The Senior Class Academic Top 10. From left, No. 1 through No. 10, are: Valedictorian Sarah Bond, Salutatorian Emily Pazar, Shannon Hazlitt, Nick Cocca, Zach Dvornicky-Raymond, Chrissy Ector, Marissa Pike, Throsby Wells, Amber Swartz and Alexandra Young.

WGHS bestows awards at assembly

WATKINS GLEN, June 3 -- Dozens of scholarships and prizes were awarded, along with a few trophies, at the annual Watkins Glen High School Awards Assembly held Thursday in the school auditorium.

The gathering also introduced the new Student Council, the new National Honor Society chapter president, and the honoree in the Yearbook Dedication. It was followed by distribution of the new yearbooks to students.

The dedication served as an emotional conclusion to the litany of awards, as Devon Shaw -- a WGHS student who is a cancer survivor -- was introduced as the honoree by his sister Kendra, a member of the Yearbook staff.

The Yearbook Dedication -- a full page of text and photos -- notes that Devon "has taught us to walk with humanity," and calls him "a teacher at such a young age ... He has taught us the patience of every breath. He has taught us to persevere."

The passing of the gavel signifying leadership of the National Honor Society occurred when outgoing senior president Casey Holland handed "the mini-mallet" over to junior Haley Tuttle.

The new Student Council officers, it was announced, are: Charles Bascom, president; Katie LeGault, vice-president; Haley DeNardo, secretary; and Natasha Patel, treasurer.

The Top 10 students in the Senior Class were also announced. In order, starting with the valedictorian, they are: Sarah Bond, Emily Pazar, Shannon Hazlitt, Nick Cocca, Zach Dvornicky-Raymond, Chrissy Ector, Marissa Pike, Throsby Wells, Amber Swartz and Alexandra Young.

The following were the categories of awards, and the award recipients.

Awards Assembly
June 2, 2011

PTO Educator of the Year: Jeanette Lasko

American Red Cross Blood Bank: Congratulations to our students and our staff for the 89 pints of blood given this year. Recognition goes to Student Council President Sarah Bond on behalf of WGHS Students and Faculty

Student Council Recognition: Sarah Bond, Zachary Dvornicky-Raymond, Shannon Hazlitt, Nicholas Sorensen, Erik Ellison, Alexandra Young, Emily Pazar, Casey Holland, Throsby Wells and Jenna Gimbar

Student Council Students of the Month:
SADD and Diversity Club: (Presidents Elliott Kelley and Brianna Wold):
Amber Swartz, Devon Shaw, Emily Pazar, Sarah Bond, Marshall Secord, Rowan
Elizabeth, Zachary Dvornicky-Raymond and Katie LeGault

Student Council Elections: President: Charles Bascom
Vice-President: Katie LeGault
Secretary: Haley DeNardo
Treasurer: Natasha Patel

US Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Awards:

Distinguished Athlete Award: Amber Swartz, Adam Rice
Semper Fidelis Award: Shelby Olafson

Scholastic Excellence Award: Sarah Bond

Lake Country Players Award: Shannon Hazlitt

Daemen College Chinese Language Pioneer Award: Charles Bascom, Catarina Hong, Margaret Myers and Brett Somerville

Varsity Academic Marathon: Sarah Bond, Kylee Carrigan, Zachary Dvornicky-Raymond,
Christine Ector, Connor Goodwin, Shannon Hazlitt, Emily Pazar, Marissa Pike, Marshall Secord, Amber Swartz, Throsby Wells, Alexandra Young

Boy’s State Recognition (and Sponsors): Brandon Westervelt (WG Faculty), Clayton Beaumont (WG Fire Department), Robert Rondinaro (American Legion), Adam Hughey (WG Elks), Shawn Bliss (Redmen) and Alec Moore (WGMF Rotary)

Bausch & Lomb Science Award: Margaret Myers

Fredrick Douglas & Susan B. Anthony Award for Social Sciences & Humanities: Jessica Brogdon

George Eastman Young Leaders: Marguerite Kellogg

Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology: Shawn Bliss

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal: Jenna Gimbar

Elmira College Key Award: Chelsea Maceda and Alexander Rundle

Clarkson University Achievement Award: Margaret Myers

Clarkson University Leadership Award: Rachel St. Julien

Rochester Institute of Technology Junior Awards: Jenna Gimbar, Charles Bascom, Juliana Peters, Brett Somerville

