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Student news: Del Val sophomore hits high note with Grammy Camp

Staff Report
@MyCentralJersey
Miles Hudgins, a sophomore from Alexandria Township, plays many genres of music and combines them in his own compositions. In July he will be studying electronic music production at Grammy Camp in Los Angeles.

Miles Hudgins, a Delaware Valley High School sophomore from Alexandria Township, is one of about 80 students chosen from around the U.S. to attend Grammy Camp this summer in Los Angeles.

Hudgins will be learning electronic music production during the July 18-22 session at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music.

He specializes in sax and keyboards, and his genres are hip-hop, pop, jazz and R&B. Hudgins, who plays with the Del Val Jazz Band, and recently has been playing with Volcanic Eruptions, a Kingwood Township band, is a popular performer at Del Val Coffeehouse sessions, soloing or accompanying himself with hi-tech assistance.

The camp offers selected high school students an interactive five-day nonresidential summer music experience. Focusing on all aspects of commercial music, the camp promises “instruction by industry professionals in an immersive, creative environment with cutting-edge technology in professional facilities.”

Grammy Camp is a program of the Grammy Museum, a nonprofit organization with sites in California, Mississippi, Tennessee and New Jersey containing exhibits pertaining to Grammy Award winners.

Hudgins has not yet won a Grammy, but he has played with the Eric Mintel Quartet on the Bucks County Playhouse stage and at other gigs, and has produced his own pieces that are available through Spotify, Pandora, CD Baby and Amazon.

He released his first album, “Split Decision” in 2015, and he released two new singles in 2016. To hear them, go to YouTube and search for “Conscious – Miles Hudgins” and “Astray – Miles Hudgins.” His music is broadcast by WRTI, Philadelphia, and SmoothJazz.com.

Baylor University

The following Central Jersey residents at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, were named to the spring dean's list: Christina Marie Munoz and Glen Thomas Zinner of Basking Ridge. Students must have a grade-point average of 3.7

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Carson-Newman University

Eileen Anderson of Pittstown received a bachelor's degree from Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee.

Curry College

The following Central Jersey residents at Curry College in Milton, Massachusetts, were named to the spring dean's list: John Conca of Basking Ridge, Katherine Sheridan of Hillsborough. Students must have a grade-point average of 3.30.

Dean College

The following Central Jersey residents at Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts, were named to the spring dean's list: Benjamin Klitenick of Bridgewater, Jacob Resnick of Flemington, William Harrison of Princeton.

Nick Brown of Alexandria Township displays the gun cabinet that won him a Golden Hammer Award.

Delaware Valley Regional High School

Three Delaware Valley High School woodworking students have won the school's Golden Hammer Awards — Justin Fiaschetti of Kingwood Township and Aakash Patel and Nick Brown, both of Alexandria Township.

Aakash Patel of Alexandria Township visits his Golden Hammer Award-winning table when it was on display in the school library.

They won on the merits of their most-ambitious projects – Justin’s rocking chair, Aakash’s table and Nick’s gun cabinet. Judging was done by a panel of five previous Golden Hammer Award winners.

Each winner will receive a power tool donated by Opdyke Lumber of Alexandria Township and a gift card for Middle Valley Lumber of Long Valley, donated by owner Travis Ruhland. No actual golden hammers are involved; it’s conceptual.

This rocking chair won the Golden Hammer Award for Justin Fiaschetti of Kingwood Township and gladdened the heart of woodworking teacher Josh Paul.

Each of the winners are “extremely hard workers, each with his own individual gifts,” said woodworking teacher Josh Paul. “Another thing they have in common is that they all do woodworking outside of school.”

He noted that Aakash is one of the few Woodworking III students to win the Golden Hammer; they are customarily Woodworking IV students.

Hunterdon County Polytech

The four-person team of Alyssa Carbo, Hannah McCray, Carly McKenzie and Rachel Tevere, representing the Animal Science Program at Hunterdon County Polytech Career and Technical School, came in first place at a recent FFA Veterinary Science Career Development Event at Rutgers University. The event brought together 15 teams, representing FFA chapters from throughout the state of New Jersey, to complete a series of tests designed to gauge their technical knowledge and practical skills in the field of veterinary science.

Pictured from left to right are Tatiana Paluchoski, Alyssa Carbo, Rachel Tevere, Hannah McCray and Carly McKenzie.

Team members completed the five-part test individually, and then their scores were combined to form a team score. Polytech came out on top in a competitive field that included Biotechnology High School, which has a long tradition of producing first-place teams.

