Front row (left to right): Mathilde Roux, Olivia Davis, Erica Levin and Linda Luo
Back row (left to right): Maeve Humphreys, Sean Titus, Kabir Suri, Chidinma Nwachukwu and Alon Flor.

Linda Luo, Princeton University (operation research and financial engineering). Class rank: 1 GPA: 4.649. Activities: Science Olympiad, STEM Club, DECA, Model UN Club, Tri-M Honor Society, pit orchestra, National Honor Society. Favorite memory: “DECA International conferences in Atlanta and Orlando, STEM science nights, coffeehouses, AP art class, Legally Blonde and Beauty and the Beast musicals.” Memorable quote: Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light. – Albus Dumbledore

Olivia Davis, The College of New Jersey (biology). Class rank: 2 GPA: 4.532. Activities: Field hockey, National Honor Society, Operation Smile, softball, STEM, Model Congress. Favorite memory: “Learning from my teachers and fellow students the importance of not only how to find and share the right answers, but how to listen and ask the right questions.” Memorable quote: Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all. From now on you’ll be traveling the road between who you think you are and who you can be. The key is to allow yourself to make the journey. – Meg Cabot

Kabir Suri, Johns Hopkins University (public health and economics). Work in the medical field. Class rank: 3 GPA: 4.498. Activities: Varsity basketball, varsity tennis, National Honor Society, Science Olympiad, Model UN, Model Congress, STEM. Favorite memory: “Playing in my first varsity basketball Mercer County Tournament and state tournament games.” Memorable quote: The inner machinations of my mind are an enigma. – Patrick Star

Sean Titus, Georgia Institute of Technology (computer science). Software engineer. Class rank: 4 GPA: 4.429. Activities: STEM Academy, National Honor Society, Science Olympiad team, Tri-M music honor society, Math League, Science Bowl team. Favorite memory: “Traveling to Disney World with the Lawrence High School music department.” Memorable quote: There’s never enough time to do all the nothing you want. – Bill Watterson

Alon Flor, Rutgers University (physics and computer science). Research and development. Class rank: 5 GPA: 4.427. Activities: Robotics club. Favorite memory: “Being in Mr. Rowe’s class and hearing his funny jokes. Being in Mr. Troy’s class and learning physics.” Memorable quote: Necessity is the mother of invention.

Erica Levin, The College of New Jersey (elementary education and biology). Child psychiatrist. Class rank: 6 GPA: 4.418. Activities: Cheerleading, lacrosse, peer leadership, president of Class of 2015 sophomore, junior and senior year, Model Congress, Model UN, Operation Smile. Favorite memory: “When my escort could not come to walk on the homecoming court and Dr. Dauber filled in and escorted me down the track. I could not have had a more memorable senior homecoming experience.” Memorable quote: Promise me you’ll always remember: you’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. – A. A. Milne

Chidinma Nwachukwu, Princeton University (biology). Health-related profession. Class rank: 7 GPA: 4.385. Activities: Varsity basketball, varsity track, LHS Women in STEM, LHS student leadership, LHS Gospel Choir, Tri-M. Favorite memory: “Forming great relationships with my classmates, teammates and teachers.” Memorable quote: I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn… – Maya Angelou

Mathilde Roux, Rutgers University (undecided). Class rank: 8 GPA: 4.358. Activities: National Honor Society, STEM Club, LHS Theatre Company. Favorite memory: “Organizing Student Jeopardy last month. I was very proud of how the show came together and I had a lot of fun with my friends and fellow National Honor Society members scoring the game.” Memorable quote: The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are. – unknown

Jenny Chu, Rutgers University (biology). Medicine. Class rank: 9 GPA: 4.354. Activities: Interact, Garden Club, STEM, lacrosse, National Honor Society. Favorite memory: “Relaxing after AP tests, hanging out with friends during out to lunch, heading to the beach on the last day of school.” Memorable quote: You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. YOu can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who’ll decide where to go. – Dr. Seuss

Maeve Humphreys, The University of Virginia (human biology). Physical therapy. Class rank: 10 GPA: 4.34. Activities: Operation Smile, Model UN, student government, varsity soccer, varsity swimming, peer leadership, Threads. Favorite memory: “Participating in LHS athletics and forming great relationship and memories along the way – especially my junior year meets that all seemed to be nail-biters but somehow went our way.” Memorable quote: Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. – Arthur Ashe

