People, June 11, 2004
Discover Award
Sherry X. Zhang, a junior at High School South, received the Discover Card Tribute Award and a scholarship award of $2,”500. Selected from a pool of over 4,”500 applicants to become one of eight recipients from New Jersey, she now goes on to compete for one of nine national scholarships, each worth $25,”000.
The award is given to high school juniors who have demonstrated exellence in many areas of their lives – not just academics. Zhang is an active volunteer in both the high school and with the Township of West Windsor.
Top Honors
Cassie McClellan of Girl Scout Troop 299 recently partnered with Cingular Wireless in Acme Shopping Center to collect cell phones to donate to Womanspace, a non-profit organization providing services to women in crisis in the Mercer County area. Knowing that when an emergency crops up, a cell phone can be invaluable, Cassie managed to collect over 75 cell phones and received her Junior Bronze Award at a recent ceremony held at May 23 at First Presbyterian Church of Dutch Neck. Phones may be brought to the Cingular Wireless store at 64 Princeton Hightstown Road, West Windsor.
Other Girl Scouts from West Windsor-Plainsboro Service Unit honored at the Gold, Silver, Bronze Court of Awards – the highest awards in their level of scouting – include:
Gold Awards to Senior Girl Scouts: Heather Rumpf, Troop 1072, and Stephanie Perl, Troop 1514. Rumph and Megan Nieckowski were also recognized as 2004 Girl Scouts of Distinction (Girl Scouts of Delaware-Raritan Council).
Silver Awards to Cadette Girl Scouts: Laura Ribardo, Troop 20; and Kristina Aranda and Nerissa Mendes, Troop 1329. Also, Allie Baylson, Emily Brooks, Aanchal Chopra, Kariman Khamiss, Lena Phalen, Patti Plumeri, Sohni Reddy, and Laura Word, all of Troop 1575.
Bronze Awards to Junior Girl Scouts: From Troop 299: Arpita Aneja, Keighly Bradbrook, Grace Garbini, Brittany Hall, Julia Hanley, Sophie Hanstveit, Aananditaa Kakkar, Evamarie Kemp, and Cassie. From Troop 1005: Caroline Bourassa, Alyssa Chrisie, Joanna Ferriter, Nichola Marr, Nora Wilby, and Brienna Terpe. From Troop 1836: Stephanie Aranda, Oyinade Ifaturoti, Aneesha Patel, and AnaLee Rodriguez. Cassie McClellan and Kimberly Clifton received the award for independent projects.
Service unit co-directors are Bonnie Rumpf and Debi Ribardo. Peggy Redman of West Windsor and vice president of the council board of directors presented the introduction to the ceremony. Award presenters included Linda Marsi, Lynn Sheard, Cindy Hernandez, Debi Ribardo, Iris Cartwright, Priscilla Purnick, Carolyn Sellars, Margaret Wilby, Anne Clifton, Iris Cartwright, and Nancy Grant.
One Step Above
Dance Spectrums jazz, tap, and lyrical teams earned gold, high silver, and first place awards plus a prestigious “”Perfectly Polished”” judges’ award at three competitions this season. They competed in Showstoppers, Headliners, and Star Systems, all held at Notre Dame High School.
Jazz team members include Arti Gollapudi, Brittany Mathes, Rachel Battino, Melissa Edwards, Beth Ferrante, Amanda Talbi, Katie Epstein, Alina Valero, Stephanie Mischell, Brittany Gerstenhaber, Katie Bazergui, Krista Merril, Michelle Long, Tara McGuiness, and Mira Bhatia.
Tap team members are Molly Supinski, Michelle Long, Tess Galen, and Sharlis Thompson. Lyrical team members are Stephanie Mischell, Tary McGuinnes, and Mira Bhatia.
Open auditions for teams will be held at Dance Spectrums, West Windsor, on Saturday, June 12. Call 609-799-9165 or visit www.dancespectrums.com for details and times.
