West Windsor resident Alex Ni will be heading to Bulgaria in late September to compete in the 6th World Junior Wushu (contemporary martial arts) Championships.
The World Junior Wushu Championships is the official world championships for junior athletes. It takes place biennially and features the highest competitive level within the junior division of the sport. It’s divided into three age groups: Group A for 16-18 years old, Group B for 13-15 years old, and Group C for 12 years old and under.
Each country can send up to two boys and two girls from each age group (for a grand total of 12) to the competition. This year’s competition will be held in between Sept. 26 and Oct. 3.
Ni, 14, has been a passionate martial artist since age six. In 2014, he successfully made the U.S. national team in traditional martial arts and competed in the Traditional Championships held in China, winning a gold and a silver medal in his age group.
For the past year, he has focused his training in contemporary martial arts and regularly travels to Virginia for intensive training. During the national team trials held in San Jose, California, on July 9 and 10, Ni captured the top team spot in his age group from a field of 42 boys
Ni has performed in his school and district talent shows, in senior and rehab centers, at Plainsboro Founders Day and Chinese New Year celebrations. He won a bronze grand prize in the New York City Sinovision Talent show with his martial arts performance in 2015, and he has also performed in Lincoln Center earlier this year. In the Junior Championships in Bulgaria, he will be competing in fist, straight sword, and spear forms.
College News
Hood College: Elizabeth Palena, a 2012 graduate of High School North, graduated with a major in history, a minor in studio art, and a certification in secondary education. She plans to pursue a career in teaching.
State University of New York College of Technology at Delhi: Amie Ashton of Plainsboro, nursing, was named to the dean’s list for the spring semester.
Susquehanna University: Sarah Bush, a West Windsor resident and alumna of High School North, was named to the dean’s list for the spring semester.
University of Delaware: West Windsor students named to the dean’s list for the Spring semester were Rebecca Arias, Elizabeth Bellotti, Vincent Curatolo, Andrew Holubec, John Janick, Alissa Julius, Jessica Kaganskiy, Lindsay Kelly, Jessica Musumeci, Kathleen O’Connor, Samantha Paley, Rachel Schaefer, Brian Tso and Elianna Wydra. From Plainsboro were Timothy Buttner, Sam Weiskopf, Ricardo Stella, Christina Patti, Alisa Rubinstein and Drew McClendon.
University of Rhode Island: Anthony V. Colonna of Plainsboro was named to the dean’s list.
University of Maryland: Darrien Banks a junior majoring in health administration and a minor in business innovation was named to the dean’s list for the 2016 spring semester.
University of the Sciences: Grant Lee of Plainsboro and Tiffany Au and Alan Vukovic of West Windsor received bachelor of science degrees in pharmaceutical and healthcare studies. Lee graduated cum laude and Au is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta honor society. All three will now pursue doctor of pharmacy degrees.
Also, Victoria Lee of Plainsboro received a doctor of occupational therapy degree summa cum laude. She is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta, Alpha Chi, Pi Theta Epsilon, and Alpha Eta societies. Dana Lee of West Windsor deceived a doctor of pharmacy degree. Erica Simi of West Windsor received a doctor of occupational therapy degree cum laude.
Troop 40 celebrates 50th
West Windsor Boy Scout Troop 40 celebrated its 50th anniversary in June with a dinner and ceremony at Grover Middle School.
The event, which was attended by more than 120 current and former Troop 40 Boy Scouts, included current Troop 40 Scoutmaster Richard Pfaltzgraff and former Scoutmasters Bob Sanders, Bill Hasling and Martin Rexroad as well as current Troop Committee Chair Richard Eland.
Local dignitaries attending included, Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh, and council members Hemant Marathe, Peter Mendonez and Linda Geevers. State Senator (and parent of a Troop 40 Eagle Scout) Linda Greenstein presented the troop with a proclamation from the State Senate and Assembly to commemorate the anniversary.
A tribute to Troop 40 Eagle Scout and 9/11 victim David Suarez was also included in the program. A slideshow was presented of photographs submitted by Troop 40 scouts across the ages. Troop 40 continues to meet every Monday evening at Dutch Neck Church and currently has promoted more than 100 scouts to the rank of Eagle and assisted in numerous local community service based Eagle projects during its 50 years in West Windsor.
Wolinetz named Beth Chaim president
Gary K. Wolinetz of Plainsboro was named the president of Congregation Beth Chaim in West Windsor. Wolinetz is a member of the Plainsboro Planning Board and a partner in the law firm of Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP in Woodbridge.