Standing (left to right): Jasmine Pegrem, Jazmean Williams, Chigozie Amonu, Daphne Gould, Esther Leaming, Jacqueline Ranello, Michael Asparrin and Zachary Cirincione.
Sitting (left to right): Elizabeth Cunniff and Killian Kueny

Elizabeth Cunniff, Georgetown University (history and government). Congressional aide. Class rank: 1 GPA: 4.30. Activities: Field hockey, swimming, spring track, marching band, pit orchestra, student council, National Honor Society. Favorite memory: “The winter pep rally my junio year. I was on the student council, so I helped run it. It was the first big display of school spirit and everyone seemed so proud to go to Ewing. The energy in the gym was insane.” Memorable quote: And though she be but little, she is fierce. – William Shakespeare

Jasmine Pegrem, Rutgers University (business). Business. Class rank: 2 GPA: 4.25. Activities: National Honor Society, tennis, Newspaper Club, Environmental Club, FRESCOES. Favorite memory: “Watching the Class of 2015 bring home the victory in the annual Powderpuff Game. Another was watching many of EHS’ beloved teachers and administrators voluntarily get pied in the face by my peers as part of our Spirit Week activities.” Memorable quote: Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Chigozie Amonu, University of Pennsylvania (biochemistry). General surgeon. Class rank: 3 GPA: 4.22. Activities: Varsity girls’ basketball, varsity girls’ tennis, Key Club. Favorite memory: “Doing stagecrew for ‘Hairspray’ this year. I enjoyed being part of the drama family and singing and dancing along to the songs.” Memorable quote: With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. – Matthew, 19:26

Esther Leaming, Rutgers University (biology). Research botonist. Class rank: 4 GPA: 4.21. Activities: Rotary Interact, Project Unity, tennis, marching band, spring musical. Favorite memory: “The trips I’ve been able to take, from the band trips to Boston and Williamsburg/D.C., to the day trips my history classes went on to Gettysburg and Baltimore. I will always remember exploring Quincy Market and the Inner Harbor in Boston, and I’m glad that I got to see historically significant places like the battlefield at Gettysburg and the monuments at the National Mall.” Memorable quote: When trouble strikes, head to the library. You will either be able to solve the probem, or simply have something to read as the world crashes down around you. – Lemony Snicket

Zachary Cirincione, Rutgers University (mechanical engineering). Mechanical engineer. Class rank: 5 GPA: 4.11. Activities: Lacrosse, soccer, marching band, pit orchestra, jazz band. Favorite memory: “Scoring my first goal as a defenseman during the Ewing lacrosse Senior Night game.” Memorable quote: Work smarter, not harder. – Unknown

Jazmean Williams, Drexel University (biomedical engineering). Tissue engineer. Class rank: 6 GPA: 4.099. Activities: Key Club, robotics, debate, pit orchestra, marching/concert band. Favorite memory: “All the times Ms. Bailey-Williams roasted people in my sophomore English class. I still recall those jokes to this day.” Memorable quote: True peace is not merely the absence of tension, it is the presence of justice. – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Michael Asparrin, Princeton University (international relations/political science). Undecided. Class rank: 7 GPA: 4.097. Activities: Key Club, Rotary Interact Club, varsity lacrosse, varsity soccer. Favorite memory: “Senior season in lacrosse.” Memorable quote: There is no success without hardship. – Sophocles

Jacqueline Ranello, LaSalle University (communication sciences and disorders). Speech therapy. Class rank: 8 GPA: 4.07. Activities: Project Unity, Mastersingers, spring musical. Favorite memory: “The opening night of this year’s spring musical, ‘Hairspray.’ I had the pleasure of playing Penny, my first lead role. The confidence I gained from that night has helped me become a person ready for the future. I will never forget the rush of pure adrenaline as I walked on stage and will always treasure the amount of encouragement I received from the cast as well as my family and friends. It was truly an unforgettable experience.” Memorable quote: Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny. – C.S. Lewis

Killian Kueny, Dickinson College (undecided). Undecided. Class rank: 9 GPA: 4.03. Activities: Girls’ soccer, softball, National Honor Society. Favorite memory: “Making school history with the 2014 softball team and becoming the Group III sectional champs, the NSIAA Group III champions, and the Group III state runner up.” Memorable quote: Focus on the good. – Unknown

Daphne Gould, St. Olaf College (envrionmental science/political science). Agricultural and energy stainability. Class rank: 10 GPA: 3.99. Activities: Odyssey of the Mind, debate, handbells, marching/concert band, National Honor Society. Favorite memory: “Odysses of the Mind competitions and trips to Iowa Sate and Michigan State. I loved getting to showcase my creativity by performing on the big stage and travelling with my teammates.” Memorable quote: Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures. – Lovelle Drachman

Trenton Catholic Academy lower school students experienced a musical performance by both fellow classmates and a professional band on May 20, 2015.