St. Michaels College Book Award: Maegan Robbins and Christopher Gill

Wells College 21st Century Leadership Award: Danielle Teed

St. Lawrence University Book Award: Robert Rondinaro

Top Ten Recognition: Sarah Bond, Emily Pazar, Shannon Hazlitt, Nicholas Cocca, Zachary Dvornicky-Raymond, Christine Ector, Marissa Pike, Throsby Wells, Amber Swartz, Alexandra Young

Foreign Language Awards:
Chinese Language Overall Highest Average – Catarina Hong, Margaret Myers, Charles Bascom and Brett Somerville

Foreign Exchange Students: Ka Yui (David) Leung (from Hong Kong) and Maria Chavez (from Los Andes Chile)

Math Recognition Awards:
Integrated Algebra Regents, Highest Average – Alexis Pike
Geometry Regents Highest Average – Sarah LaMascus
Algebra II Highest Average – Margaret Myers

Ruth Warner Math Awards: Mitchell Mangus, Tyme Morrell and Nicole Swarthout

Francis W. Blake Sportsmanship Awards: Amber Swartz and Andrew Conklin

Dr. Arthur J. Jackson Awards: Amber Swartz and Adam Rice

Joseph Lemak Awards: Shannon Hazlitt and Andrew Conklin

Edward Homan Physical Fitness Award: Ethan Roth and Alexandra Young

Barb Hughey Physical Education Award: Andrew Conklin and Kayla Bryan

Water Safety Award: Sarah Huey, Adam Rice and Nicholas Cocca

Chemistry Regents Award: Margaret Myers

General Chemistry Award: Kayla Cornish and Kristin Kerr

Gerald Loughlin Biology Regents Award (Living Environment): Sarah Swarthout

Physics Regents Award: Sarah Bond

Earth Science Regents Award: Jessica Brogdon

Environmental Science Awards: Senior: Marcus Dinkins
Junior: Desirae Landon

WGHS Premier Environmentalist: Elliott Kelley

Speed Typing Award: Ashley Chouinard

Business Student of the Year: Ashley Tieppo

Business and Marketing Honor Society Recognition: Ashley Tieppo, Marissa Meehan, Nicole Swarthout, Gavin Gates and Courtney Waite

Exceptional Work In Video: Casey Holland

Merry-Go-Round Book Club Award: Samuel Richardson

Burdett Ladies Wednesday Afternoon Club Award: Shannon Hazlitt

AP Achievement Award: Emily Pazar and Sarah Bond

English Regents Award: Sarah Bond, Shannon Hazlitt, Emily Pazar and Marissa Pike

Most Improved Senior English Student: Stephen Swarthout

Dugo-Bahns US History Regents Award: Emily Pazar

Bahns-Dugo Global History Regents Award: Maggie Myers and Robert Rondinaro

Model United Nations Awards:
Cornell Model United Nations ICJ Best Team Award: William Simiele, Ryan Rondinaro,
Maria Alfaro and Damion Westlake
Model United Nations Outstanding Delegate: William Simiele
Model United Nations First Year Outstanding Delegates: Marguerite Kellogg and Marshall
Secord

National Honor Society Passing of the Gavel: Casey Holland to Haley Tuttle

Yearbook Dedication: Devon Shaw

Photos in text:

Top: Kendra Shaw with her brother Devon after she announced that the Yearbook was dedicated to him. Devon is a cancer survivor who has inspired others.

Second: National Honor Society chapter president Casey Holland hands over the gavel signifying leadership to next year's Honor Society president, Haley Tuttle.

Third: Danielle Teed receives a Wells College 21st Century Leadership Award.

Fourth: Jenna Gimbar on stage to receive a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal.

Fifth: High School principal Dave Warren lauds and thanks exchange students David Leung of Hong Kong and Maria Chavez of Chile for their contributions to the school.

Sixth: Alexandra Young with her Edward Homan Physical Fitness Award.

Bottom: Adam Rice receives the Dr. Arthur J. Jackson Award given for outstanding achievement in both athletics and academics. Amber Swartz also won.