The Ocean City Board of Education honored student achievers in a wide variety of non-athletic endeavors at its annual student recognition night on Wednesday.
The board also announced the Ocean City High School Class of 2015 Top 10.
Superintendent Kathleen Taylor read tributes to each student that noted not just academic success but long lists of other interests and accomplishments. What follows first below are the top male and female students in grades 7 through 11.
7th Grade: Louie Williams and Ava Aurwater
Top 7th grade scholars at Ocean City Intermediate School: Ava Aurwater and Louie Williams.
8th Grade: Nora Faverzani and Jackson Neill
9th Grade: Avi Rabia and Melody Young
10th Grade: Bradari Altman, Giuliana Leotta (not pictured) and Hiba Ahmad
11th Grade: Nickolas Eisele and Julianna Kemenosh
National Merit Recommended Students – 11th Graders
The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. The following students have been recommended to the program based on the results of their PSAT tests.
- Justin Angelastro
- Tucker Birmingham
- Olivia Briggs
- Michael Clark, Jr
- Nickolas Eisele
- Taylor Hazlett
- Frances Kane
- Juliana Kemenosh
- Liza Milov
Ocean City High School: Raider Retailers, Employee of the Year
Ryan Prettyman is the recipient of the employee of the year for Raider Retailer. Raider Retailer is a school store operated by our special education students who do it all. Raider Retailer is a true-to-life situation that incorporates teamwork, responsibilities, management, and tangible results using business, advertising, and accounting skills, which Ryan has shown growth in all aspects.
Ryan and his fellow classmates are responsible for running the store from designing the window display to inventory, rotating product, banking duties, making change with real money, ordering are among the tasks needed to run a store. Ryan manages the storage area and refrigerator so well that even the suppliers ask for him when making deliveries.
Ryan is a model employee who is always smiling and eagerly initiates with helping others. He always greets customers with enthusiasm and the accuracy of work that he is completing at any time is always exemplary. Ryan is a very caring and thoughtful student. He is a very conscientious worker and excels at organizing and stocking the beverages in the school store.
Ryan rarely takes a break during his shift and is willing to fulfill any task required to keep the store productive. He is diligent and takes pride in his work. Ryan is an excellent role model for the other students. He gives 110% in his schoolwork and the store. His friendly nature is well suited for multiple career opportunities with tremendous people skills. The school store will prepare Ryan for transition into adult life and this experience will prepare him to become an active member of the community that he is a part of.
AtlantiCare Healthy Schools Mini-Grant Winners
The Primary School second grade staff worked hard all summer long and throughout the 2014-2015 school to win an Atlanticare 2014-2015 Healthy Schools Grant. The $1500 grant helped create an edible school garden. Substantial research indicates that when children participate in the cultivation of fruits and vegetables they are more likely to eat them. The learning experiences were incorporated into classroom lessons
- Abby Hays: “Eat This and Not That” poster contest
- Mya Gordy: “7 Day Veggie” log contest
- Aiden Schlembach: “Green Mustache” contest
- Mimi McCusker: “How to Help a Friend” contest
National Latin Exam Achievers
The National Latin Exam, sponsored by the American Classical League and the National Junior Classical League, is a 40-question, multiple-choice test with a time limit of 45 minutes, offered to students on seven levels.
- Henry Adair: Silver Medal, Maxima Cum Laude
- Joseph Loggi: Cum Laude Award
- Daniel Mulraney: Cum Laude Award
Stockton’s Mathematical Mayhem
The 4th Annual Math Mayhem brought more than 60 students from 10 South Jersey high schools to Stockton University to compete in individual and team exams designed to challenge the students and assess their current skill development.
- Senior Ben Jargowsky placed first in the individual round.
- Seniors Ben Fischer, Alec Helm and Ben Jargowsky placed first in the group round.
Seal of Biliteracy
The New Jersey Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school district in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation.
2015 American Sign Language Students who earned the Seal of Biliteracy:
- Anna Elmer
- Madeline Greaser
- Bailey Reading
- Sierra Schoenewald
- Mikayla Utley
- Caliope Yiannos
2015 Spanish students who earned the Seal of Biliteracy:
- Kira Kelly
- Taylor Hazlett
- Nick Eisele
- Taylor Pagano
- Emma Bergman
- Enrique Gaytan
- Amber Angelucci
- Ryan Beebe
- Lauren Bowersock
- BriarRose Ginn
- Raquel Gresham
Elementary Honors Band
These students were nominated by Mr. Butterick for consideration of being accepted into the elementary honors band. They were selected out of fifth and sixth grade band students across southern New Jersey.
- Samantha Wagner
- Katie Bowman
- Grace Gleason
- Dorothy Zensen
- Erik Wagner
Junior High All South Jersey Concert Band
This ensemble is the highest level ensemble available for junior high band students.
- Marissa Guido
The 22nd Annual Cape May County Honors Choir Concert
The Cape May County Honors Choir is for advanced singers who show dedication to the art of choral singing. This year the Intermediate School had seven students participate in this exciting event.
- Ava Auwarter
- Teagan DiMeglio
- Sarah Huber
- Loralei Mullins
- Taylor Pontari
- Erik Wagner
- Maclain Young
Consumer Bowl
The Consumer Bowl was designed to educate teenagers about consumer issues that they may face in the future. The High School team came in second in the 2015 New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs Consumer Bowl Competition on Friday, April 17th at Burlington County College in Pemberton.
The team members are:
- Josh Childs
- Rosalia Daddi
- Jeff Hoffner
- Christian McDermott
- Emily Rutter
- Joseph Walkowiak
DECA Students
DECA prepares high school students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. Ocean City High School students competed in the DECA State Conference held from February 25th to 27th at the Cherry Hill Crown Plaza against more that 1,000 of the top business students in New Jersey. Award-winners included:
- Josh Childs: Josh received the Financial Services award for an outstanding performance.
- Fiona Devine: Fiona received the Financial Services award for an outstanding performance.
- Kevin McDermott: Kevin came in fifth place in the Learn and Earn event.
- Maria Farnan: Maria came in fifth place in the Learn and Earn event
- Jon Salkeld: Jon was a Finalist in the Business Finance event.
- Martin Shaw: Martin came in fifth place in the Learn and Earn event
Esther Weil Winner
The Esther C. Weil Student Music Competition is sponsored by the Friends of the Ocean City Pops, features 15 students from surrounding high schools. The competition is part of the student-outreach program sponsored by the Pops.
Senior Miranda Shumacher took home the top vocal prize in the competition and will make a Guest Appearance with the Ocean City Pops this summer.