Students enrolled in instrumental music classes played several pieces highlighting their studies for the year. The audience was also introduced to a variety of instruments to choose for the upcoming school year. Participating students were Matthew Abraham, Abigail Henry, Ashley Lazo-Brito and Dylaney Talkpa on violin, Josephine Abraham on flute and Lillian Ambrose and Erisi Kanu on piano.

The Joe Saint Michael Group played a set of popular music from several decades for staff and students. Band members included Lou Cordas on sax, Paul Duritt on drums and Joe Saint Michael on keyboard.

The program was sponsored by Partesi Musical Services and The American Federation of Musicians Performance Trust Fund.

Hopewell Valley Central High School students Kyla Chasalow (left) and Kimberly McDonough plan to offer for sale limited-edition prints of their own school-created artwork during a special student art sale with the Hopewell-Keroka Alliance. The works will be on sale from June 5 to June 19.

The Hopewell-Keroka Alliance (HKA) is set to host an art sale and exhibit of works created by current art students, alumni and associates of Hopewell Valley Central High School (HVCHS) from Friday, June 5 through Friday, June 19.

Members of the greater community are invited to visit the on display in the high school’s front hallway any weekday throughout those two weeks from 8 a.m. through 4 p.m. and on Saturdays, June 6 and 13, from 8 a.m. through noon.The school is located at 259 Pennington-Titusville Road in Pennington.

All net proceeds from the art sale titled, “Sharing Visions: Art Students for Kenya” will benefit ongoing HKA health, education and infrastructure-improvement projects currently planned or underway in support of residents of the Keroka area of western Kenya in eastern Africa.

These prints of contemporary “masterworks” range in topic from portraiture, fantasy, still life, narrative, scientific and zoological. Co-sponsoring this student art sale along with the Pennington-based non-profit Hopewell-Keroka Alliance are members of the HVCHS Model World Health Organization (WHO) and Global Connections Club student organizations.

The 11-inch-by-17-inch limited-run prints will cost $25 each. Order forms (with further details and instructions) will be available in the main foyer; checks may be made out to Hopewell-Keroka Alliance. Purchasers will be contacted as soon as their artwork is ready for pickup at the high school.

The Hopewell-Keroka Alliance gratefully acknowledges the hard work, creativity and artistry of HVCHS art instructor Dr. Robert O’Boyle and his talented students. In addition, the Hopewell-Keroka Alliance heartily thanks the Hopewell Valley Arts Council for its generous donation toward the printing of the student artwork for sale and related materials.

For more information about this art sale or about the Hopewell-Keroka Alliance, please contact the HKA’s Dr. Rankel at (609) 737-8345, or visit hkalliance.org.

From left to right: Stephanie Howe, Comfort Keepers Owner, scholarship recipient Hannah Lynch-Fries, and Brooke Battaglia, Territory Manager at Comfort Keepers.

Robbinsville High School graduating student Hannah Lynch-Fries was awarded a scholarship to support her pursuit of advanced education by Stephanie Howe, owner of five Comfort Keepers offices in the central New Jersey area. The award was presented to Lynch-Fries on June 2 at the 2015 Robbinsville High School Senior Awards Night.

Lynch-Fries was awarded the “Seniors Caring for Seniors” $500 scholarship for her excellence in academics, outstanding volunteer service, community involvement and dedication in making a different in the life of a local senior citizen.

The Lawrence Township Education Foundation awarded $120,000 to Lawrence Township Public Schools to fund major renovations and upgrades of two Lawrence High School science labs.

The renovations will create a highly efficient and productive workspace for students and staff, providing greater support to STEM programs at LHS. It will allow instructors to mirror college and real world lab settings as well as adapt to the demanding needs and changing equipment in the lab.

The current facilities were built in 1967 and at the time were state of the art. Close to 7,000 students have worked in the labs, thus rendering them outdated. With the renovations, the classrooms will receive updated cabinetry, receptacle, sinks, countertops and furniture. Plumbing, electrical and ventilation repairs will also take place.

