Schools

Canton Celebrates: Canton High School

Board of Education honors achievements.

The Canton Board of Education held its latest “Canton Celebrates” meeting at Canton High School Tuesday evening. The celebrations, held at each school, are held prior to the board’s regular meeting, and students and staff are recognized for some of the year’s accomplishments. 

“It’s the opportunity where we get to celebrate all the wonderful things that go on in the schools every day,” said board Chairwoman Beth Kandrysawtz.

Following is a list of those honored.

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  • Jordan Edgren and Danielle Kerr, 12th graders, are National Merit Commended students in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program for outstanding performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in 2009.  These students place among the top 5% of over 1.5 million students who entered the 2011 competition.  They are among approximately 34,000 Commended Students nationwide who have shown exceptional academic promise.
  • Andrew Baugher, Jordan Boyman, Hannah Cover, Andrew Millar, Mark Solomon, William Villano, Cole Von Richthofen, and Zachary Wiles took the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) and met requirements to enter the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program.  With a Selection Index score of 202 or above, each of these students is among the 50,000 highest-scoring participants of some 1.5 million program entrants.  These students will be referred to two colleges or universities in the U.S. in which they are especially interested.
  • Nick Quattro, grade 12, was selected to receive the Farmington Valley Superintendent’s Award for service, leadership and citizenship.  The students and their families were recognized at a luncheon at the Farmington Club in November. 
  • Victoria Biondo is the recipient of the Phoebe Humphrey Chapter DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) award for superb citizenship and service to the community.  Tori was presented with a certificate and pin at the chapter’s Good Citizen Award ceremony in November. 
  • Kendra Asklof and Ned Furtney were chosen to receive the CABE (Connecticut Association of Boards of Education) Fifteenth Annual Student Leadership Award.  The CABE Student Leadership Awards Program is designed to honor Connecticut high school students who exhibit leadership skills.
  • Fifteen students from the Class of 2012 received perfect scores on at least one test; two students received perfect scores on two of the tests.  David Solomon – Math; Zach Wiles and Hannah Cover – Science; Andrew Millar, Rebecca Szpekman, Hannah Cover, Rachel Jingst, Cole VonRichthofen, and Adrianne Kunkel – Reading; Rebecca Szpekman, Mark Radocy, Ashley Enns, Andrew Baugher, and Simon Ciccarillo – Writing. 
  • Andrew Millar was nominated as Canton High School’s representative in the Governor’s Scholar Program.  More than 135 students from the state’s public and parochial high schools were similarly nominated for this prestigious honor.  The Governor’s Scholar Program is sponsored by the Connecticut Association of Schools and Big Y World Class Markets.
  • Deanna Nappi and Mike Pepin were selected as CIAC Scholar Athletes.  They were honored at a banquet at the Aqua Turf on May 1 with students from every high school in Connecticut.  Academic excellence, good citizenship and varsity letters are required to be considered for this honor.
  • Cody Brackett and David Shahverdian were recognized as the Connecticut Association of Schools Art Scholars.  Cody was honored for visual arts and David was honored for performing arts; both were honored at a banquet on April 4 at the Aqua Turf.
  • The following students represented Canton High School in the 2011 Connecticut Scholastic Art Awards exhibit.  Senior Jessica Mathis, student of Mrs. Renee Hughes, was awarded a Silver Key in Drawing; and junior Miranda Jurras, student of Mrs. Roselyn Marino, received an honorable mention in PhotographyThe annual Connecticut Scholastics Art Awards Program, sponsored by CAEA recognizes Connecticut’s talented young artists in grades 7-12 throughout the state annually in traditional and newer art forms.  Student artwork is selected on merit for inclusion in this state-wide art exhibition which was held on January 31 at the University of Hartford, Hartford Art School, in the Silpe Gallery.
  • Cody Brackett received a medal for his first place finish for his 3-D artwork in the 2010 Tunxis Art and Academic Challenge.
  • Kelsey Poe is the recipient of the 2011 Congressional Art Competition “Best in Photography Award” from the 5th Congressional District. A panel of judges, including the Architect for the White House in D.C., Art Professors and Professionals in the field had selected Kelsey’s Digital Photograph of a marina at sunset in Rockport, Massachusetts. On May 21, at the Mattatuck Museum of Art in Waterbury, CT, Congressman Chris Murphy announced Kelsey’s Award.
  • Hayley Kolding and Stephanie Hurd were accepted to the Bread Loaf Writers Workshop at Middlebury College.  Only 200 sophomores and juniors are accepted to attend this highly prestigious, four-day writers conference in May.
  • Nick Quattro was inducted into the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame.  Nick was feted at the Aqua Turf in May along with other Connecticut inductees.
  • Thomas Kelley was selected to the Grammy Foundation Jazz Ensemble, one of two alto saxophonists selected from throughout the nation..  In order to qualify, each applicant must submit a video audition for evaluation.  He was in Los Angeles for 10 days in February, all expenses paid.  As part of the Grammy Jazz Band, Tom performed during Grammy week events, recorded a CD and attended the Grammy Awards ceremony.  