On Broadway
Andrew Blake Zutty, a sixth grader at Community Middle School, is playing the role of Kicker in the cast of “”Children’s Letters to God,”” opening at the Lamb Theater later this month. The play begins previews on Saturday, June 19, opens on Wednesday, June 30, and runs through September 5.
The play, based on the bestselling book of the same title, has a five-member cast of children dealing with questions, desires, and beliefs based on actual letters from children. The 70-minute show is appropriate for all ages.
“”The youngest child (Kicker) is often picked on because of his small size, and he is also left back,”” says Andrew’s mother Jill Zutty. “”The play deals with the issues all kids go through in life.””
Lamb Theater is located at 130 West 44th Street, New York City. Tickets, all $35, are available through www.telecharge.com.
In School
Almost First
Community Middle School Science Olympiad Team won second place in the National Science Olympiad in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, at Juniata College. The team coaches are Virginia Baner, Denise Weber, and Morty Levine.
The CMS Panthers, competing against 54 of the best Science Olympiad teams in the nation, earned 14 medals in 27 events. The team brought home three gold medals, three silver medals, four bronze medals, two fourth place medals, one fifth place medal, and one sixth. The CMS team is the only team in the State of New Jersey to own a National Science Olympiad trophy. This is the second year in a row that the Panthers brought home a national trophy.
Ninth grade participants and their medals include Aileen Yan, medal in Road Scholar, bronze medal in Water Quality, seventh place in Process Skills for Life Science; Katherine Fu, bronze medal in Water Quality; Tiffany Jin, medal in Can’t Judge a Powder, fourth place medal in Picture This; Roger Zhang, bronze medal in Wright Stuff, fifth place medal in Metric Estimation; and Tomo Tamura, medal in Bridge, bronze medal in Wright Stuff.
Eighth grade participants include Anish Sarma, silver medal in Dynamic Planet, bronze medal in Meteorology; Priya Marathe, bronze medal in Meteorology; Monika Mostowy, bronze medal in forestry, sixth place medal in Write It, Do It, medal in Can’t Judge a Powder; Kathy Li, silver medal in Dynamic Planet, medal in Road Scholar, fourth place medal in Picture This.
Also, Peter Maa: fourth place medal in Picture This, fifth place medal in Metric Estimation, bronze medal in Fossils; Meagan Quinlan, fourth place in Get your Bearings; Sunanda Mishra; Tiffany Lee, medal in Bridge; Maria Zheng, bronze medal in Fossils, bronze medal in Forestry; and Isaac Cheng, silver medal in Compute This, seventh place in Awesome Aquifer.
Grade seven winners include Moya Chin, sixth place medal in Write it, Do It; Vicki Chang, silver medal in Compute This, seventh place in Awesome Aquifer; Jamie Joseph, 11th place in Mission Possible; Ryan Pais, 11th place in Mission Possible (alternate); David Goldfinger; Jonathan Kaufman, 11th place in Mission Possible (alternate); and Greg Doidge.
Grade six winners include Lekha Racharla, seventh place in Bottle Rocket; Gita Gnanadesilhan, fourth place in Get Your Bearings; and Greg Solak.
Changing of the Guard
Shannon Davis is leaving the West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South Marching Band after 10 years when she graduates from the school later this month. She worked her way up from holding the banner during parades and exhibitions to the drum major position during the past two years. She intends to be involved in bands and ensembles at East Carolina University in North Carolina in the fall.
Daniel Blum, a sophomore, and Michael Bond, a freshman, assume the position of drum majors of the Pirate Band beginning with summertime rehearsals.
Spanish Awards
Two West Windsor students from Chapin School recently won awards for achievement in foreign language. Chris Tenev and Julie Elkin, seventh grade students, received awards for excelling in Spanish.
Community Service
Katie Merriman of West Windsor participated in Peddie School’s PROJECT: What If?, a theater improv troupe dedicated to community service. The 16 students adapt popular children’s stories into sketches that include singing and dancing. They recently took their production of Peter Pan on the road, performing at schools in East Windsor, Hightstown, and Manalapan. They invite their young audiences to bring canned goods to the shows, which the members then deliver to Trenton Area Soup Kitchen.