In addition to the structural updates, a grant was awarded by Bristol-Myers Squibb in support of LHS science programs that will further enhance the curriculum by providing funds for hands-on learning tools. These include microscropes, stereo scopes, EKG sensors, anatomy models and digital balances.

The Lawrence Township Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization that fosters educational excellence, creativity and achievement in the Lawrence Township Public Schools. Since 1992, it has funded over 600 programs in the Lawrence schools with grants in excess of $2.99 million.

For more information about the LTEF and ways to support the foundation, visit ltefnj.org.

Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes addresses honors-level GALRE students at Steinert High School.

The Government and Law Related Experiences class at Hamilton’s Steinert High School took welcomed Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes as the final guest lecturer on June 9. The county executive has been a frequent speaker to the class, which draws representatives from all facets of the government community, giving the students a chance to have open dialogue with local officials.

Students in the honors-level course, taught by Ms. Tracey Quinn, had the chance to ask the county official a variety of questions from how he entered politics and government to how the county was able to successfully reduce its homeless population by 73 percent.

In wishing the students luck in the next chapter of their education, Hughes said, “It would be a great thrill if any of these inquisitive young adults were inspired enough to consider a career in public service and become part of the solution.”

Child Care Connection Board Treasurer Tina Carbone tries her hand at Kan-Jam during a May 9 tournament held at The College of New Jersey.

The College of New Jersey held a Kan-Jam tournament on May 9. The event was sponsored by Deloitte and professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi to benefit Child Care Connection.

Two members of TCNJ’s Ultimate Frisbee Team won both games played during the tournament.

Child Care Connection, Inc. is a private nonprofit child care resource and referral organization serving central New Jersey. The CCR&R for Mercer County, the agency offers child care referrals, applications and administration for child care financial assistance programs, and education opportunities to child care providers.

For more information, or to donate or volunteer, visit ccc-nj.org.

Princeton Public Library and The Nature Conservancy have teamed up to give college and high-school student filmmakers aged 15-25 an opportunity to raise awareness of New Jersey’s natural riches, and the chance to win $1000. The co-sponsors of Reel Impact, a juried competition for local budding filmmakers and naturalists, are asking participants to consider the theme “From Turnpikes to Terns and Pikes: The Real Nature of New Jersey,” and to focus in on the natural treasures of New Jersey in short movies of five minutes or less.

Film entries should use the beauty of New Jersey’s coast, forests, rivers and open spaces to dispel negative stereotypes about the state. Creativity, humor and unusual approaches to filmmaking, editing and storytelling are encouraged. Films may be in any genre or mix of genres including action, animation, comedy, documentary, drama, music video, personal narrative or public service announcement.

A cash prize of $1000 will be awarded to the first-place winner and the film will be shown at the 2016 Princeton Envrionmental Film Festival and other events hosted by the co-sponsors.

There is no fee to enter.

The deadline to enter the competition is Sept. 1. All entries must be submitted by providing a link to view the film online on Vimeo or YouTube. Entrants must live in and attend high school or college in New Jersey, New York or Pennsylvania and be between the age of 15 and 25.

For more details about the competition and an entry form, visit princetonlibrary.org/peff/reelimpact.

Ewing Kiwanis Club Foundation Award winners from left: Esther Leaming, Jacqueline Ranello, Marshal McGuire, Michael Asparrin, Killian Kueny, Jasmine Pegrem, Breonna Myers, Vanessa Nonez and Ewing Kiwanis President Jerry Spencer.

Eight Ewing High School class of 2015 graduates have received the annual Ewing Kiwanis Club and Foundation Awards for $4,500. Recipients include Esther Leaming, Jacqueline Ranello, Marshal McGuire, Michael Asparrin, Killian Kueny, Jasmine Pegrem, Breonna Myers and Vanessa Nonez.

Ken Mason has been hired as the new girls Soccer Coach at Notre Dame High School in Lawrence Township.

Notre Dame High School Athletic Director Rich Roche has announced Ken Mason as the new Girls Varsity Soccer Coach. Mason replaces Amy Hoyer who resigned for family reasons following a four year run.

Through the years, Mason has worn many hats in Mercer County. He retired earlier this school year as Athletic Director at Lawrence High School. He coached football at Nottingham before moving on to Hamilton West where he coached baseball, track, ice hockey and soccer.

Mason coached the freshman boys lacrosse team at Notre Dame in the spring and has also been a substitute teacher at the school. His son, Connor, is currently finishing his junior year at Notre Dame.