  • The Jazz Combo and Jazz Ensemble attended the Fermi Jazz Festival on February 26, with the following awards:  Jazz Combo – Gold Medal; Outstanding Jazz Musicianship Awards to:  Thomas Kelley, alto sax; Bill Villano, trumpet; Zach Wiles, bass; Sam Byus, drumsJazz Ensemble – Gold Medal; Outstanding Jazz Musicianship Awards to:  Thomas Kelley, alto sax; David Shahverdian, trombone.
  • The CHS Jazz Ensemble and Combo performed at the Holyoke (MA) Jazz Festival on March 8.  The groups received outstanding scores (including 3 perfect scores) and five students were selected to perform at the culminating concert.  Students were selected as a result of outstanding solos:  Thomas Kelley, alto sax; Bill Villano, trumpet; Zach Wiles, bass; David Shahverdian, trombone; and Sam Byus, drums.
  • Three students were selected and performed at the All-Eastern Music Festival in Baltimore Maryland the end of March:  Alex O’Neil, Chorus; Tom Kelley and David Shahverdian, Jazz Ensemble.
  • The following students were selected to perform in the CT All-State Music Festival held at the CT Convention Center in Hartford April 7-9:  Symphonic Band: Ian Jones, tenor sax; Jazz Ensemble:  Thomas Kelley, alto sax; Deanna Nappi, bari sax; David Shahverdian, trombone; Bill Villano, trumpet; Chorus:  Alexander O’Neil.
  • The following students performed in the 17th Annual Connecticut High School Honor Band Festival, sponsored by the Connecticut Chapter of the American School Band Directors’ Association in November at Coginchaug High School in Durham:  Tyler Van Kirk, flute; Jenna Stanwood, oboe; Tom Kelley and Ian Jones, alto saxophone; Deanna Nappi, baritone saxophone; Bill Villano, trumpet; and Zach Wiles, tuba. 
  • The following students performed in the CT Northern Regional Music Festival at New Britain High School on January 14 and 15.  ChorusHannah Bernhard, Tori Biondo, Hannah Cover, Simon Ciccarillo, Alexander O’Neil, Morgan Rodocy; Symphonic BandIan Jones, alto sax; Jenna Stanwood, oboe; Tyler Van Kirk, flute; Zach Wiles, tuba; Jazz Ensemble:  Thomas Kelley, alto sax; Deanna Nappi, baritone sax; David Shahverdian, trombone; Bill Villano, trumpet.
  • The Symphonic Band performed in the Tri-Town Music Festival held at the Warner Theatre in Torrington.  The festival featured symphonic bands from Northwest Regional 7 and Torrington High Schools.
  • Simon Ciccarillo and Cole von Richthofen earned the Model UN Best Delegation Award for the Economic subcommittee given by the World Affairs Council, the sponsor of the event on February 11 and 12 at Hartford Public High School.  Simon and Cole were only two of 120 students given this award.  They acted as delegates from the country of Sudan and successfully advocated for a referendum (with United Nations supervision) to partition the country and create systems to fairly distribute oil revenues for the people of Sudan in what would be called North and South Sudan.  The Model UN Club is advised by Nora Mocarski.
  • The CT Association of Schools honored volunteers throughout the state at a banquet on March 15 at the Aqua Turf.  The following volunteers were honored for their tireless effort and time given to Canton High School: John FitzGerald, Peter Getz, Kathy Hooker and Pat Maloy.
  • Tom Scavone was selected to attend the 2011 Symposium on Music in Schools and to receive the Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award.  Selected from a pool of more than 300 nominees representing 43 states, Mr. Scavone was chosen by a panel of music professionals for his outstanding accomplishments and vision as a public school music teacher.  Tom attended the campus of Yale June 9-12.
  • On behalf of the Varsity Boys Baseball team, Brian Roy, varsity baseball coach, received the Charles DeVaux Sportsmanship Award in October.  This is the fourth time they were awarded this prestigious honor by the umpires who deal with teams every day.  It means that when tough close plays are made and umpires have to make split second decisions, our players act with dignity and respect and play the game.
  • The wrestling team are the NCCC Wrestling Champions and Class S State Champions.  Bryan Fitzpatrick, Nate Getler and Matt White are NCCC Wrestling Champions.  Nate Getler is the Class S State Champion.
  • Coach Tim O’Donnell and the boys cross country team became Class SS champions.  The team consisted of Evan Camporeale, Mason Case, Brian Casey, Athan Chekas Nick Chekas, Ned Furtney, David Kucia, Kevin Kurnat, Jonathan Melite, Jonathan Powell, Dylan Smith, Jeremy Stanhope, Ryan Walters, Jonathan Cahill, Jarrett Chouinard, Bryan Fitzpatrick, Tyler Fitzpatrick, Peter LeDuc, Mark Solomon, Julian Franklin, Tyler Steers.
  • Sarah Benedetti is the first girl to receive a signed letter of intent to play Division 1 basketball at St. Francis in New York.  Her CHS girls basketball career highlights include:  NCCC All-Conference for four years; All-State for three years; and Academic All-State for 2011.  Sarah is the second leading scorer in CHS history at 1,653 and she holds a single-game scoring record of 44 points in a game.  Sarah was selected as MVP for four years and has led her team in points scored, rebounds, blocks, steals, fg%, and FT% all four years.  Sarah has helped transform Canton girls basketball to be a contender in Class S.  Jeanne Holian has coached Sarah in girls basketball.
  • The Boys Outdoor Track Class S Championship Team co-coached by Michael Hughes and Matt Stiles are:  Evan Camporeale, Nick Chekas, Ned Furtney, Kyle Hall, David Kucia, Kevin Kurnat, Jon Melite, Dylan Smith, Jon Cahill, Bryan Fitzpatrick, Tyler Fitzpatrick, Peter LeDuc, Jeff Lochner, Mark Solomon, Julian Franklin, David Frenette, Matt Graziano, and Keith Wilson.
  • Team Champions: Boys Cross Country State Class SS Champions, Boys Track & Field Class S State Champions
  • Tena Ruby was selected by The College Board as a reader for the AP English Language exams.  In June Tena will spend a week in Kentucky scoring AP English essa


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