Ansonia Middle School awards prizes at commencement

ANSONIA – Commencement prizes were awarded to Ansonia Middle School eighth graders during a program June 9 in the Ansonia Middle School auditorium. 

They were:

Ansonia Middle School Prize, for outstanding scholastic achievement, to the highest ranking graduates: Jere Mae Pintacasi and Anna Msciwujewska.

Ansonia Federation of Teachers Local 1012 Prize, for highest average in algebra: Jere Mae Pintacasi and William Kaye. 

Ansonia Administrators’ Organization Award, for highest average in language arts: Jere Mae Pintacasi and Maliqa Mosley-Williams. 

Ansonia Middle School Principals’ Award, for special recognition: Felicia Tillotson and Nikola Jaworska.

Ansonia Middle School Science Prize, for outstanding achievement: Rachel Bendkowski and William Kaye.

Raymond Steeves Award, for most improved in academics and citizenship: Madison
Boylan and Jeremiah DeJesus.

Walter Richter Memorial Award, given by Hilltop Hose Co. #5, for outstanding effort: Debra-Lynne Morales and Tabitha Kinney.

Seymour “Bob” Spanier Memorial Awards, given by Hilltop Hose Co. #5, for improvement in math and volunteerism: Jontea Hargrove and Kierstan LaRue

Knights of Columbus - Holy Rosary Council Award, for the most motivated and conscientious: Faiza Chowdhury and Joseph Mongillo.

Ansonia American Legion Post 50 Award, for good citizenship, patriotism and spirit: Ryanne Thomas  and Remy Hurd.

Ansonia Middle School Awards, for outstanding achievement: Gina Beattie and Konrad Czerwonka (art); Jere Mae Pintacasi of Remi Hurd (music); Ian Gifford and Lexi Brinkman (P.E.); Darlene Veloz and Julie LaPrade (health); and Lizette Hershaft and Marissa Rosado (consumer technology).

Bright Lights Musicals, LLC award, for outstanding drama students: Antonella Mazzacco and Dianna Perez-Santana.

ESL Award, for greatest improvement and effort in the study of English: Kynowshka Figueroa-Mojica and Alper Arslan.

AMS Social Studies Prize: Rachel Chapman and Anna Msciwujewska.

AMS Math Prize: Ian Gifford and Emma Brown.

AMS Spanish Prize, for outstanding achievement in a foreign language: Angie Sandoval-Gonzalez and William Kaye.

Thelma Komisar Award, for greatest improvement in Reading: Brianna Casson and Lavaisha Williams.

Julian Taylor Awards, for top African American students on each team: Hawa Camara and Maliqa Mosley-Williams.

Ernest M. Grant Memorial Scholarship Award, to the second highest ranking African-American girl and boy on each team: Jontea Hargrove and Isaiah Hicks; and Starletta Smith and Isaiah Taylor.

Congratulations to all the awardees!

Ansonia Middle School holds commencement for 190 eighth grade students

Top 2 graduates announced at ceremony

Congratulations to Jere Mae Pintacasi, left, and Anna Msciwujewska, top graduates of Ansonia Middle School. / Contributed photo

ANSONIA – A total of 190 eighth grade students participated in a Commencement Program at Ansonia Middle School June 9 in the auditorium. 

The program was followed by a reception for students and their families.

Co-Principals Amy O’Brien and Terri Goldson also announced the top two graduates of the class: Jere Mae Pintacasi of Team 8-East, who gave the welcoming address, and Anna Msciwujewska of Team 8-West, who delivered the history of the class. 

Jere Mae, daughter of Jeremy and Laksmi Pintacasi, is a member of the National Junior Honor Society, the AMS Yearbook Committee, and the Human Relations Club. 

She participated in the Regional Spelling Bee and has earned high honors for the past six years. In the community, she has volunteered at the Derby Neck Library, takes piano classes and enjoys reading and writing. 

Her advice to the incoming eighth grade class is to “always get yourself involved in the school [and] never be afraid to try something new.” 

Jere Mae will be attending Ansonia High School next year and is considering pursuing a career in the medical field.

Anna, daughter of Ewa and Wojtek Msciwujewska, is a member of the National Junior Honor Society and has been a Student of the Month at AMS. In the community, she has volunteered for St. Joseph Church at its bingo events and food drives. She also assisted in food drives sponsored by AMS. Anna also enjoys playing soccer, basketball and volleyball. Her advice to the incoming eighth grade class is: “Be yourself and don’t let anyone tell you [that] you can’t do something because you have the power to do anything.” Anna plans to attend Ansonia High next year and is considering a career in the medical field.