The Robbinsville Hamilton Rotary Club has awarded $7,500 in scholarships to high school seniors who will continue their education at a two-year or four-year college, or a trade school this fall.

Recipients are: Samantha Wackerman, Megan Khamm and Kelsey Ignace from Nottingham High School; Lauren Woods, Mary Leno, Austin Durling, Stephen Huiz, Kaitlyn Giori and Maggie LeWallen from Steinert High School; Gabby Manto and Emily Anderson (scholarship donation by the Alpine Education Foundation) from Robbinsville High School; and Morgan Meara (scholarship donation by Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman) from Hamilton High School West.

For more information about the Rotary Club and its community service programs, visit rhrotary.org.

Cassie Wang of West Windsor won first place in the Grades 4-6 Division of the New Jersey Conservation Poster Contest for her poster depicting this year’s theme of “Local Heroes-Your Hardworking Pollinators.”

Sarah Wu of Princeton Junction received third place in the 10-12 Grade category at the New Jersey Conservation Poster Contest on May 19, 2015.

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher and Raymond Cywinski, president of the New Jersey Association of Conservation Districts presented awards to the winners of the 2015 New Jersey Conservation Poster Contest on May 19 at an awards ceremony held at the New Jersey State Museum Auditorium in Trenton.

Cassie Wang of West Windsor won first place in the Grades 4-6 Division for her poster depicting this year’s theme of “Local Heroes-Your Hardworking Pollinators.” Cassie’s poster will be entered in the National Conservation Poster Contest, which will take place in January 2016 in Reno, Nevada.

In addition, Sarah Wu of Princeton Junction received third place in the 10-12 Grade category.

The competition is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture State Soil Conservation Committee, New Jersey Association of Conservation Districts and the state’s 15 Soil Conservation Districts, which work to conserve and manage soil and water resources in the state.

Saint Raphael School is set to host an open house on Wednesday, July 29, 2015 from 5 to 7 p.m. The school is located at 151 Gropp Avenue in Hamilton.

Tours of the school will start in the lower level. Meet the teachers and enjoy some light refreshments.

Contact the school office at (609) 585-7733 for additional information or to schedule a private tour.

County executive Brian M. Hughes gave a lecture to Steinert High School’s government class on June 9, 2015.

Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes was honored to be the final guest lecturer at the Government and Law Related Experiences, or GALRE, class at Hamilton’s Steinert High School June 9, 2015.

The County Executive has been a frequent speaker to the class, which draws representatives from all facets of the government community, giving the students a chance to have open dialogue with local officials.

Students in the honors-level course, taught by Tracey Quinn, peppered the county executive with a variety of questions, from how he entered politics and government to how the county was able to successfully reduce its homeless population by 73 percent. The students also were eager to talk about Mercer County Community College, which several seniors said they would be attending next year, and how the community college is expanding its course offerings at the Trenton campus. Additionally, the high-schoolers expressed excitement over the expansion of destinations offered by Frontier Airlines from Trenton-Mercer Airport.

In the Class of 2015 at Princeton Day School, 17 students will continue to play their sport at their respective colleges and universities. From left to right: Morgan Foster (New Hope), Lacrosse Hamilton; Niki van Manen (Princeton), Field Hockey, Tufts; Kathleen Crowell (Hopewell), Rowing, Franklin and Marshall; Marco Pinhiero (Princeton), Soccer, Washington University; Christian Vik (Princeton), Lacrosse, Swarthmore; Jacob Shavel (Lawrenceville), Lacrosse, RPI; Chris Markey (Belle Mead), Lacrosse, Muhlenberg; Josiah Meekins (Lawrenceville), Tennis, Goucher; James Radvany (Lawrenceville), Baseball, Villanova; Jake Alu (Hamilton), Baseball, Boston College; Yahyah Ladiwala (Princeton Junction), Squash, Wesleyan; Zach Golden (Monroe Township), Soccer, Clarkson; Cole McManimon (Trenton), Baseball, Lehigh; Alexa Soltesz (Bordentown), Soccer, Gettysburg; Stefany Soltesz (Bordentown), Soccer, Gettysburg. Not pictured: Chris Azzarello (Pennington), Lacrosse, Ohio Wesleyan; Kevin Towle (Roosevelt), Lacrosse, Kenyon.

Seventeen senior student athletes from Princeton Day School’s 2015 graduating class plan to continue their sport at their respective colleges.

