A love of roller coasters and lizards has fostered Roman Soiko’s fascination with geography. Soiko, a 14-year-old eighth grader at Community Middle School, was the New Jersey state representative to the 2004 National Geographic Bee this week, competing against 54 other state finalists culled from nearly 5 million students in the fifth to eighth grade.
Soiko participated in the preliminary rounds, held in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, May 25, advancing just short of the final round of 10 contestants, held Wednesday, May 26, and televised on the National Geographic Channel, moderated by Alex Trebek, host of “Jeopardy!” Andrew Wojtanik from Kansas won the top prize, a $25,”000 scholarship.
Alla Soiko, Roman’s mother and a real estate agent with Rich Abrams/Century 21 in Plainsboro, says her son, who is named after his paternal great-grandfather, has been fascinated with roller coasters since the family moved here from their native Moscow in 1994. “Almost every holiday weekend we go somewhere, mostly to a different amusement park,” she says, adding that her son has probably been on 70 different roller coasters. They have travelled to almost every major amusement park along the East coast, from Cedar Point in Ohio — the number one amusement park for roller coasters in this country and home to the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the U.S. — to DisneyWorld in Florida.
The Soikos moved to the States when Alla accepted a job with the accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand in Philadelphia. (The Soikos are divorced, and Roman’s father lives in Philadelphia.) Alla and Roman moved to Canal Pointe in 1999 and have lived in Ravens Crest in Plainsboro since 2001.
Alla Soiko says another fascination that has contributed to her son’s love of geography is lizards. Roman, who reads encyclopedias for pleasure, knows where different lizards live around the world. “We’ve had three or four lizards,” she says, “but they only live for about a year.”
In a phone interview prior to the bee, the young Soiko said he studied four hours a day to prepare for the competition. “I’m studying encyclopedias and looking at back issues of National Geographic and on the Internet. I call up random countries and look at their economic situation, places, cities, and current news.” If he could go anywhere in the world, Soiko says it would be Malta, between Italy and Tunisia and the Mediterranean Sea, because “it has lots of castles.”
His geographical knowledge is self-taught. “I don’t know anything about geography,” says his mother. “Nobody in my family does. And it’s not really covered in school.” From the age of six, Soiko would play with maps and do puzzles with the different states. “He likes to organize the (geographical) information he reads,” says his mother. “He’ll put things in order, like alphabetizing the African countries. He knows all the states in any order you can think of, alphabetical, smallest to largest, by capitals, industry, or population. He knows all the highways in the U.S. When he was in fifth or sixth grade, I took him on a company trip and my colleagues started asking geography questions and he beat everyone. He already knew everything.”
In January, Community Middle School held its annual preparation test for the geography bee, and Soiko won the best in the school. After completing a written test for the state, he advanced to the state finals, held at Rutgers University on May 2. Among the 10 finalists, he won with the following question: Which landlocked African country shares the wealth of the Copper Belt with the democratic republic of the Congo? Answer: Zambia.
Soiko, who also likes NASCAR and James Bond, can think of two good career paths that would take advantage of his geography knowledge. “You could be a professor — or a travel agent.” Clearly, he’s got the travel bug. His ideal summer vacation would be to visit the Maldives. Have no idea where that is? Soiko’s got the answer. “It’s an archipelago in the Indian Ocean with wonderful scenery.”
In the Schools
Lynn Sara McGuigan, a senior at High School North and Mita Sharma, valedictorian of High School South, Class of 2004, are the first two high school seniors to receive the new Joseph M. Dantone Scholarship. They were each presented with a $1,”000 check at a dinner held at the Village Grande on Tuesday, May 25. It followed the inaugural golf tournament for the scholarship held at Cream Ridge Golf Course.
Dantone, born in Brooklyn, New York, lived in West Windsor during the last four years of his life. He was president of the Village Grande Civic Association, and an avid golfer. He died of a heart attack at age 75 in September, 2003.
Matt Laermer earned a second place prize in an essay contest commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1954 Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas ruling. He is a senior at High School South. At a ceremony at Rutgers University, he will receive the award and meet Governor James McGreevey and Julian Bond, chair of the NAACP.
Shreya Durvasula, a junior at High School South, will receive the 2004 Hubert M. Alyea Award on Saturday, May 29 for outstanding student achievement in the study of science, the award was instituted by Princeton University’s chemistry department and the Princeton chapter of the American Chemical Society. Nominated for the award by the high school’s science department, the National Honor Society member will receive a plaque along with a cash prize.