“I am so proud of our girls,” said Taryn Romanczak, advisor to Polytech’s FFA Chapter and an animal science teacher. “The students worked hard all year to prepare, even staying after school at least once a week.”

The series of tests included a written exam; a math exam requiring participants to calculate doses of medication; an identification of species, parasites and veterinary equipment; hands-on practicals; and an essay addressing horse slaughter in the U.S.

“This entire experience helped to solidify the fact that I want to go into veterinary medicine,” said McCray, who was Polytech’s Animal Science Student of the Year. “I really enjoyed it.” McCray has been accepted by the University of Delaware to study animal science and has a guaranteed transfer to Cornell University.

The 2016-17 school year marks the third year Polytech has competed in the FFA Veterinary Science Career Development Event and the third year that the school's FFA chapter has been re-chartered. FFA works to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more on Polytech's Animal Science Program, visit www.hcpolytech.org.

Hunterdon County Vocational School

The Hunterdon County Vocational School District’s Computer Science Club, an extension of the district’s Computer Science and Software Engineering Academy (CSSEA), wrapped an intensive, weeklong High School Capture the Flag competition on May 27.

Members of the Hunterdon County Vocational School District’s Computer Science Club, pictured with advisor Justin Montgomery, celebrate a win at the Hunterdon Robotics Tournament.

The competition pitted nearly 600 teams from across the nation against one another to capture certain pieces of information called “flags” that are placed on servers, encrypted, hidden or otherwise stored somewhere difficult to access.

This was the first year the club participated in this national event.

Team 1, named Cicada 3301, was comprised of Kyle Hassold, Jason Hassold, Miles Hudgins and Dan Sullivan. This team landed in 96th place.

Team 2, named PacMan_2.0, was comprised of Michael Banko, Skyler Krouse, Jason Madeano, Justin Marmorato and Sam Robinson. This team finished in 342nd place.

“This event was important for students' learning,” said Justin Montgomery, computer science teacher in the CSSEA. “Competing with peers adds a layer of motivation for students to engage in the challenges to see how they measure up.”

Three of the Computer Science Club members who competed in this national competition — Kyle Hassold, Miles Hudgins and Dan Sullivan — were also on the five-person team that won the Hunterdon Robotics Tournament in mid-May. The other Computer Science Club members who competed on that winning team were Drew Bella and Ashley Diem.

The $3,600 awarded in prize money may be used for a holographic computer and head-mounted display that create a virtual reality vision, depending on what the students decide. The ultimate goal is to purchase technology to further the learning of the Computer Science Club members.

The Computer Science Club is funded by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District’s Computer Science and Software Engineering Academy and is largely made up of CSSEA students. The club is open to additional Delaware Valley Regional High School students, extending opportunities for STEM-based learning to a larger student population. To learn more, visit http://www.hcvsd.org/.

Lebanon Township: Woodglen School

Cassie Avallone, John Hanlon, Austin Leiwant, and Charlie Worster were recognized for their performance in the Math Olympiads at Woodglen School in Lebanon Township.

Left to right: Cassie Avallone, Charlie Worster, Superintendent Jason Kornegay, and John Hanlon

Hanlon had the highest score in the sixth grade. Avallone had the highest score in the fifth grade and received a gold pin for placing in the top 2 percent of Elementary Division students nationally. Leiwant, Worster, and Hanlon earned a silver pin for placing in the top 10% of students. The students’ math teachers are Tina Gerould, Conrad Haenny, and James Peralta.

Approximately 150,000 students worldwide took part in this year’s Math Olympiad program, which consisted of five monthly contests of five problems each. The contest teaches students to solve unusual and difficult problems and to think creatively.

Lebanon Valley College

Mark Spivey of Whitehouse Station is one of nearly 40 Lebanon Valley College students participating in an immersive experience by studying away this summer. Spivey will be studying in Maastricht, Netherlands.

Lycoming College

North Plainfield resident Darlene Walaski, a senior with a major in creative writing, was presented with the President's Prize in Prose at the annual spring Honors Convocation at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Mansfield University

The following Central Jersey residents at Mansfield College in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, were named to the spring dean's list: Alana Corradi of Califon and Chelsea Hough of Stockton. Students must have a grade-point average of 3.5.

Marquette University

The following Central Jersey residents at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, were named to the spring dean's list: Katherine Baach, Abigail Krieck of Basking Ridge, Noah Pothast of Skillman. 

Raritan Valley Communty College

Bridgewater resident Lorren M. Rago, a 2017 graduate of Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, is the recipient of the Baker and Rannells Paralegal Studies Student Graduate Award.