The students are: Jake Alu (Hamilton), Baseball, Boston College; Chris Azzarello (Pennington), Lacrosse, Ohio Wesleyan; Morgan Foster (New Hope), Lacrosse Hamilton; Chris Markey (Belle Mead), Lacrosse, Muhlenberg; Cole McManimon (Trenton), Baseball, Lehigh; Josiah Meekins (Lawrenceville), Tennis, Goucher; Marco Pinhiero (Princeton), Soccer, Washington University; Yahyah Ladiwala (Princeton Junction), Squash, Wesleyan; James Radvany (Lawrenceville), Baseball, Villanova; Jacob Shavel (Lawrenceville), Lacrosse, RPI; Alexa Soltesz (Bordentown), Soccer, Gettysburg; Stefany Soltesz (Bordentown), Soccer, Gettysburg; Kevin Towle (Roosevelt), Lacrosse, Kenyon; Christian Vik (Princeton), Lacrosse, Swarthmore; Zach Golden (Monroe Township), Soccer, Clarkson; Niki van Manen (Princeton), Field Hockey, Tufts; and Kathleen Crowell (Hopewell), Rowing, Franklin and Marshall.

Twenty-nine students graduated from The Pennington School’s middle school on June 11, 2015.

The Pennington School held a graduation ceremony on June 11, 2015 at the Pennington United Methodist Church. A total of 29 middle school students graduated. Head of Middle School Todd D. Paige announced eighth grade award winners and Headmaster William S. Hawkey and faculty advisors joined him in presenting the diplomas.

Katherine Reim of Skillman was valedictorian, judged first in scholarship for the eighth grade. She also received awards for excellence in English and Latin. Salutatorian Aidan Sichel of Princeton welcomed the audience and was recognized for excellence in academic perseverance. Other eighth-grade speakers offering reflections were Casey Ort and Logan Harris, both of Skillman. Ort also received an award for citizenship.

Among the other awards presented were those for excellence in French to Eliot Voelzke of Titusville and in Spanish to Laura Alaez of Trenton and Qiutian Gao of Shanghai, China. Gao was also recognized for excellence in mathematics. Kevin Durfee of Skillman received awards for excellence in science and in German. The Middle School Instrumental Ensemble and Middle School Singers performed, as did the Sixth-Grade Handchimes and Handbells group.

The members of the Pennington School Class of 2019 (alphabetical order): Laura Alaez, Madison Brown, Brian V. Corcoran, Kevin D. Durfee, Megan E. Eckerson, Qiutian Gao, Yang Gu, Natalia Gutierrez, William M. Harding, Logan H. Harris, Amira S. Henry, Christopher Herbert, Nicholas A. Incontrera, Leah A. Johnson, Jonathan Lai, Mekhi A. Muse, Casey Ort, Katherine Reim, Austin A. Shah, AnaLi Sharer, Aidan G. Sichel, Chenglang Tian, Emma T. Van Cleef, Eliot R. Voelzke, Julia A. Wakin, HanFei Wang, Samuel S. Wasnak, Harry W. Wasnak, Yushan Zhang

EarlyAct members (bottom left to right): Emily Fitzpatrick, Katie Burger, Makenna Fowler and Raine Kelly. Top left to right: Jazmin Abouelsaad, Nolan Riddell, Emma Yorke, Kailey Conner, Owen Weber, William Babuschak and Charlie Robinson.

The EarlyAct Club at Morgan Elementary School spruced up the school library as their school-wide community service project this year. Students raised over $200 for the project by selling “kindness grams”. In partnership with the Morgan PTA, students were able to raise enough money to repaint the walls and purchase new curtains for the windows. Parents and teachers also contributed murals to the walls including a beach scene and a book surrounded by student handprints.

The Early Act club is a student run community service organization made up of select fifth graders that participate in school-wide, community-wide and world-wide community projects each year.

Aditya Das, Nicole Sogonic, Hailey Cavanagh and Joseph Applegate operate the tracking station at Robinson Elementary School’s Rocket Day June 17, 2015. (Staff photo by Carly Szabo.)

By Carly Szabo

The sun shined down on Robinson Elementary School in Hamilton on June 17 as students and staff prepared for the annual Rocket Day. Parents, teachers, students and community leaders gathered around for the model rocket launch, as is done at the end of each school year. This year marked the 42nd year of Rocket Day’s existence with Jerry Iacona leading the celebration.