Taktin Oey, a senior at High School North, was honored at the annual Star-Ledger Scholars dinner earlier this month. The scholars were nominated by their schools and then selected from a pool of close to 200 by a committee appointed by the State Department of Education.
Karen Black, media specialist at Community Middle School, will serve as project director for a collection of books from the American Library Association. The school received the “We the People Bookshelf” 2004 award for encouraging students to explore the theme of courage in books. The hardcover books include “National Velvet,” “Fahrenheit 451,” “Ivanhoe, “and “Little Women.”
Julie Johnson, a third grade teacher at Wicoff School, is helping her students learn about government and how it works. After going online to get information about Plainsboro Township, the class explored biographies of Mayor Peter Cantu and the town council members. Michael Weaver, a town councilman married to a teacher at Wicoff, visited the class. Students then visited the municipal building including the tax collector’s offices, personnel, the health department, and the planning board office. They learned that when people call 911, the information goes to a screen at the dispatch center. In other plans for the government unit, Mayor Cantu, Congressman Rush Holt, Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, and Middlesex County Freeholder David Crabiel will visit the students.
Eileen Beam and Audry Courtney-Quinn were event coordinators for Village School’s annual fundraiser for St. Jude’s Hospital. Over 150 students completed math problems, obtained sponsors, and collected over $11,”000 this year. Village School’s total collection for St. Jude’s is now over $50,”000.
Top winners honored with a portable CD player included Jullian Zummo, Hannah Katy, Teresa George, Taylor Jaeger, Meagan Traughber, Adrian Fernandez, and Catharine Wong. Jaeger was the school’s top fundraiser. Teachers of the top classes were Dana Kercheval, Vanessa Clax, and Joanne Glover.
The Arts: On Stage
Corey Hess, Ian Simon, and Taylor Koslo, all of West Windsor, have been studying acting with McCarter Theater’s First Stage Company since October. On May 15 and 16, they were able to show off their new acting and stage crafts in the Third Annual First Stage Festival.
Hess, age 9, was in Company II, which studied Shakespeare and performed “Twelfth Night.” He played the role of the Duke Reginald of Illyria. He is a student at Community Middle School.
Simon, 14, was in Company III, which studied teen social issues and present-day themes. He appeared in “Promenade,” playing the part of Squirrel in the play written by Josh Adell exploring a universal theme about the last days of high school. He is a Grover Middle School student.
Koslo, 12, a student at the Chapin School, was in Company IV, which studied heroes and villains. She appeared as Princess Puffer in “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.”
Rachel Miller, also of West Windsor, was the stage manager for the four-show festival. A graduate of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, Class of 2000, she graduated from Drew University in 2003. A stage management intern with McCarter since August, she also worked on the theater’s main stage shows “Anna in the Tropics,” “Wintertime,” and “Christmas Carol,” in addition to being the stage manager for the education department’s touring show, “The Tempest — A Puppet Play.”
Tim Brownell, a Bergen County native, heads the program of five teachers. “We approach acting from the character’s wants and intentions, the obstacles she encounters, and how they relate to the other characters, ”says Brownell.
The program, with close to 60 students, features four different companies based on age, from grades 4 to 10. There are also less
intensive acting classes held by the semester. For information and online registration visit www.mccarter.org and click on “Education” or call Brownell at 609-258-8289.
Music
Elizabeth Johnston of West Windsor placed second in the annual voice competition held by the New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). A senior at High School North, she studies voice with Timothy Urban and piano with Rita Reston, both at the Westminster Conservatory. She has previously studied oboe with Melissa Bohl, also at Westminster.
Matthew Slayton of West Windsor is headed to the national PTA’s Reflections competition with his musical composition, “Finding the Strength Within.” He has already won the Mercer County competition, placed first in the state, and received the Award of Excellence for musical composition in the Reflections competitions for the third consecutive year.
Daniel Billek and Nikki Abramowitz of West Windsor were among the winners of the annual composition contest at the New School for Music Study of Kingston. They recently performed at the school’s 44th spring recital series.
The Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra String Quartet performed for high tea at Drumthwacket to honor members of the Freedom House Foundation and its “Family Afterward Program.” Janice Chou, a sophomore at High School North, and Jason Hwang, a senior a High School North are members of the quartet. Chou plays the violin and Hwang plays the cello. They performed selections from Mozart, Beethoven, Bellini, and Tchaikovsky.
In College
University of Arizona: Noel Torralba graduated with a bachelor of arts in communication. He was a graduate of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, Class of 2000.
