Ansonia High School's Top 10 students in Class of 2018. / Contributed photo
ANSONIA - Stephanie Umeugo is valedictorian of the Class of 2018 at Ansonia High School, Interim Principal Sara Crooks has announced. Stephanie and the rest of the Top 10 students of the class were honored June 6 at a banquet hosted by the Ansonia Board of Education at the high school.
In addition, they led their classmates during the commencement exercises June 18 in the Thomas McQueeney Gymnasium at AHS.
Nearly all of the top 10 students have earned 20 or more college credits by completing several college-level courses offered by Ansonia High School, and most of the students are going to potentially earn up to 26 more college credits for courses they recently completed.
With each course ranging in value from $608 to $3,738 and higher, many of the top 10 graduates may potentially save over $30,000 thanks to courses taken at AHS.
The completed courses taken by the majority of the Top 10 include these Advanced Placement courses: Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, Language and Composition, and U.S. History.
Students have also taken advantage of numerous other courses, including Physics I and II, Calculus, Computer Science, Modern Western Traditions, Digital Electronics, Art III, Accounting, and Psychology.
Many college-level courses are offered as a result of a partnership with the University of New Haven, UConn, and HCC (Housatonic Community College).
Stephanie C. Umeugo, valedictorian, is the daughter of Ikechukwu and Ijeoma Umeugo, and she is a leader in many academic and scholastic activities. She is president of the National Honor Society, vice president Student Ambassadors, and an executive board member with the Valley United Way School Volunteer Council. Stephanie is a member of Future Business Leaders of America, the Human Relations Club, the Yearbook committee, and the Cooperative International Studies Program. She has been a Julian Taylor Award recipient, is a PSAT Scholar and an SAT Scholar. She has volunteered in a mentoring program and was a volunteer at Yale-New Haven Hospital for two summers. Stephanie has helped at community events, such as planning book drives, promoting literacy with younger children, and helping to raise awareness for terminal illnesses. Stephanie has earned 26 college credits from numerous UConn and AP courses, and she is awaiting the results from several other courses that could add 21 more credits to her transcripts.
She will be majoring as a Physician Assistant at Quinnipiac University in the fall.
Yao Dong son of Yu Hua Tiang and Hui Dong, is salutatorian. Yao is a member of the National Honor Society and the AV Club at AHS. He has earned 33 college credits and is awaiting the results from three courses that could add 15 more credits. He will major in Computer Science at the College of William and Mary in Virginia.
Victoria Ortega, the daughter of Jenny Ortega and Winston Ortega, is ranked third.
She is the historian for the National Honor Society, president of the National Art Honor Society and captain of the volleyball team. Victoria is a member of the Global Scholars Club, is a Sikorsky Credit Union intern at AHS and is an SAT Scholar. In the community, she is a candy striper volunteer at Griffin Hospital and has volunteered for American Red Cross blood drives, Read Across America and Pennies for Cancer. She is a graduate of the University of New Haven Gen Cyber Agent Academy and is the logo contest winner for the CT Police Chief’s Association. Victoria has earned 21 college credits and has taken additional courses that could provide 16 more credits. She will be majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Robotics at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
Jesse Brookins, son of Frank Brookins and Barbara Brookins, is fourth in his class.
Jesse is a member of the National Honor Society and Global Scholars Club. He has earned 22 college credits and may earn an additional 26 from courses taken this year. Jesse will be majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in the fall.
Benjamin Jesulaitis, son of Frances Jesulaitis and Eric Jesulaitis, is fifth in his class.
Ben is a member of the National Honor Society, the Human Relations Club, Student Government, the Drama Club and the AV Club. He is an SAT Scholar and recipient of the Spanish Excellence Award.
In the community, Ben works at Rite Aid, has volunteered for the Ron Foley Run, and participated in Bright Light Musicals for four years. Ben has earned six college credits for AP courses and may earn four more. He will major in Mathematics and minor in Education at Stony Brook University in New York.
Katherine Wojcik, daughter of Malgorzata and Miroslaw Wojcik, is ranked sixth.
Vice-President of her class, Katherine is also co-president of the Human Relations Club, vice president of the National Honor Society and treasurer of the Student Ambassadors club. She is a member of the Global Scholars Club, Future Business Leaders of America and the United Way High School Volunteer Council. She is an SAT Scholar.
In the community, she has participated in the Valley United Way Youth Leadership Program, where she served as vice president, is a volunteer CCD teacher on Sundays at St. Joseph’s Parish and a lector on Sundays. She has volunteered in a mentoring program at John G. Prendergast School and at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Katherine has earned 26 college credits and may earn at least 20 more for courses completed this year.
This fall, she will major in business at SCSU, in the honors college.
Joshua Rodrigues, son of Jazmin Benavides, is ranked seventh.
Treasurer of the National Honor Society and vice president of the Global Scholars club, Josh is a Sikorsky Credit Union intern at AHS and a CAPT Scholar. In the community, he has completed more than 100 hours of volunteer service at Griffin Hospital and 50 additional hours at a variety of community programs. Joshua has earned 21 credits and can potentially earn another 20 for courses taken this year. He will be majoring in Chemical Engineering at Cornell University in the fall.
Dr. Carol Merlone, Superintendent of Schools, conducted an interview with Joshua in early June.
The interview can be viewed on YouTube, https://youtu.be/6Zl686EG-Wk.
Elizabeth Cavanaugh, daughter of Melissa and Steve Cavanaugh, is eighth in her class.
She is a member of the After School Chorus, Drama Club and the National Honor Society. An SAT Scholar, she was selected as a winner of the CT Association of Public School Superintendent’s Award this year. In the community, Elizabeth is active in the Reclaim Christian Church, where she has volunteered in the church nursery, as a member of the church praise team, and with the sports camp. Elizabeth will major in Chemical Engineering at the University of New Haven.
Tamarrah Haynes, daughter of Yvonne Gonzalez, is ranked ninth.
She is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish National Honor Society. In the community, Tamarrah has been a volunteer for Hope for the Warriors and is an Ansonia Pop Warner Cheerleading coach and co-coordinator. She has earned 18 credits and may earn an additional 12 from courses taken this year.
Tamarrah will be attending St. John’s University in the fall.
Kelly Zarka, daughter of Kenneth and Martha Zarka, is ranked 10th.
She is a president of the Class of 2018 and captain of the Softball and Volleyball teams. She is co-president of the Human Relations Club and a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and the Global Scholars Club. In the community, Kelly volunteers at the Church of the Assumption and works at Rita’s Italian Ice. Kelly has earned 10 college credits and may earn another 12 this year.
She will major in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Rhode Island.
This is a press release from Ansonia Public Schools.
Congratulations and best wishes!