Other speakers during the commencement included Ryanne Thomas, who led the Pledge of Allegiance; Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carol Merlone; and Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti. 

Jere Mae and Maliqa Mosley-Williams announced the yearbook dedication to teacher Jordan Bshara.

One hundred six students earned gold seals for earning grades of 85% or higher throughout the year. An asterisk before their names indicates those students:

*Bianca Isabella Abad, *Branden Rafael Acosta, *Kenneth Adolfo Amaya Ramos, Justice Tyler Antrum, *Alper Arslan, *Jakalynn M. Badillo, *Ashmal Rehan Baig, Jahad Banton, Kyle Douglas Barone, *Gina Marie Beattie, Hailey Marie Bellido, *Rachel Elizabeth Bendkowski, *Nicholas Robert Benoit, Zyel Carlos Bernabe, *Alicha Rosemarie Bernard, *Selena Bishara, *Kyana Bispat, *Jack Edward Boland, *Idalyz Bordoy, Lawrence David Boutwell, *Madison Rose Boylan, *Lexi Mychaela Brinkmann, *Emma Marie Brown, *Brixhilda Bujaj, *Anaisa Burgos, *Haneefah Burrell, *Garrett E. Cafaro, *Tyler L. Cafaro, *Hawa Souleya Camara, *Alyssa Ann Cammarata, Alexander Carlos Capeles, *Jayda-Lynne Cardiff, Briana Marie Casson, *Stefanie Catale, *Rachel Lynne Chapman, Devin G. Childs, *Faiza Chowdhury, Andrew William Clark, Jasmin Lynn Cole, Angelina Collado, *Shawn Michael Conklin, *Joseph H. Cortez, *Austin Gregory Couture, *Wesley Stewart Couture, *Nadia Coward, *Konrad Michal Czerwonka.

*Gianni DeCiucis, Jeremiah Sigfredo DeJesus, Jahzir Denby, Jonathan R. Diamond, *Janeliz Michelle Diaz, Amir Sakai Dina, *Elijah Denyn Ellis, *Tamia Adrianna Esson, Nikayla Christiana Evans, *Skylar Dawn Evans, *Laura Eye, Damien Alexander Fagan, *Kynowshka Figueroa-Mojica, *Sara Rosemary Frashuer, Teniya Gandy, *Pamela Garcia, Genesis L. Gaulin, Gabrielle Lynn Gavin, *Ian R. Gifford, *Makayla Godfrey, *Nadia Anyssa Gomes-Araujo, *Jose Gonzalez, *Manuel Gonzalez, Daniel Gorham, Travis Mustasa Gray, *Mayaliah Barrientos Gutierrez, Manuel Antonio Guzman, Christian Haddad, *Talliaya Hamilton, Jontea Hargrove, Shykeem Harmon, Kayleigh Hedley, Carlos L Hernandez, Mikayla E. Hernandez, *Lizette Monica Herrschaft, *Isaiah Naji Hicks, Corey Alexander Andrew Hooks, *David A. Hudak, *Remy Violety Hurd.

Ronnie Michael James, *Nikola Jaworska, *Haylee Ann Monsella Jett, *William Thomas Kaye, *Tabitha Carol Kinney, *Busra Nur Koc, Nicholas Krom-Kirby, *Julie LaPrade, *Kaitlyn LaRiviere, *Kiersten LaRue, *Evan Joseph Laskey, *Brian Vu Le, Kadence Nicole Leidy, Emmanuel Tomas Lopez, Juan Luis Lopez, *Matthew Joshua Lundeen, *Damian Lyman, Bryan Magana, *Gabriel Magarin, Evan Malerba, Alexia Marie Maraday, *Adiana Joy Marenyi, Destiney Marquez, Justin Marrero, *Idalisse Martinez, *Antonella Mazzacco, Jasmine Nicole McSweeney, Solmarie Melendez, *Alan Mercado, David Michaud, *Kiani Ariyah Michel, *Cheyenne Brooke Mitchell-Robinson, *Ashanti Moales, *Joseph John Mongillo, *Debra-Lynne Morales, *Maliqa Kris-Tina Mosley-Williams, *Anna Msciwujewska, *Isabella Mulas, *Trinity Nguyen, *Emily Marie Ocampo-Caballero.

This is a press release from Ansonia Public Schools.

