Scholarship
Winners
Both of the 2004 West Windsor & Plainsboro News scholarship winners are the youngest of three children – all of whom graduated from West Windsor-Plainsboro High School. Ashley Hencken, from High School South, has two older sisters; and Daniel Patrick Long, from High School North, has two older brothers.
Ashley has lived in West Windsor all of her life. She lives with her mother, Elizabeth O’Hare, who has been an administrative assistant at Maurice Hawk School for 30 years. Her father, John Hencken, lives in Robbinsville. Her sisters are Courtney, 23, a teacher of autistic children in Maryland, and Mary Elizabeth, 30, a kindergarten teacher in the Lake George area of New York.
“”She never had a lesson but music is very important to her,”” says her mother. “”Music runs in the family. My father was an Irish tenor and played piano by ear.”” Her mother used to sing and be in plays; her sister Courtney is known as the “”Karaoke Queen,”” and her other sister Mary Elizabeth sings in a country western band.
After many years of singing and being on stage, Ashley will major in theater arts at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison. A member of the choir and First Edition at High School South, she was president of the choir. She also won the singing division at the school’s talent show, Illuminations. “”I was lucky enough to sing with the school choirs at Carnegie Hall both in the fifth and in the tenth grades,”” she says. “”They were fun days and nice experiences.””
On stage she played the part of Meg in “”Damn Yankees”” and Ethel in “”Footloose.”” In Pirate Players’ educational show about violence in schools, “”Bang Bang You’re Dead,”” she played the role of the mother. She had seen the show when she was in eighth grade but was able to see it differently as a senior.
One of the first courses she will take at college is stagecraft – which she knows will give her a different view of the theater. “”I am really looking forward to starting a new chapter of my singing and acting career in college,”” she says. “”I hope that a lot of luck comes my way.””
Dan, born in Staten Island, moved to West Windsor when he was two-years-old. He, along with his mother Jean, recently moved from Princeton Oaks to Robbinsville. She is on the support staff at UBS (Union Bank of Switzerland) in West Windsor. His brother John, 23, was married last Saturday and lives in Virginia. His other brother Don, 26, will be married in September and lives in Hillsborough.
A soccer player since he was five years old, he became a member of the West Windsor Cyclones travel team when he was eight. “”We were quite the travelers and ventured to exotic places like England, New Mexico, and Florida,”” says Dan. He was a member of the team up until his freshman year of high school when the team disbanded. He played varsity for four years at High School North. He also played lacrosse on both junior varsity and varsity – until he was injured last spring. When he was younger, he played hockey and baseball.
He began working at Best Buy in Nassau Park during his junior year in high school. Unfortunately, his lacrosse injury has prevented him from working since the spring.
He will major in business and economics at Loyola College in Maryland. He was accepted into the Collegium Program, which helps get the first year students acquainted with college life by rooming, studying, and going on outings with other members of the program.
Dan, who wanted to see how challenging college was, has already taken a few classes at Mercer College. “”After taking a course in computing during freshman year, I learned that I didn’t want to go into programming,”” he says. “”A philosophy course taught me that it wasn’t something I wanted to focus on. A course in business organization gave a general overview and I had already decided that I had liked the idea of business law. After taking an economics class in high school, I found that I enjoyed the information and logic and wanted to also study economics.””
Since sixth grade, there have been two Dan Longs in the same schools. Luckily, they have become very good friends, and still find it amusing. The “”new”” Dan Long, as he is still called, moved here from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he was a member of a travel soccer team. When he came to observe the Cyclones, the members and coach welcomed him into the group. “”We began talking on the first day and naturally hit it off right away,”” says Dan.
Summer Studies
Piyali Sircar and Hema Sunderasan, students at High School South participated in the Rutgers University Waksman Summer Science Program, along with science teacher Meenakshi Bhattachraya, also from High School South. They spent many hours in the laboroatoy learning the techniques of molecular biology and bioinformatics. The high school teams will continue to update and troubleshoot via seminars in the future.
College Life
Honors
American University: Amy Perlman and Emily Rotella, both of West Windsor, dean’s list.
University Of Delaware: Amanda Ferra, Plainsboro, freshman, business major, dean’s list both semesters.
University of Rhode Island: Steven Kim of Plainsboro, dean’s list.