RVCC graduate Lorren M. Rago, center, is the recipient of the Baker and Rannells Paralegal Studies Student Graduate Award. She is joined by Stephen Baker, Esq., President of Baker and Rannells, PA, and Maria M. DeFilippis, Esq., Coordinator of Paralegal Studies at RVCC.

Rago was presented with the honor at RVCC's Academic Awards Ceremony, conducted May 10 at the College's Branchburg campus. The award was established by Baker and Rannells, a New Jersey-based law firm that specializes in intellectual property, trademark and copyright law.

The award honors an RVCC student graduating with an Associate of Applied Science or a Certificate in Paralegal Studies who has demonstrated not only academic excellence, but also a commitment to service combined with an ethic of justice, fairness and integrity, according to Stephen Baker, president of Baker and Rannells.

"The firm has hired a number of RVCC graduates from the Paralegal Studies program and has benefited from the good education that the college provides. The award is our way of thanking RVCC," said Baker, who presented the $500 prize to Rago.

Rago, who was previously employed in pharmaceutical marketing, is now dedicated to the area of family law and is employed as a paralegal at Shimalla, Wechsler, Lepp & D'Onofrio,in Warren. She earned a 4.0 grade point average in the paralegal studies certificate program. A single mother of two children, she has volunteered her time to working with children who have been removed from their homes by Child Protective Services.

For additional information about the College’s Paralegal Studies program, contact Maria M. DeFilippis, coordinator of paralegal studies at RVCC, 908-526-1200, ext. 8239, or Maria.DeFilippis@raritanval.edu.

ReadingtonTownship Middle School

On May 24, eighth-graders participated in the 6th annual Kickball Tournament at Readington Middle School. This popular event, organized by social studies teacher William Daly and facilitated by the eighth-grade team, is a tradition for the class.

Top fundraising team ”The Big Kicks” consisted of (back row l-r) 
Emily Nees, Emily Jensen, Kaitlyn Koep, Emily Mason, Danielle Reynolds,
(front row l-r) Abigail Bellew, Mackenzie Lalor, Charlotte Tedesco, and Laurel Kurtz.

This year the event was tied to the students’ service learning project, which greatly increased student participation. To participate, teams were required to raise money or create cards for patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The 15-student kickball teams raised $751 and created more than 300 cards to donate. “The Big Kicks” team was the top fundraiser, donating $220 and 91 handmade cards.

Ridge High School

Ridge High School and Roselle Savings Bank have selected graduating senior Skyler McCabe of Basking Ridge, as the recipient of the 2017 Roselle Savings Bank Outstanding Business Student Award. Maureen Wolfenden, Roselle Savings Bank’s Assistant Vice President and Bernardsville Branch Manager, presented Skyler with her award at the 2017 Ridge High School Awards Night on May 30. 

At Ridge High School, McCabe excelled in her studies, resulting in a cumulative GPA of 4.06 and an induction into the National Honor Society. 

Saint Peter's Preparatory School

The following Central Jersey residents graduated from Saint Peter's Preparatory School in Jersey City and the colleges/universities/military they will be attending in the fall:

Bridgewater: Harley Monteiro, Western New England University.

Clark: Ryan Mendyk, Virginia Military Institute;and Nicholas Santos, Rutgers University New Brunswick.

Somerset: Dakari Falconer, Dartmouth University. Falconer won the Scholar Athlete Award and the Jerome B. Pederson, class of 92 award, given to a student who models the virtues of good humor, a gentle manner, and generous service to Prep.

Warren: Masaki Aerts, Dartmouth College; Mitchell Jones, Cornell University; Nicholas Molinari, The George Washington University; John Yorey, Pennsylvania State University; and Brian Zawistowski, Saint Louis University. At graduation, Aerts won the 2017 Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic League Scholar-Athlete Award.

Somerset County Vocational & Technical Schools

Meyer Gershater, a senior in the Academy for Health & Medical Sciences at Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School in Bridgewater, has been honored for exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Meyer Gershater of Bridgewater, a President’s Volunteer Service Award recipient.

The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country, was granted by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School nominated Meyer for national honors this fall in recognition of his volunteer service.

As part of Meyer’s President’s Volunteer Service Award application, he spoke of the work he has conducted with the Somerville Red Cross Youth Council. Last year, Meyer served as the club’s secretary and is currently the president. As part of the Somerville Red Cross Youth Council, Meyer has helped run fundraisers, blood drives, and fire canvassing campaigns.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), recognizes middle level and high school students across America for outstanding volunteer service.