Ansonia High School seniors awarded prizes at graduation

ANSONIA – The following graduation prizes were announced during commencement exercises June 9 for Ansonia High School Class of 2016:

CLASS OF 1940 AWARD: Ryan Amato

THE MICHAEL J. ADANTI MEMORIAL COMMUNITY FUND: Mary Louis Medero

THE CARL R. AJELLO PRIZE: Alyssa Orlofsky

RONALD J. ALDO MEMORIAL AWARD: Nicholas Krajewski

AMERICAN LEGION POST #50 PRIZE: Rhianna Bennett

THE JOSEPH “JAY” AMICO ARTISTIC MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND: Rebecca Kardos and Aaron Minopoli

THE ANSONIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, LOCAL 1012: Deesaveit Kim

ANSONIA HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY AND STAFF PRIZE: Oscar Monteagudo

ANSONIA HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY AND STAFF CHARGER FOREVER AWARD:

Matthew Madar

ANSONIA HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL’S AWARD:  Jake Palmieri

ANSONIA HIGH SCHOOL PARENT-TEACHER-STUDENT ORGANIZATION AWARD: William Phipps, Martin Mikos and Joseph Szewczyk  

ANSONIA ROD & GUN CLUB: Alexandria Miller and James Stewart 

ANSONIA ROTARY CLUB SCHOLARSHIP:  Haley Arruda

VALLEY REALTORS ASSOCIATION PRIZE: Truc Minh Nguyen and Matthew Madar

ASSUMPTION HOME-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION: Delaney Wisnewski and Juan Sandoval

THE JOHN F. BLAKE, JR. MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Matthew Madar  

THE ROBERT BLOUIN/AFT SPANISH PRIZE: Lewis Michael

THE RACHAEL and WILL BROGADIER PRIZE: Sash-Shawnna Rubie  & Aaron Minopoli

JOHN COUGHLIN MEMORIAL PRIZE: Michael Caple

THE ALFRED R. COX, AHS GRIDIRON MEMORIAL PRIZE: Frank DeLibro

JOHN SMOLEN DANIELSKY BUSINESS AWARD: Eldi Shahini

THE FRANK ERLINGHEUSER MEMORIAL AWARD: Ryan Amato

THE WILLIAMS EVANS SR. MEMORIAL AWARD:  Michael Caple

THE SALVATORE FERLA MEMORIAL AWARD:  Catherine Ashelford

THE RUTH H. FEINBERG CONNORS PRINCIPAL'S  AWARD: Alyssa Orlofsky

MAJOR FRANK H. & MARY ALICE FERDIAN MEMORIAL PRIZE: Jake Palmieri

THE ANNA MAY FINNUCAN AWARD: Marlia Maiolo

THE ANN MARIE GLENN MEMORIAL AWARD: Rebecca Pimenta

THE NANCY CROWLEY GOLINO MEMORIAL PRIZE: William Phipps 

THE PETER S. GOUMAS PRESIDENTIAL AWARD: Jake Palmieri

ARTHUR GRAY, AHS GRIDIRON CLUB AWARD: Arthur DeLibro

THE COACH JOHN HUNT MEMORIAL PRIZE: Tyler Bailey

THE CHARLES J. "BOOTS" JARVIS PRIZE: Tyler Bailey

THE DENNIS KELLER MEMORIAL AWARD: Michael Rhodes

JOHN KEVALIS MEMORIAL AWARD: Austin Turecek

A.C. KING  MEMORIAL AWARD: Kayla Duncan

WINIFRED BENNETT KERINS MEMORIAL PRIZE: Eldi Shahini and Erika Poremba

THE RUSSELL & JOANNE KILEY KULAWIZ FUND: Martin Mikos

THE CLASS OF ’52 ROBERT A. KYASKY & JOHN W. SHORTELL PRIZE: Rorey Lawlor

CLASS OF 1990 – SHANNON RENKER LELACHEUR MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP:

Truc Nguyen

THE PATRICK MACNAMARA MEMORIAL PRIZE:  Arthur DeLibro and Jake Palmieri

IRENE MCALLISTER MEMORIAL PRIZE: Oscar Monteagudo

NYAH MARCANO and LEAH RONDON MEMORIAL AWARD: Taylor Healey

MISS ANSONIA SOFTBALL LEAGUE AWARD:  Taylor Healey

NORWOODS ATHLETIC CLUB SCHOLARSHIP: Arthur DeLibro and Frank DeLibro

ANN O’NEIL AWARD: Matthew Madar

THE PATRICIA ANN PANITZ MEMORIAL AWARD: Grady Lawlor

THE ANTHONY PICCOLO – BOY WHO GAVE IT ALL – MEMORIAL AWARD:

William Phipps

THE ANTHONY PICCOLO – GIRL WHO CAME TO PLAY – MEMORIAL AWARD:

Gabrielle Belenchia

THE ANTHONY PICCOLO – INSPIRATION – MEMORIAL AWARD: Tyrell McCall

THE JOSEPH E. POTTER MEMORIAL AWARD: Lewis Michael and Haley Arruda 

THE JOHN QUAKE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Ashley Velleco

THE DUSTY RHODES MEMORIAL AWARD: Cody O’Brien

THE CHARLEEN RICCIO MEMORIAL PRIZE:  Alexandria Miller

THE V. GERARD RYAN SCHOLARSHIP: Taylor Healey

THE JOHN A. SABULIS, PINE CLASS OF 1944, MEMORIAL AWARD: Michael Caple

EDITH SCHOONMAKER MEMORIAL PRIZE: Serena Bellamy  

THE DOROTHY SHORTELL MEMORIAL AWARD: Gabrielle Belenchia

MATTHEW “POP SHORTELL”, AHS GRIDIRON CLUB ATHLETIC AWARD: Grady Lawlor

THE LUBA SOLDRA MEMORIAL GRADUATION PRIZE: Alyssa Orlofsky

THE MARY HAUSSLER SOUKUP MEMORIAL ART AWARD: Michael Spinelli

THE JEANNE SOVINSKI MEMORIAL AWARD:  Adrielle Sanon

JULIAN A. TAYLOR MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP:  Adreeana Cox

MINNIE TOLLES SCHOLARSHIP: Courtney Goncalo

THE GEORGE VARTELAS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: William Phipps  

THE PETER VARTELAS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP:  Dennis Ballester

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP: Amanda Chirsky

JAMES WILKINS LODGE #9 GRADUATION PRIZE: Carolina Espinosa

THE YUDKIN FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP: Dennis Ballester, Brandon Benoit, Joesph Szewczyk, Adreeana Cox, Truc Nguyen, Matthew Madar, Rebecca Vives,  Austin Turecek

THE ALBERT J. & BARBARA  YURAVICH MEMORIAL AWARD:  Jake Palmieri

THE ROBERT E. ZURAW SCHOLARSHIP AWARD:  Johneil Clark

THE STEPHEN F. ZURAW MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP:   Arthur DeLibro

ECMC SCHOLARSHIPS: Akire Gaines, Alexandria Miller, David Perez, Jude Aquila, Moazzam Ashraf, Thai Slauson, Tyler Bailey, and Weethney Marsielle.



This is a press release from Ansonia Public Schools.

Ansonia mayor, state lawmakers award wartime service medals to 32 veterans

Recognition ceremony held at Ansonia Armory

State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco

ANSONIA - State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr. (D-Woodbridge) recently helped award Connecticut Veterans Wartime Service Medals to 32 military veterans from Beacon Falls, Bethany, Woodbridge, Ansonia, and Derby as part of his ongoing commitment to recognizing the service and sacrifice of Connecticut’s fighting men and women.

Crisco helped award medals to veterans from Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other conflicts during a 90-minute ceremony at the Ansonia Armory. 

He was joined by state Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti, and state Department of Veterans’ Affairs Commissioner Sean Connolly.

“We are the land of the free because we are the home of the brave, and because of all the sacrifices you have made for our freedom,” Crisco told a crowd of veterans and their family members. 

“We will never forget your sacrifice; it never gets old, and we thank you eternally.”

“Honoring Connecticut’s wartime veterans is the right thing to do,” Gentile said. “Recognizing these heroes for their sacrifices is an expression of our gratitude.  They put their lives on the line in service to the United States and Connecticut. I am happy to be part of today’s award ceremony.” 

The Connecticut Veterans Wartime Service Medal was created by the state legislature in 2005 to honor all Connecticut veterans with qualifying wartime military service. 

Prior to 2005, the state had not honored its veterans with a wartime service medal since World War I.

For a Wartime Service Medal application, please visit:

http://www.ct.gov/ctva/cwp/view.asp?a=1992&q=313194

For a gallery of photos from the Ansonia event, and a video, please visit:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ctsenatedems/sets/72157666896485794/

http://youtu.be/Ixsj2QO3z9c

This is a press release from Crisco's office.