Best and brightest
38 STUDENTS ACROSS 19 DISTRICTS HONOREDBy MICHAEL RUKAVINA
Article Photos
Future minds of America were honored Thursday for what they've already accomplished throughout their high school careers, and what succeeding generations hope they will accomplish with the remainder of their lifetimes.
The 38 students spanning 19 Chautauqua County school districts were honored during the Chautauqua County School Boards Association Honors Night and Annual Meeting held at the Moose Club in Dunkirk. The annual meeting and honors night is a chance for the association to honor the school boards and the students within those districts who have excelled in academics, social activities, athletics and who have also shown great expectations for themselves as well.
"Each district selects their own students to be honored," Liv Visosky, Administrative Assistant for the Chautauqua County School Boards Association said. "There is no specific criteria from us. They use their own criteria and generally it's the valedictorian ... but we've had sophomores because they were just terrific kids who participated in the community and did marvelous things as outstanding young people and that's all we care about."
The students in the audience, all of whom announced their college plans for the fall, received a lot of advice and encouragement throughout the event from several speakers. NYS School Board Association Director of Governmental Affairs David Little, who has spoken during the honors night in the past, reflected on the progression of his own two sons as they travel the same path many high school graduates will experience this fall.
"You'll get more advice in the next few weeks than you can stand so allow me to start the ball rolling. First, do whatever it takes to survive the next few weeks ... I lost a cousin in high school and 35 years later none of us have been the same," Little said.
"Second, a dorm room is just a large petri dish. Getting sick at school is one of the easiest ways to get derailed early. Third, treat freshman year as a social experiment. It's academically frustrating, it's socially challenging, emotionally and physically draining, and so be easy with those of us who know how you treat your room and we'll have an adjustment period before we're convinced that you can function in polite society. And finally, remember that for all of your success we will expect much more than I would ask you to grasp at this stage in life ... you truly are the leaders of tomorrow."
Students being honored were each given a few minutes to introduce themselves, explain what they've done throughout their high school career, and touch on what they hope will be their planned academic and career paths.
"My journey through high school has been filled with many friendships, memories, academics and activities," said Erin Young, 2009 valedictorian at Maple Grove. "In the fall I plan on attending Grove City College where I will major in Molecular Biology. In the future I hope to use my love for biology and the talents God has given me, to serve others either in the medical field or biological research."
"Throughout my years at Dunkirk I've excelled in math and sciences classes and that has given me my passion to pursue pharmacy at the University of Pittsburgh next year," Zach Sliwa, 2009 valedictorian at Dunkirk said. "It is a six year program and hopefully I'll come out being a doctor."
All honor students who received recognition were as follows: Erin Young and Andrew Danielson, Bemus Point; Katie Crandall and Rebekah Skinner, Brocton; Jeffrey Bulger and Lauren Moss, Cassadaga Valley; Victoria Silliman and Joseph Dechario, Chautauqua Lake; Andrew Bemis and Cassie Himelein, Clymer; Zachary Sliwa and Roxanne Herrington, Dunkirk; Ashley Becker and Corey Lincoln, E2CC BOCES; Keri Filsinger and Lydia Woolsey-Strand, Falconer; Daniel Ulmer and Amilyn Scott, Forestville; Boris Brimkov and Christopher Stahl, Fredonia; Anna Burkett and Karli Lawson, Frewsburg; Ben Cecchini and Zoe Burdo, Jamestown; Tara Hudson and Anne Homan, Panama; Joel Hallett and Amanda Elsholz, Pine Valley; Lindsey Bostwick and Ashley Judd, Ripley; Julie Frye and Michelle Persons, Sherman; Greg Fox and Andrianna Alcivar, Silver Creek; Theodore Mueller and Lauren Smith, Southwestern; and Bradley Jopek and David Abele, Westfield.
Also recognized during the honors night was this years Board Member of the Year, Frewsburg School Board President Larry Gauger.
"I thought I should start by thanking all of the little people that I stepped on on my way to the top," Gauger joked. "But then I thought, there are no little people in school boards. Everyone is here for tonight. All of your students in the room tonight show us that we're doing what we're supposed to do, so thank you for being the students you are. This award is really all of ours being school board members, but I'm going to keep the plaque."
Gauger has been serving the district continuously since 1991 and has been board president since 2000.
Prior to the event dinner, the Dunkirk Steel Drum Band was introduced by Dunkirk Superintendent Gary Cerne. They received a standing ovation from the audience following their energetic and captivating performances.
Also speaking during the event was NYS School Board Association President, Wayne Schlifke who made a speech regarding the problems that all districts are facing across the state, the 900 pounds elephant in the back of the room, finances.
"It is no secret to most of us that we'll probably muddle through this year financially, probably muddle the next year, but 2011 looks like an absolute disaster," he said.
Schlifke urged board members to utilize the NYS School Board Association offices and noted that when budget crunches begin, to avoid any idea of cutting back on programs in the arts and music.
Seven board members across the county who will be leaving service were also recognized. Outgoing members include: Pamela Perdue who served 25 years, and Randolph Henderson who served 13 years in the Chautauqua Lake School District; David VanWormer who served five years on the E2CC BOCES board; Robert Woodward who served 18 years in the Falconer School District; Kelly Crise who served 9 years in the Fredonia School District; Peter Komarek who served 12 years in the Panama School District; and Judith Rowe who served 12 years in the Ripley School District.
Comments on this article may be sent to mrukavina@observertoday.com
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BillWestfieldNY
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05-29-09 3:21 PM
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Does anyone know if Westfield Superintendent Mark Sissel was at this meeting or any of the other Westfield Administration? And have they filed for mileage to travel from Westfield to Dunkirk, I think its like 120 miles!!!!! The more these superintendent's make the more they want, cheap, cheap cheap
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