Scholarships
Comcast Foundation has awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Shayla Reid, a senior at High School North.
Alexandra Waters of West Windsor received a scholarship from New Jersey Association of Realtors Education Foundation. The award was presented at the Pines Manor in Edison.
Alexander Chan of West Windsor received an employee scholarship from Wegmans Food Markets. A graduate of High School North, he has worked at Wegmans in Nassau Park for three years.
South Ninth Grader
Aids Crisis Group
Four students from High School South collected $800 as well as shampoos, soaps, lotions, toothbrushes, and toothpastes from their neighbors and fellow students to help with the Crisis Ministry’s Trenton store.
Alexis Etheridge, a ninth grade student, founded the outreach group, Just Think. Members include Anais D’Ottavio, Tahliah D’Ottavio, and Aarcha Sager. “I always wanted to help those who aren’t as fortunate as me,” said Etheridge. “My parents have always told me that we are truly blessed and with all that we have, we should give back to others.”
“Most people do not know that basic hygiene items, as essential as they are, are not eligible for purchase through the food stamp program,” says Mark Smith, the director of the organization’s food services program. “We appreciate donated personal care products because it is difficult for our clients, many of whom work for very low wages, to afford to pay for them.”
The group members received Crisis Ministry’s Cream of the Crop certificates for their efforts. For information about the Crisis Ministry visit thecrisisministry.org or call 609-396-9355.
New Eagle Scout
Dan States, a graduating senior at High School North, was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout during Troop 759’s court of honor on June 3 at Queenship of Mary Church in Plainsboro. His project focused on creating a new garden and outdoor classroom at Wicoff School in Plainsboro.
Since joining Troop 759 in 2004 States has served as the troop’s senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, chaplain’s aide, and scribe. He completed his Order of the Arrow and has represented the troop at National Youth Leadership Training. After graduation, he will be attending Firefighter I training, before heading off to Ithaca College in August to study cinema and photography.
He is the son of Mary Alden, and the late Edward States, who was captain of American Airlines Flight 587, a plane that crashed shortly after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport on November 12, 2001. His older brother, Brad, received his Eagle Award in 2009.
“My Dad was very involved in my early scouting career,” he said, “and that is what kept me going for this long,” says Dan. “Scouting has taught me all about leadership.”
Troop 759, chartered through Queenship of Mary Church in Plainsboro, meets most Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Visit www.troop759nj.org for information on membership.
Military Academies
Congressman Rush Holt announced the names of the students from the 12th Congressional District who will attend U.S. military service academies. “These students have demonstrated extraordinary leadership, intelligence, commitment to public service, and strength of character,” says Holt in a press release. “It is an honor to recognize these accomplished young New Jerseyans and I know they will serve America with distinction as academy students and military officers.”
Merchant Marine Academy: Theodore C. Snieckus of Plainsboro is entering the Class of 2015. He was home schooled.
U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis: David E. Calves of West Windsor and Timothy J. Howarth II of Plainsboro enter the Class of 2015. Calves is a graduate of High School South and the U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School. Howarth is a graduate of High School North and the U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School.
Graduates of the military academies are commissioned as officers in the U.S. military.
Grover Students Earn Research Awards
ROGATE (Resources Offered in Gifted And Talented Education) is a national program that teaches basic research and critical thinking skills to students in grades 6 to 12. In the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District, participation in the ROGATE program is through the PRISM (Performance Revealing Individual Students’ Magic) Program.
At a recent ROGATE Exposition, Grover Middle School students were honored for their year-long research projects:
Silver Awards: Marco Kaisth was recognized for his project focusing on how China is on the fast track to surpass America in educational and economic status but cannot beat America’s standard for social welfare. Eric Mischell was recognized for his project focusing on the thermodynamic properties of white holes that render them incompatible with our universe.
Bronze Awards:Vijay Krishnan was recognized for his project about how the portrayal of people with Asperger’s Syndrome both negatively and positively influences public opinion about these individuals. Rahul Arora’s project centered on the statements of the military personnel of Roswell Air Force Base, when an alien craft was thought to have crashed in the Roswell desert in early July, 1947. Rishab Tanga’s project focuses on precautions following any head injury including that athletes should go through in-depth testing before they can return to a game or to a sport.
Gold Satori awards were received by Gio DiRusso for “The Shroud of Turin is an authentic relic”; and Shrivathsav Seshan for “American military aircraft, between 1940 and the present, have been built using other countries’ ideas.” Debbie Cohen is the PRISM teacher at Grover.
In College
University of Connecticut: Alexi Manfred Wiemer of West Windsor is on the dean’s list.
College of William and Mary: Students on the dean’s list include West Windsor residents Connor Farrell, Andrew Ojeda, and Kelsey Rothera.
Faith
Jeffrey Gillette of West Windsor was confirmed as a member of Princeton United Methodist Church on June 5.