“”We love performing for kids of all ages and using improv as a way of connecting with a variety of different audiences,”” says Merriman, one of the directors who graduated from Peddie on Sunday, May 30. “”We try to make our shows fun, funny, and participatory. We love to see kids smile and laugh, but at the same time, we also enjoy connecting our shows with lessons, values, and morals.””
Trip to Canada
French teachers Diane Chiocca and Jamie Micallef traveled to Quebec City with eighth grade students from Grover Middle School. The students had a total immersion cultural experience, interacting with local citizens, ordering food in French, and learning how to use Canadian currency .
“”I felt very special and knowledgeable when I spoke French to the locals,”” said Gabrielle Stemper-Young. “”I learned some new words and phrases by listening to them have daily conversations.””
The students visited the Canyon Saint Aunne and Montmorency Falls and inereacted with other students speaking French during an evening cruise down the St. Lawrence River.
“”Seeing all of the sights from an up-close and personal perspective was truly amazing,”” said student Julia Levy.
Musical Awards
Peddie musicians won awards in a two-day competition at the Festivals of Excellence competition in Williamsburg, Virginia. They took first place in every division they entered and received superior and excellent ratings. West Windsor and Plainsboro students on the trip included Bridget Bagel, John Kotsinonos, Kristie Layne, Chris Lee, Elizabeth Mendez, Katie Merriman, and Ricardo Sinicio-Tessarotto. Merriman, a senior, also received a National School Choral Award.
First Place
On April 2, The News reported that Dutch Neck School raised $4,”383.24 through their Pennies for Patients fundraiser, which they donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. “”The student-run project is an example of how our children think beyond the walls of this school,”” says guidance counselor Nancy Dunne. “”They collected this money as one small way to help others in need.””
The school has just learned that it has won first prize in the state and a $500 gift certificate to purchase school supplies for collecting more than the other 250 schools in southern and central New Jersey. More than $140,”000 was raised by the schools.
Science Awards
West Windsor-Plainsboro faculty members Beth Eaves and Sharon Zubricky received Princeton University Sigma Xi awards. Sigma Xi, a community of scientists, assists teachers in understanding science and help foster communication between the scientific community and school districts.
Eaves, a fourth grade teacher at Millstone River School, is building science coordinator and an E=MC2 lead teacher. A master teacher, she presents workshops on science pedagogy and the New Jersey State Core Standards. She has also been instrumental in developing the content unit, “”What is Life?””
Zubricky, a computer technology teacher, is also at an E=MC2 teacher at Millstone. She teaches “”Power Point”” in the E=MC2 Institute on Assessment and Technology with a focus on helping teachers incorporate technology into classrooms. Instrumental in the continuous successes of the E=MC2 program, she has been with the program since its inception in 1996.
Sigma Xi, founded in 1886 as an honor society for science and engineering, is now an international research society whose programs promote the health of the scientific enterprise and honor scientific achievement.
German Honors
Many students from both High School North and High School South were inducted into the New Jersey Epsilon Mu chapter of the National German Honor Society. The ceremony was held at High School South on May 28. German teachers Ute Dine from High Schools North and South, and Anne Marie Waidelich from Grover Middle School presided at the induction.
From High School South: Clara Bracke, Samantha Crist, Greg Curtis, Arianne Freuler, Leah Gould, Stephanie Kuhn, Christopher Lutz, Christine Macken, Vanja Pejovic, Sean Polun, Nora Wong, and Kristen Zahn.
From High School North: Ana Bacic, Curran Bhatia, James Burns, Su (Eric) Chen, Elizabeth Ferrante, Christina Foerstner, Benoit Mermoud, John Plumeri, Alexander Ragucci, Rebecca Sidor, and Stephen Smagula.
Caring Award
Scott Mansfield received the 2004 Caring award from the Mercer County Professional Counselors Association. He is a second grade student at Wicoff School. The youngest of three brothers, Scott is always ready to lend a hand.