Cornell University: Emily Looney, freshman, dean’s list. Majoring in biology, she plays in the wind ensemble and the jazz band.
Georgetown University: Rahul Bansal and Megan DiSciullo, both of Plainsboro, received second honors in the spring semester with a more than 3.7 grade point average.
Rider University: Monali Vora was inducted Beta Gamma Sigma, the national honor society for business schools. A Plainsboro resident, she is a management major. Maureen Coles of West Windsor was also inducted. She is a business administration major. Monica Brubaker of Plainsboro was inducted in Alpha Epsilon Zeta Honor Society. She majored in secondary education and mathematics.
University of Rochester: Meg Miller Colbert and Matthew Schurin, both of West Windsor, dean’s list.
University of Scranton: Peter J. Guala, West Windsor, freshman, dean’s list.
Rutgers University: Alex Greenfield, dean’s list for both semesters of his freshman year. He was a graduate of High School South, Class of 2003.
Graduates
Arizona State University: Megan Alrutz, doctorate in fine arts. She is a graduate of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School. Her dissertation, “”Investigating Drama Process in the Classroom: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Learning,”” explores drama-based science instruction in the fifth grade. She received the Herberger College of Fine Arts Distinguished Graduate Teaching Assistant Award and the 2003 Winifred Ward Scholar for the American Alliance for Theater Education. She is an assistant professor and area coordinator for the master’s program in Theater for Young Audiences associated by the University of Central Florida and Orlando Repertory Theater.
Caldwell College: Erica Fowler, West Windsor, bachelor of arts with a major in psychology.
Fairleigh Dickinson University: Colleta Omamo, masters in business administration with a major in finance; Dilek Arikan, masters in business administration with a major in marketing; Girish Tengli, masters degree in computer science. They are all West Windsor residents.
Harvard University: David Smith, West Windsor, bachelor of arts with cum laude honors in economics. He is an associate with Ferro Capital, a hedge fund in New York City.
Rider University graduates include:
From Plainsboro: Barbara Ann Basel, master’s in human services administration; Jaya Balu, master’s in accountancy; Joanna Gnudi, master’s of business administration; and Lora Helen O’Connor, master’s in education administration.
Also, Monica Jonni Brubaker, bachelor’s in secondary education and mathematics; Tyrone Burston, bachelor’s in finance; Robert Arthur Golding Jr., bachelor’s in chemistry; Frank Joseph Mazzeo, bachelor’s in computer information systems; Jia Tan, bachelor’s in global business; Monali Mansukh Vora, bachelor’s in management; and Bartiomiej Z. Zyta, bachelor’s in finance.
From West Windsor: Charlene A. Fenster, master’s in reading and language arts; Rebecca Ann Fink, master’s in curriculum; Meredith Kane, master’s in special education; Anne Chan Mandel, master’s in counseling services; Frank Thomas Orsini, master’s of business administration; and Marietta Telis, master’s in education administration.
Also, Angela Marie Agosta, bachelor’s in elementary education and mathematics; Maureen Coles, West Windsor, business administration; Carol Virginia Dennis, bachelor’s in library studies; Kenneth Michael McGill, bachelor’s in business administration; and Jason Franklin Schwartz, bachelor’s in journalism.
Williams College: Analia Sorribas of Plainsboro is spending the summer working as a research assistant at the Hungarian Academy of Science. She is studying nuclear and cytosolic events in phototranscution regulating entrainment of the circadian clock(s) in higher plants with Dr. Ference Nagy, group leader of the Institute of Plant Biology. She is a junior at Williams.
Syracuse University dean’s list members include:
College of Arts and Sciences: Kristen Pilkiewicz, Jessica Schaeffer, Paul Walker, Emily Wasco, and Kyle Townsend, all of West Windsor.
S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications: Kristin Morgan and David Spiegel, of Plainsboro; and Laine Jelenic of West Windsor.
School of Education: Mara Leibowitz, West Windsor.
Martin J. Whitman School of Management: Ramine Ziai, West Windsor.
Military
Navy Lt. J.G. Michael P. Aiena, graduated from the Advanced Steam Chief Engineer course at Surface Warfare Officer School in Newport, Rhode Island. He joined the Navy in May, 2000. He is the son of Celestina and Peter Aiena of West Windsor.