College of New Jersey: Gabriel Alonso received “Outstanding First-Year Student” award. A graduate of High School South, Class of 2003, he was president of his freshman class and will be president of the sophomore class in the fall.
New York University: Laura Olson, West Windsor, graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in dramatic literature with a minor in creative writing.
Rutgers College: Matthew Carter, Plainsboro, an honor student, was accepted into Phi Beta Kappa and Golden Key International Honor Society. He is a graduate of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, Class of 2000.
St. Lawrence University: Laura Dix, West Windsor, received the Outstanding Beginning Student Prize in Swahili.
Washington University: Kristi Nigh, West Windsor, dean’s list.
Washington and Lee University School of Law: Michael Pidgeon, Plainsboro, juris doctorate. In 2001, he received two bachelor of arts degrees from the school.
Around Town
Girl Scout Troop 677 made snuggle pillows for the children at Angel’s Wings, an organization that provides emergency temporary care for children. The troop leader is Louisa Ho. See photo above for participants.
Three new members were installed in the West Windsor Lions Club by Lions District 16B Governor Earl Groendyke. New members are Bal K. Kalra, Ashok N. Sharma, and Horeya Hatab, on April 21. At the same meeting, guest Robert Loretan, West Windsor-Plainsboro school superintendent, and assistant superintendent Larry Shanok gave an in-depth presentation on the state of the school district. For more information about the program call 609-497-2100, ext. 329.
Mariana Bontcheva received an English as a Second Language Annual Scholars’ Award from YWCA Princeton. A native of Bulgaria where she was a lawyer and chief legal advisor to the mayor of her hometown, she came with her husband to the United States four years ago — with no English language skills. In just four years, she has progressed to the most advanced English level the YWCA offers. She also volunteers in the ESL office there.
Members of the Plainsboro P.B.A. Local 319 collected over $2,”700 worth of nonperishable food for the Plainsboro Township Welfare Department. Police officers Jason Mariono, Adam Wurpel, and Michael Kelly distributed requests for food donations at area schools and supermarkets. Participants include Town Center, Wicoff, Millstone River, and Community Middle schools; Superfresh, and the Asian Market.
Hadassah of Village Grande at Bear Creek collected health and beauty items for Womanspace, a Lawrenceville agency that supports victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. Members Ellen Meyer and Arlene Gold delivered the boxes to Ellen Yeargle, director of counseling and support services at the facility.
Business
William V. Griffin of Plainsboro was nominated to the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture by Governor James E. McGreevey.
Dianne Brake of West Windsor was nominated to serve on the Mercer County College Board of Trustees by Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes. President of the Regional Planning Partnership, Brake has been a leading advocate for smart growth and sound planning for close to 20 years. She is a member of numerous planning, housing, and historic preservation groups. She has a bachelor’s degree from Hollins College and a master’s degree in planning and social design from the California Institute for the Arts.
Janice Hutchison of West Windsor was recently honored by Gloria Nilson GMAC Real Estate with the Community Services Award. She is a real estate agent with the Princeton Junction office. Hutchinson has coordinated two coat drives, a diaper drive, a toy collection, and is active in community service through St. Paul Roman Catholic Church.
She has received past awards from her alma mater, Notre Dame High School, and from Rider University as a student.
“Many times, people make donations to organizations, and those donations don’t necessarily benefit families in their neighborhood,” she says. “I like to make sure these programs enable residents to help their neighbors.”
Engagement
Jennifer Lynn Anson and Jonathan Brooks Rice are planning a July 2005 wedding. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam B. Anson III of West Windsor. A graduate of the Chapin School and Notre Dame High School, she received a bachelor’s degree in human ecology from Cook College of Rutgers University. In the fall she begins work on a master’s degree in counseling at Linden State College. She is employed at St. Johnsbury Academy, in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, as a guidance counselor.
The prospective bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Brooks Rice of Francestown, New Hampshire. A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, he is pursuing a master’s degree there. He is employed at St. Johnsbury Academy as a history teacher.
Births
The University Medical Center at Princeton has announced the following births:
Sons were born to Plainsboro residents Junhua Jiang and Haitao Hu, May 6; Ramya Krishnan and Premkumar Thangarajan, May 10; and Yuki and Shigeto Ihara, May 17.
A daughter was born to Plainsboro residents Clara and James T. Collins III, May 12.
Daughters were born to West Windsor residents Heather Buchanan and Peter Stewart, May 7; and Gabrielle and Douglas Mayer, May 8.