On the Stage
Daisy Hager of West Windsor, an eighth grade student at the Waldorf School, appeared in a production of “”The House of the Four Temperaments.”” She played the role of a member of the choleric household.
New Graduate
Mary Kathryn Pidgeon of Plainsboro graduated from the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, May 29. Assistant captain of the varsity girls’ cross country team, she earned second team Prep All-state Honors and was awarded the Hill School Athletic Award for Cross Country. A member of the varsity girls’ outdoor track team, she ran on distance medley and relay teams that set Hill School records. She was also on the girls’ varsity ice hockey team, copy editor of the yearbook, and a member of the French and Republican clubs. During the summer of 2002, she studied in Paris with the Choate Rosemary Hall School.
Around Town
Indian Dancing
Pooja Mehta of Plainsboro performs Arangetram, her dance debut of Indian Classical Dance on Sunday, June 27, at a private function. A student of Bharatnatyam style of dance, she has studied for close to 10 years. At the completion of the program, she can officially teach Indian Classical dances.
Pooja, 14, inherited her love of dance from her mother and dance teacher, Shilpa Mehta. Pooja received her dance training at Payal Dancing School in Plainsboro.
An honor student in ninth grade at High School North, she has been a student ambassador of People to People tour to the United Kingdom. She has been a volunteer for Indian Senior Citizens Club in South Jersey and has been an assistant dance teacher and choreographer at Payal Dancing School.
Her latest activity is serving as a working director of the new venture, “”Teen-Connect,”” an online magazine for teenagers of Indian origin across the United States.
Math Award
Arthur E. Schwartz of West Windsor was awarded the New Jersey Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics for 2004 at the Mathematical Association of American’s annual spring meeting at Rutgers University in March.
He has taught at Mercer College for 35 years including 20 years as chairman of the math department. His special area of interest is differential equations, which he studied through a mid-career fellowship at Princeton University six years ago.
Schwartz was president of the MCCC Faculty Association for 15 years and has been the chief negotiator for 30 years. A graduate of the College of New Jersey, he received his master’s degree from Rutgers University.
College
Honors
Loyola College: Kristen M. Castellano earned dean’s list for both semesters of her sophomore year. She is a finance major in the Sellinger Scholar Business Honors Program where she recently received the “”Excellence in Core Courses Award.”” In July, she leaves for a five-month program to study business in Australia through Loyola’s Study Abroad Program.
Rochester Institute of Technology: Veronica Reo, West Windsor, dean’s list for the fall and winter quarters. A senior in the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences, she is studying advertising photography. She is a graduate of Blair Academy.
Rutgers University: Cherise Krug, West Windsor, dean’s list fro the fall term. She majors in philosophy and English.
Virginia Tech: Jeffrey Meisch, West Windsor, dean’s list.
Westminster Choir College: Carly Rapaport-Stein, West Windsor, placed second in the annual voice competition held by the New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She is a voice performance major.
Graduations
Boston College: Andrew Harrington Dix, bachelor of arts, WWPHS, Class of 2000. A five semester member of the dean’s list and a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, he studied abroad in Paris and completed his senior thesis this spring. In September, he will attend the University of Chicago where he is a master of arts candidate in Ancient Near-Eastern studies.
New York University: Michael Vecchione, West Windsor, graduated magna cum laude. He is also on the dean’s list and in Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.
Syracuse University: Kristen Pilkiewicz, West Windsor, graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences with a bachelor’s degree in biology.
Villanova University: Katherine D. Amenta of West Windsor graduated magna cum laude. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and was vice president of Lambda Pi Eta (the national communication honor society). A member of the dean’s list, she was features editor of “”The Villanovan,”” Villanova’s weekly newspaper.
College of William and Mary: Richard Marc Johnson of West Windsor, a graduate of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, Class of 2000, received the James Frederic Carr Memorial Cup. President of the senior class, he graduated with high honors with a double major in government and music. A Monroe Scholar, he is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Mortar Board.
Engagement
Amanda Elizabeth Kelleher and Marc Stephen Buchner are planning a June wedding. He is the son of Stephen and Christine Buchner of Plainsboro. A graduate of the Peddie School, he received his bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University.