Army Captain Mark C. Salierno has returned from an eight-month deployment to Afghanistan. He received the bronze star for outstanding leadership while serving in a combat zone. A graduate of Immaculata High School and Villanova University, he is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Carl Salierno of West Windsor. Married to the former Britanie Watson, he is stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class James C. Shearer III is participating in Summer Pulse 04, the Navy’s first exercise of the Fleet Response Plan. A graduate of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, Class of 1999, he joined the navy in May 2002. He is the son of Joyce Andrews and James Shearer.
Air Force Cadet Matthew F. Vanderschuere has earned honors with placement on the commandant’s and dean’s lists at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. A graduate of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, Class of 2001, he is pursuing a degree in political science. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Vanderschuere of Colorado Springs.
Pageant Finalist
Caitlyn Grant, 10, of West Windsor is a finalist in the Pre-teen New Jersey Scholarship and Recognition Program for girls ages 7 to 12. She is a rising fifth grade student at Millstone River School. The event will be held at the Hilton, Parsippany, from Friday to Sunday, August 20 to 22.
Arts
Francois Guillemin of West Windsor was retained by Princeton Borough to create and install 12 tree grates of his own design in the new plaza on Witherspoon Street near the library.
A former Johnson Atelier artist, also known as Le Corbeau, will create the grates with an atom pattern in a modern, wrought-iron look. He will receive $57,”000 – funded by a gift from Princeton University.
The 15,”000 square foot plaza will also include bicycle racks, tables, benches, chairs, and trash cans.
Carol Sara Schepps, of West Windsor, is displaying two works at an exhibition at the Long Beach Island Foundation of Arts and Sciences, 120 Long Beach Boulevard, in Loveladies through Thursday, August 26. The works are titled “”Copper Sunsets”” and “”6 Red Paintbrushes.”” Gallery house are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekends, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 609-494-1241 or visit www.lbifoundation.org for information.
Volunteers
Carol Lidz and Joan Bharucha, both of West Windsor, are new board members with the League for Women Voters in the Princeton area.
Lidz will coordinate voter service activities. A native of New York City, she has lived in West Windsor for 19 years. Community activities include the West Windsor Library y task force, Princeton Senior Resource Center volunteer, Princeton Friends of Opera project volunteer, and volunteer consultant for American Repertory Ballet and Sanction for Families.
A graduate of Brandeis, Lidz has a Ph.D. in government from Harvard. She has led projects to redesign jails in New York City, introduced psychological screening of correction officer candidates, and introduced substance abuse counseling and psychological services for jail staff. As director of human resources for Metro North Railroad, she managed employment, benefits, employee assistance programs, occupational health medical department, and an affirmative action program.
Bharucha, the new secretary for the group, is retired from several different careers. She has both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nursing, which she used until she became a stay-at-home mother 25 years ago. She returned to work later in information services at Dow Jones where she worked on mainframe billing and report systems. Over five years ago, she took an early retirement option and is eager to increase her volunteer activities with her extra time.
Musical Notes
Kierstin Grey, West Windsor-Plainsboro High School graduate, performed as a finalist in the Apple Eve Newport Folk Festival Talent Search. Five finalists were selected from the hundreds of entries reviewed. The finalist competition, held on August 5 in Newport, Rhode Island, was to perform at the festival on August 7. Grey did not win the event. For information about her career and other gigs, visit www.kierstingray.com.
Alex Kontorovich, a West Windsor-Plainsboro High School graduate, Class of 1998, is in Israel performing with KlezSka, a band presenting klezmer, ska, reggae, and other rock-steady beats, at clubs and on the main stage at the Tsfat Klezmer Festival. His musical instruments include clarinet, alto sax, and baritone sax. Co-founder of Klez Dispensers during his college years, he graduated from Princeton University in 2002 and is a graduate student at Columbia University.
Oana Barbu of Plainsboro and Esther Cha of West Windsor participated in the eight-day Pacific Rim Children’s Festival held in early July in Oahu, Hawaii. They are both members of the Princeton Girlchoir’s Concert Choir that performed in two public concerts that included music and dance from the Philippines, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Tahiti, Samoa, and Hawaii.
