Mainiero, Danielle Owens, Dana Parks, Abhijit Parmar, Krystal Pettek, Sonal Puri, Herminio Quinones, Rebecca Redel, Sandra Smith, Stephanie Vicente-Nieves, Brigid Wallace, Samantha Wallace, and Meghan Wolfe.

Another 24 students received Magna Cum Laude awards for attaining a 3.5 to 3.74 grade-point average: Andrew Anastor, Jasmine Beatty, Maria Berezin, Sarah Bernhardt, Alexandra Bossi, Vaunique Brown, Rebecca Burgos, Courtney Hamilton, Amanda Hartje, Juan Hernandez, Kahla Johnson, Alysa Layton, Carlos Mercado, Raquel Montalvo, Inna Nechay, Jordan Ortiz-Wolff, Reema Patel, Kayry Segarra, Rabia Shaikh, Harjit Singh, Mandeep Singh, Steven Tirado, Vincent Vita, and Christina Watts.

There were 82 students who received honors as Cum Laude scholars (3.0 to 3.49 GPA): Raymond Allen, Daiana Alvarez, Jelissa Alvarez, Jessica Andreoli, Yisell Aquino, Kaitlynn Arena, Taylor Berger, Phallon Bordley, Sylvia Brown, Ashlee Brown, Kaitlin Burns, Marya Cabatingan, Denae Clarke, Chelsea Clay, Jerome Clements, Alicia Clendaniel Jeremy Clifford, Selena Cohen, Molly Cook, Daysha Davis, Markedia Davis, Michael Deola, Jomarie Diaz, Pierre Donckers, Peter Doulis, Ariel Drayton, Brittney Elbertson, Victoria Epp, Vincent Filippi, Annamarie Flores, Kyle Forcinito, Alexis Giannini, Robert Gibbs, Amirah Gould, Christian Griffin, Maciej Grudzien, Hans Jones, Sheyda Karvar, Samuel Kaslon, Laura Kaspar, David King, Ciara Lillia, Maia Lods, Lauren Lopez, Frankie Lopez, Marcus Mattioli, Leanne Miller, Dana Mosley, Elisabeth Nuhfer, Ashley Nwanna, Michael Oliva, Victoria Otero, David Owens, Chasite’ Palmer, Jillian Perez, Johnathan Polanco, Shanique Ramos, Willow Ravell, Gina Ridolfo, Desiree Rivera, Jamar Rivers, Linda Rodriguez, Christine Ruiz, Liliya Sakhan, Darryl Saull, Melanie Schaffer, Breana Sept, Olga Shapovalov, Henry Shaud, Jaszmene Smith, Dillon Smith, Jessica Smith, Christopher Stenger, Scott Traina, Kevin Truong, Melissa Velazquez, Angelica Velazquez, Emily Velez, Kayla Witt, Rebecca Yearby, Kirstein Zieminski, and Jennie Zink.