She is the daughter of Moira Prout Kelleher of Boston. A graduate of St. Michale College, she received a master’s in education in athletic training at Plymouth State College.
Both are employed at the New Hampshire School in New Hampton, New Hampshire.
Births
The University Medical Center at Princeton has announced the following births:
A daughter was born to Plainsboro residents Lisa and Edward Sandstrand, May 24; Sunandha and Anand Sreeram, May 28; and Weiyi Xin and Haiying Jiang, June 2.
Sons were born to Plainsboro residents Ragini Sama and Premendhar Nandyala, May 25; and Diane and Michael Mistretta, June 2.
A son was born to West Windsor residents Kimberlee and Brian Holleran, May 20.
Deaths
Martha Kramer Cox, died at her home in Mitchellville, Maryland on May 24. Survivors include a daughter, Bonnie Ann Cox, of West Windsor. Donations may be made to Collington Fellowship, c/o Residents Association Fund, Collington, 10450 Lottsford Road, Mitchellville, Maryland 20721.
Carl Geiger, 90, of Mantoloking, died May 25 at Meridian Hospice Care of Ocean Medical Center, Brick. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Bill Sudia; and granddaughter, BriAnne Sudia, all of Plainsboro. Donations may be made to Meridian Hospice, 4900 Route 33, Suite 200, Neptune 07753.
Allen M. Dokovna, 61, of West Windsor, died May 27 at the Merwick Center in Princeton. Funeral services were held May 28. Arrangements were by Riverside Memorial Chapel in Ewing.
Peggy Kacsur, 65, of Whitehall, died May 31 in the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Survivors include her son David J. Kacsur of Plainsboro. Donations may be made to Dream Come True, Box 21167, Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania 18002.
Marion Davison Schenck, 86, died at her home in Beachwood, on May 31. Born in Cranbury, she taught in the West Widnsor School system for 32 years. A graduate of Trenton State Teacher’s College, she received a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education. Donations may be made to the Union Church of Seaside Park, Central Avenue, Seaside Park, or the City of Hope. 30 West 26th Street, #301, New York, New York 10010.
John S. Bittner, 21, of Yardley, Pennsylvania, died on June 1 in Ewing Township. He was employed by Schlumberger in West Windsor.
Albert A. Chato, 87, of Hamilton, died June 2 at Compassionate Care Hospice in Trenton. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and Larris Lee of West Windsor. Donations may be made to either Princeton Home Care Services, 208 Bunn Drive, Princeton 08540, or to Compassionate Care Hospice, 601 Hamilton Avenue, Trenton 08629.
James Nelson Gould, 60, of West Windsor, died June 3 in St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York City. During a fall near Times Square, he hit his head on a parked van and became unconscious. New York City police report that he was taken to Saint Vincent’s Hospital, where he died less than an hour later.
Born in Hempstead, New York, he lived in West Windsor since 1988. He was a United States Army veteran.
Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Barbara Prevosto Gould; a son and daughter-in-law, Robert W. and Robin Gould of Highland Park, Illinois; a daughter, Lynn M. Gould of Arlington, Virginia; and a granddaughter, Rebecca Gould.
The funeral, services at Saint Paul’s Church, and burial in Princeton Cemetery, were on June 8.
William A. Schwing, 72, of West Windsor, died June 6 at his home. Born in Rochester, New York, he lived in West Windsor for 35 years. A television producer and executive, he retired after 30 years. He also coached sports.
Survivors include his wife Louise M. Nemitz Schwing; a daughter and son-in-law, Tracey and J.B. Sugar of West Windsor; two sons and daughters-in-law, William and Kelly Schwing of Plainsboro, and Keith and Jennifer Schwing of Robbinsville; a brother and sister-in-law, Roger and Donna Schwing of Lawrenceville; a sister, Betty Bremer of Rochester, New York; and two grandchildren, Elizabeth and Julie Sugar, both of West Windsor.
Funeral services were held at Trinity Church on June 9.
