174 graduate from Ansonia Middle School

Ansonia Middle School's top two graduates are Kendyl
Auddino, left, and Michael Szewczyk./ Submitted photo

ANSONIA - A total of 174 eighth grade students participated in a Commencement Program at Ansonia Middle School June 12 in the Richard Nicolari Auditorium. 
The program was followed by a reception for students and their families. 

Interim Principal Dr. Michael Marotto announced the top two graduates of the class: Michael Szewczyk of Team 8-East, who delivered the future history of the class, and Kendyl Auddino of Team 8-West, who gave the welcoming address. 

Michael, son of Myra and Peter Szewczyk, is a member of the National Junior Honor Society at AMS. In the community, he volunteers at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, where he helps to feed the animals, and he has helped out by cleaning the Riverwalk. Michael is a member of the Ansonia U-14 soccer team. He has also been a member of Boy Scout Troop 3 for several years and plans to actively participate in Boy Scouts until he attains the rank of Eagle Scout. Michael’s advice to next year’s eighth graders is to “work hard and enjoy middle school while it lasts.” He will be attending Ansonia High School in the fall and is interested in the finance field. 

Kendyl, daughter of Michael and Lisa Auddino, is also a member of the National Junior Honor Society at AMS. She has been a Student of the Month and was a member of the Yearbook Club. In the community, she has worked at a fundraiser for Emmett O’Brien School and volunttered for the St. Joseph’s carnival. 
She enjoys swimming, reading, painting and coloring and walking her dog, Andre. Her advice to the incoming Grade 8 class is, “Do your work and keep your grades up. Pay attention to your teachers and listen to them. At the same time, have fun. These years go by fast. Cherish the memories and friendships you make. Most important, give respect to get respect.” 

Kendyl will attend Emmett O’Brien Technical High School next year, and she is interested in becoming a pediatrician.

Other speakers during the commencement included Aiya Chahid, who led the Pledge of Allegiance; Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carol Merlone; and Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti. Lisa Marie Shehada announced the yearbook dedication to eighth grade social studies teacher Roger Daigle.

Eighty-five students earned gold seals for earning grades of 85 percent or higher throughout the year. An asterisk before their names indicates those students:

Anastasia Alvarez, *William Joel Amaya, *Zachary Anderson, *Colin Arnold, Iyona Makayla Arocho, *Kendyl Nicole Auddino, Zachary Baillargeon, Martina Lynn Beattie, *Eric Belko, Jacob M. Belko, Christopher Belko, Kyle Berger, *Reign Ayanna Bernard, *Rodney A. Betances, *Jahzara K. Bey, *Matthew John Blackwell, *Anastazia Maria Bogen, *Andrew John Bosworth, *Nickolas Lee Boutwell, Alandaisa E. Boyd, Alandrea Boyd, Jamesyn Brothers, Rodrick Brown, Justice Kiyree Bryant, Tyler Buck, *Dorjana Bujaj, De'Vonne Rasheed Callands, *Aiya Meryam Chahid, *Jonathan William Cibulsky, Micaiah Isaiah Clinton, *Nate Collazo, Eddie D. Colon, Michael Alexander Contreras, *Hailey Nicole Cook, Jordan Credle, Brandon S. Cromwell, Jr., Karitzia Cruz. 

Kaniya Aniesse Dangerfield, Justin Steven Davis, *Angelis Cristina DeJesus, Mya Deprofio, * Amelia Rose Dias, Jeremy A. Diaz, Johnny A. Diaz, *Anthony Thomas DiBlasi, *Remo Pasquale DiLorenzo, Nicholas DiPalma, *Madison Elizabeth Dirgo, Javon Edmund Dojnia, *Jake Daniel Douglas, Javaughn D. Douglas, Dalton Durkin, Stephany Espinal Jimenez, Ayala Sana Espinet, Da'Siah Fagan, Dante James Fazio, Matthew Robert Feliciano, *Krystalee Fernandez, *George Fischer, Jr., Leshay Monique Flowers, Kevin Flynn, Deondre Foggie, *Julia Katherine Fraulo. 

*Emily Eileen Garofalo, Jamel Gause, *Victoria Ellen Gavin, James Gillison, *Gabriella Gjoni, *Halie Elizabeth Gliford, *Joseph Gokey, *Omar Alexander Gonzalez, *Isra Hanaif, *Shania Monet Hankins, Shawne Maurice Hayes, *Amaya Nadine Hernandez, *Hector Luis Hernandez, *Moises Hernandez, Jr., *Kennedy Jordan Hopkins, *Marques Ethen James, *Isabella Januario, *Shanelle Cheila Jimenez, Jalen Julius Johnson, *Abagail Rylee' Kabat, *Dylan J. Keefe, *Gregory Kwalek, Erica Lynn Kyttle, *Savanah Marie Lake, Isaiah Landrau, *Angelina Ann LaRiviere-Gambino, *Linh Phuong Le, Christian LeFrancois, Jonnell Lindsay, Scarlett Haily Lockwood, *Katherine Mishelle Lopez, *Alison Destiny Lopez. 

*Angela Marie Luna Mejia, *Fernanda Macias, Mikayla Mackey, Abigail Magarin, *Nicholas Alexander Maielli, *Jenna Malino, Daries J. Manigo, Jayden Robert Marganski, *Ashley Ana Marquez, Luz Nayelli Martinez, Nicholas J. Martinez, *Jacknell Aly Matos, Keivon G. McCoy, *Sean Padraic McDermott, *Katlyn P. Mehlinger, Ja'Ceri Cor'Shawn Miller, Jasmine Arielle Moore-Coverson, *Erik Jeremiah Mota, Myriam Mynti, Christopher J. Negron Lopez, Norris A. Nelson, Cristopher Nunez, Michael David O'Neill, *Axavier Pagan, Gabriella Gilda Palumbo, *Justin Parks, *Tessa I. Peluso, Danny Perez, *Jonathan Perez, *Addison Phillips, *Joshua Andrei Fuentes Pintacasi, Jordin Jaseph Pisanelli, Giustino Pizzola, Talya Rose Porretti, *Kristo A. Praseutsack. 

*Tre' Antonio Ragin, *Gabriel Immanuel Rico, Ada Rivera, *Nathalie Rose Rivera, *Juan Rivera, Chicago Roberts Rivers, Jr., *Lillian Paige Romanowski, *Thomas Rowland, *Joseph E. Rykowski, Jayda Rose Sanchez, Troy Sanders, Hector Manuel Santiago, Tyler Gabriel Shaw-Cousins, *Christopher Joseph Sheehy, *Lisa Marie Shehada, Nicolas Alejandro Silva, Jeremy Robert E Smith, Zuhaily Raquel Soto, *Lindsey Stolze, Tyler A. Strmiska, *Michael P. Szewczyk. 

*Jacob Ryan Tackach, Noah Thomas, *Bryanna Angel Tindall, *Alivia Rose Toth, Alicia Jolene Toth-Weaver, Jayden Amir Tucker, Teyvon Tucker, *Joshua Kevin Tyler, Jayden Thomas Uhlig, Luis Antonio Vazquez, Jr., Nyasia Victoria Vega, Joshua Sergio Vega, *Ashley Nicole Velez, Xavier Velleco, *Alexis Marie Vienneau, Tywan B. Ward, Jr., *Anna Louise Waterbury, Sonkaly Weamie, Janiyah Tierra Williams, Cephus T. Williams, *Monica Wojcik, Anthony Mark Yezik, Jr., *Andrew R. Zinko.

This is a press release from Ansonia Public Schools.