Iacona has coordinated Rocket Day since its inception in the spring of 1973. The model rocket launch celebration came about after Iacona realized there was a strong interest in rockets among his students. He used the rockets as an opportunity to teach children about topics such as science and mathematics.

“I had some rockets in school that I started to find out the kids were interested in and I used it as a method to teach math, science and other skills,” Iacona said. Iacona has since retired from his days of teaching, but still continues to coordinate Rocket Day for Robinson Elementary School each year.

This year’s Rocket Day celebration commenced with a few words from Iacona as well as speeches made by Principal Kelli Eppley, state Sen. Linda Greenstein and Assemblyman Dan Benson. The ceremony included a special guest, Mercer County Freeholder Pat Colavita, who was honored for his civic and community involvement.

Colavita has attended Rocket Day for 12 years and speaks highly of the model rocket launch program at Robinson Elementary School.

“This is what learning is all about,” Colavita said. “It’s applying what you’ve learned and watching it come to fruition.”

Rockets streaked the sky as he commented on the importance of learning and cooperation.

Cooperation is a big part of Rocket Day with children manning several different model rocket launch stations including inspection and repair, recovery, mission control, tracking and launch pad.

“Rocket Day is about learning math and science, treating this as a science experiment, working together and having fun,” Iacona said.

But before children could get a chance to participate in one of the many stations involved in Rocket Day, they had to go through an application process in order to assess their ability to participate in the event.

“It was quite extensive to get selected to be a part of the various stations on the field,” said Iacona who, personally reviewed the applications along with selected staff members of Robinson Elementary. Once selected, however, children enjoyed learning about the history, science and mathematics behind rockets and rocket building.

“We learned about all the history of rockets, how to decorate them and how to launch them properly,” said Ashley Lauver, a student involved in the repair station portion of Rocket Day.

Children got to see what they had learned in action after the welcoming ceremony concluded. Colette Pluta’s class delivered the ceremonial “eggstronaut,” an egg to be attached to the first launched rocket, during a flag ceremony and egg procession immediately following the welcoming ceremony. The Robinson Elementary School band played music as Pluta’s class marched their way out to the field to deliver the egg to Iacona and Colavita, who prepared and launched the first rocket.

What an exciting first launch it was, as the rocket cascaded down from the sky and into the crowd of parents seated for the ceremony. The “eggstronaut” sadly did not survive the fall, breaking on a bystander’s shoe. It’s a token of good luck, Colavita said, as he rushed to the scene of the crash to make sure everyone was OK.

After the initial excitement, students gathered at their respective stations to simulate the launch. Divided into four groups, the students moved quickly and efficiently with the guidance of Iacona as they launched a total of 50 rockets overhead. The students collected data about the height their rockets reached and gathered around after the conclusion of the event to discuss their scientific findings with Iacona.

“Today the rockets reached heights of 300-350 feet,” Iacona said.

Students were proud of this feat, enthusiastically discussing their findings with Iacona as well as one another. Parents also were impressed by the heights reached by the model rockets as they looked onward from below, shielding their eyes from the sun’s rays.

While Rocket Day may be over for the students involved in this year’s launch, Iacona will return for years to come coordinating the event for the next round of fourth graders preparing to take on the challenge.

Graduating students of The Bridge Academy Jessica Markowitz, Tyrell Harris, Nola Martino, Matthew Perry and Charles Zaabadick.

The Bridge Academy in Lawrenceville held its commencement exercises on June 12, 2015. It recognized 13 Eighth grade students that are moving on to high school at The Bridge and five seniors that will be graduating.

A NJ state approved private school for students with language-based learning difficulties, the school’s goal is to help students “bridge the gap between potential and performance.” From the comments made by graduates and staff, it is obvious that these students have done just that.

All the graduating students spoke and many gave individual thanks to their teachers and especially their parents. Jessica Markowitz and Tyrell Harris will be attending Rowan University in the fall, Nola Martino already has her employment in cosmetology, a certification she completed while attending high school at Bridge; Matthew Perry will be taking local classes in preparation for college and Charles Zaabadick will complete a summer internship with the NJ Turnpike Association and plans to obtain employment in the fall with his Diesel Technician Certification.

The Bridge Academy enrolls students aged 8 to 18 who have a language-based learning disability. The school is located at 1958-B Lawrenceville Road in Lawrenceville. For more information, call (609) 844-0770 or visit banj.org.