Springfield College

The following Central Jersey residents at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts, were named to the spring dean's list: Jaclyn Davis of Ringoes, Danielle Hoffner of Bridgewater and Morgan Martucci of Flemington. Students must have a grade-point average of 3.5.

State University of New York/Oneonta

Westfield resident Meghan O'Dwyer was named to the spring dean's list at the State University of New York. Students must have a grade-point average of 3.5.

University of Delaware

Christina Gulla of Westfield, was one of seven graduating seniors recognized at the University of Delaware's 168th Commencement exercises, held May 27, for having achieved the highest grade point index earned in full-time study toward a university degree. Gulla received a bachelor's degree in biological sciences with a minor in Italian. She will be attending medical school at Rowan University in New Jersey.

Van Doren Scholarships

Thirteen Somerset County high school and college students will receive Van Doren scholarships for the 2017-18 academic year.

This is the 22nd time these awards have been given. Their total value this year is $40,000.

Since its founding in 1996, the Van Doren Foundation has awarded more than one million dollars in financial aid to undergraduate students.

The trustees this year chose the following students to receive Van Doren scholarships:

Residents of Peapack-Gladstone include Holly Lallis, a junior at Colby College, Waterville, Maine; Stephen Walley, a junior at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Bloomington, Indiana; Sophie Henderson, a senior at Villa Walsh Academy in Morristown who will be attending the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Bernards High senior Fred Ludtke, who will be a freshman at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Washington, D.C.

Basking Ridge residents receiving scholarships are Tiffany Chen, a senior at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Sandeep Dhagat, who is continuing his undergraduate studies at Raritan Valley Community College, Branchburg; and Amol Kapoor, who will be a senior at Columbia University in New York City.

Other winners include Isaac Kim of Belle Mead, who will be a senior at Brown University; Grace Sommers of Bridgewater, a sophomore at Princeton University, Princeton; and Somerset resident Kevin Stephen, a sophomore at Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts

High school seniors receiving Van Doren scholarships include Karthik Irakam, a senior at Watchung Hills Regional High School, who will begin his undergraduate studies at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; North Plainfield High School senior Yanqing Liang, who will be attending Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken.; and Trisha Kaundinya, a senior at Bridgewater-Raritan High School who will be attending Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois

To be eligible for a Van Doren Scholarship, a candidate must be a resident of Somerset County and be attending or planning to attend as a full-time undergraduate student an accredited four-year college, two-year college, or a post-high school trade or nursing school. Additional information is available at www.vandorenscholars.org.

Warren Middle School

On May 26, Warren Middle School conducted its 10th annual walk-a-thon, earning more than $10,000 in donations for One Simple Wish, a nonprofit organization that grants wishes to children in foster care or other children in need. “The Unified Arts team organizes a potluck breakfast for the staff in the morning to kick off the walk-a-thon. Without all of the teachers encouraging the donations, the walk-a-thon would not be a success,” said home arts teacher Beverly MacGorman, one of the key organizers of the event. “It’s our chance to give back to others and exercise at the same time.”

From left, One Simple Wish founder Danielle Gletow accepts a donation from Warren Middle School students Inica Kotasthane, Nicole Christou, Sophia Mariano, Isabel and Urgilez, representing money raised  from the school’s recent 10th annual walk-a-thon.

Westfield High School

On May 11, 20 students were inducted into Pensativa, Westfield High School's chapter of the National Spanish Honor Society. “These students were nominated by their Spanish teachers not only for achieving academic excellence in the study of the Spanish language but also for being outstanding in the areas of character, service and leadership,” said Rose Calimano, a WHS Spanish teacher.

They included: Katharine Encinas, Claire Saint-Denis, Adrianna Vergara, Emma Jackler, Emily Finn, Lindsay Friedenrich, Caroline Stockwell, Mackenzie Smith; Paul Vernick, Rafael (Alex) Cestero, Lindsey Sharlow, Eve Crandall, Emily Boll, Allison Mattessich, Laura Meyer, Natalie Bond, Will Rackear, Jason Alvarez, Alex Fonseca, and Alexandra Jackman.

