Student Spotlight: Tori Jones

Ledyard High School senior Victoria Jones was one of four Ledyard students who received awards last month from the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents. The CAPSS awards are given to students who are both outstanding scholars and make significant service contributions to their communities.

LHS guidance counselor Christy Toppa presented the award, calling "Tori" an easy and obvious choice for the honor.

"I am thrilled to speak on behalf of Victoria Jones tonight, for recognition from the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents. She has the academic and extracurricular credentials that make her a 'good fit,' but what makes her truly distinctive is her character.  

"Tori is engaging, thoughtful, and highly motivated. She has an infectious personality that shines, whether she is working with faculty, collaborating with peers or participating in a volunteer or club opportunity.  She enables everyone she comes in contact with to feel at ease.  

"Tori has challenged herself in a demanding college preparatory program of studies, and has consistently taken honors and advanced level courses in all academic areas.  For her elective courses, she has had continuous involvement in our choral music program and been a member of the Journalism staff, where she is this year’s Editor-in-Chief of the yearbook and the Assistant Editor-in-Chief of The Colonel.   

"To say that Tori is well rounded truly does not do her justice.  Aside from the countless hours outside of the designated class period for Journalism, Tori is often in Mr. Friskey’s room after school discussing, editing, planning and revising.  

"Inducted into the National Honor Society during her junior year, Tori has become one of our most dedicated members within the service pillar.  She is involved in projects such as the NHS Coffee Houses and was a co-leader of freshman orientation this past August.  

"Her commitment to service, however, started well before her induction to the NHS.  She has been an active member of Amnesty International and LHS Key Club since her freshman year working on projects such as Jamnesty, Invisible Children, and coordinating Ledyard Idol.    

"A testament to her commitment, Tori has been a junior volunteer at the William W. Backus hospital since her sophomore year.   At Backus, Tori does errands for various departments, transports patients, assists with patient care, and brings labs.  She has connected with and shadowed nurses with specialties ranging from the emergency room and same day surgery to ICU, the dialysis unit and chemotherapy. 

"Tori also volunteers at the New London County Soup Kitchen, is the Sunday school music teacher at her church, is part of Southeastern Connecticut Emmaus, and has been to Washington DC, New York, West Virginia, and Maine on various mission trips.  

"Tori is tremendously involved with the LHS music program.  She performs with the extracurricular music groups Acabellas, where she is one of the group's leaders, and Carolers, where she just kicked off a extremely busy performance schedule – I am thrilled she is actually here tonight!

"Accolades and accomplishments aside, Tori is a young woman with a terrific head on her shoulders.  She has a very supportive family and has been raised to be a wonderful human being.  What strikes me most about Tori is her sincerity.   She is easy to talk to, welcoming, and unaffected by her own gifts!  

"Wanting to go into nursing, Tori has given herself a solid foundation of her chosen career path through her undertakings academics and volunteer experiences.   I have no doubt that Tori will continue her amazing way, as a scholar, community member, and terrific young woman as she continues her educational journey.   Being able to recognize her tonight is but a mere glimpse in summarizing all that she is and does.

"Congratulations Tori!!"