Reflections
Shibani Rajiv Dighe received a merit award in the Reflection program in the music category. She is a Village School student. Her name was spelled incorrectly in the July 23 issue. @head 14:Wedding
Karin Sinola and Joel Turner were married February 28. She is the daughter of Jill Graverson of Plainsboro and Victor Spinola of Edison.
The groom is the son of Beulah Turner of East Windsor and the late Willie Turner. The couple lives in Largo, Florida.
Births
Ysabel Beatriz Alfonso was born to Joselito and Maria Victoria Alfonso of Plainsboro on January 2. Sibling, Gian Miguel, is four years old. Grandparents Renato and Florentina Alfonso and Eduardo and Jovita Obejera, all reside in the Philippines.
Hannah Grace Langdale was born to Kerry and Amy (Britton) Langdale (West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, Class of 1993) of Dana Point, California on July 14. Grandparents are Jack and Sue Britton of Plainsboro and Marianne and Gary Langdale of San Clemente, California.
The University Medical Center at Princeton has announced the following births:
Daughters were born to Plainsboro residents: Marlena and Wojciech Kilian, July 25; Rosemary and Yobany Figueroa, July 26; Diana Mistry and Neelesh Padalkar, July 26; and Shailaja and Vaniprasad Munagala, July 26.
Twin daughters were born to Plainsboro residents David and Michelle Richter on July 29.
A son was born to Plainsboro residents Gina George-Greer and Joseph Greer on August 2.
A son was born to West Windsor residents Amanda and Matthew O’Brien July 19.
Deaths
Mary Theresa Schembs, 87, of Delaware County, died on July 16. Survivors include a son and daughter in law, Patrick and Virginia Jackman of West Windsor. Donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Joseph Doyle, 71, of Ewing, died July 21 at his residence. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Patricia Doyle of Plainsboro.
Michael Angello, 90, of West Windsor, died July 24. Survivors include his wife Dorothy Agnello; children, Michael J. Agnello and Rosanne Agnello; and several nieces and nephews.
Anna K. Jolly, 75, of West Windsor, died July 25 in Virtua Memorial Hospital, Mt. Holly. Born in Trenton, she lived in the West Windsor area all of her life.
Retired from EMR Schlumberger, she was formerly employed by Tilton Bakery. A volunteer at the Capital Health System, she was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Capital Health System.
Survivors include daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Thomas Schenk of Browns Mills; granddaughter and her husband, Jennifer and John Augustine; great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Augustine; a niece and her husband, Loretta and James Applegate of West Windsor; a great-niece, Loretta Applegate; and a great-nephew, William Applegate.
Contributions may be made to Capital Health Center Ladies Auxiliary at Fuld, 750 Brunswick Avenue, Trenton.
Mary B. Mazeikis, 84, of West Windsor died July 26 at home. Born in Trenton, she was a lifelong area resident. She retired from Westinghouse Electric where she was an assembler and union shop steward in 1980.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and John Zummo, with whom she lived, and her granddaughter, Jillian Zummo.
Donations may be made to the Princeton Hospice, 208 Bunn Drive, Princeton 08540.
Robert E. Norland Jr., 58, of Somerset died July 28 at his home. Survivors include his brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Nancy Norland of Plainsboro. Contributions may be made to the Cancer Institute of New Jersey 08901.
Carolyn Ianuzzu, 86, of Gloucesta, died July 30. Survivors include her daughter, Carol F. Maselli of West Windsor.
Nicholas J. Primiani, 65, died August 1 at JFK Medical Center in Edison. Survivors include a daughter, Niquole Primiani of Plainsboro.
Bernadette M. Meirowitz, 45, of West Windsor, died August 6 in the University Medical Center of Princeton. Born in Queens, New York, she was a lifelong area resident.
A 1981 graduate of C.W. Post University, Summa Cum Laude, she received her masters degree in special education from Rutgers University.
Survivors include her husband of 20 years, Dr. Robert F. Meirowitz; a son, Michael E. Meirowitz of West Windsor; a daughter, Corinne M. Meirowitz of West Windsor; her parents, Edward and Geraldine FitzGerald Lelin of Port Jefferson, New York; three sisters, Jeanette M. Stephan of Glastonbory, Connecticut, Suzanne C. Lelin of Port Jefferson Station, New York, and Dianne A. Tufo of Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania.
Contributions may be made to D.E.B.R.A., 5 W. 36th Street, Suite 404, New York, New York 10018.