Also: The National Honor Society inducted 202 students: Spencer Fishman, Michael Hauge, Julia Mazzucco, Nick Nolan, and Cameron Scalera -- announced the newly inducted members who included the following members of the junior class: Jason Alvarez, Leah Andrews, Yara Assadi, Marlo Avidon, Yallen Bai, Harrison Bailey, Lee Beauchamp, Thomas Beck, Charles Billek, Michael Birle, Niklas Birse, Emily Bloomfield, Emily Boll, Natalie Bond, Nicholas Bond, Stephanie Borr, Daniel Bracco, Hannah Brogan, Allison Bronander, Chloe Brown, Tess Brown, Julian Bryen, Julia Buoscio, Ryan Burns, Joshua Camacho, Alexander Campbell, Matthew Canabarro, Michael Canabarro, Grace Cash, Matthew Cetlin, Jessica Chicola, Ryan Chirichella, Julia Clifford, Andrew Cohen, William Collum, Zachary Composto, Emma Conlon, Eve Crandall, Colin Daniel, Madeline Davis, Jacob Dayon, Andrew Dazzo, John Devanney, Steven DiMaria, Nicole Dispenza, Jack Dobosiewicz, Matthew Doyle, Paige Dumont, McKenna Edmondson, Shea Elliott, Katharine Encinas, Emma Escaldi, Robert Faktor, Emily Finn, Sarah Fox, Lindsay Freidenrich, Chelsea Frisch, Jessica Fritz, Samantha Fritz, Greta Frontero, Lindsey Garnhart, Ashley Gigon, Fiona Gillespie, Kathryn Gonzalez, Inna Gorelik, Josephine Greenwood, Evan Gruters, Alexandra Gulla, Annie Harrington, Erica Hayden, Kaeley Hazard, Rachael He, Tyler Hoffmann, Ally Hornstein, Yenteen Hu, Kyle Huber, Russell Hughes, Claire Hunter, Bridget Hyland, Jiana Ingrassia, Aryeh Iosif, Sara Isser, Emma Jackler, Andrew Johnson-Milstein, Benjamin Kevelson, Humaira Khan, Mohammad Sa'id Kharboutli, Ana Maria Kobori, Kylinn Kraemer, Julia Kuhn, Isabel Lee, Ava Lehavi, Marissa Lehmberg, Jake Lerie, Marisa Li, Jordan Lipkind, Elena Lisci, Jason Little, William Magnanini, Ethan Manning, Joshua Markowitz, Anna Masciandaro, Nadia Matin, Allison Mattessich, Julian Mazzola, Timothy McAuliffe, Emilia McCormack, Melina McDevitt, Olivia McElheny, Madison McKenna, Mia Melao, Joshua Mendelson, Noelle Mesbah, Matthew Meusel, Kenneth Meyer, Laura Meyer, Marissa Millwater, Matthew Mineo, Morgan Miovski, Benjamin Mizrach, Catherine Moore, Peter Morariu, Catherine Moriarty, Olivia Morrison, Haley Mykytka, Juliette Naeveke, Mark Natiello, Christopher O'Connor, Thomas Omberg, Drew Ortiz, Michael Paglialunga, Ryan Palmer, Sydney Paoletti, Leigh Papadopoulos, Madison Pena, Alex Pinkowski, Claire Prevoznak, Dean Pucciarelli, Ryan Qin, William Rackear, Allison Rever, Brendan Riccardi, Kayla Rinn, Lucille Ritter, Emma Rogers, Linzy Rosen, Abby Rothenberg, Damien Ruparel, Casey Ryan, Jordan Sacher, Clara Saint-Denis, Lauren Sgro, Lindsey Sharlow, Daniel Shenker, Jessica Shih, Isabella Silber, Jonathan Silva, Andrew Smith, Mackenzie Smith, Daniel Sokolin, Luke Spellman, Charles Spinardi, David Sprung, Caroline Stockwell, Timothy Storms, Joshua Stryker, Graham Studwell, Stefan Sujanthakumar, Sydney Swingle, Jacob Tananbaum, Rollins Terry, Nathalie Tucker, Kayla Tupper, Saranya Turimella, Erica Varga, Adriana Vergara, Matthew Viscido, Danielle Vo, Julia Vricella-Stokes, Sarah Ward, Steven Warren, Sarah Wasserman, Eli Weaver, Nicholas Weiner, Julia Whitman, Jacob Wornow, Tyler Wright, Junlin Yi, Sophia Yodice, and Kimberly Zimmermann.

The new National Honor Society officers elected for next year are Natalie Bond, Matthew Cetlin, Fiona Gillespie, William Rackear, and Daniel Shenker.

Wheaton College

Gabriella Siefert of Annandale received an internship award from Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics, and Economics. Siefert also was inducted into Pi Sigman Alpha National Political Science honor society at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.

Wofford College

Lauren Victoria Crawford of Lebanon received a bachelor's degree from Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina on May 21. 

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Natalie Thompson of Hillsborough was a member of a student team from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts, that completed a project in London. The project was titled Revitalising the Design Museum's Handling Object Collection.

Student and School news appears Fridays: Email:cnmetro@mycentraljersey.com