Vinal Tech High School Students of the Month for February 2018

(Above picture, L to R: Jacob Beatty, Leijah Lemonias, Abigail Young, Kwaku Panti, Dr. Niki Menounos)

With the cold months of February behind us, the staff and faculty are excited to recognize some students here at Vinal Tech who helped the winter months go by in a positive and enjoyable way! This month was another tough one to decide, with over a dozen students up for the Student of the Month award. At the end of the day, as usual, we could only give the awards to the four students as voted on by the whole staff. That being said, Vinal is extremely proud of all students who even made the nominated list and would like to encourage all students to keep improving the school climate here at Vinal by striving to be kind, positive, and respectful to all!

9th Grade –Leijah Lemonias

Leijah is a bright, lovely young lady who brings lots of joy and excitement to the halls of Vinal Tech. When asked to read a poem over the loudspeaker for Black History Month she did not hesitate. She was eager to read, and recited a poem during the morning announcements each day throughout the month. She chose the poems and practiced at home prior to reading them aloud in the morning, always doing a wonderful job and giving the staff and students some much needed early morning encouragement. She is also an avid reader, always completing her AR assignments on time and challenging herself with new books. Beyond academics, Leijah is polite and kind to all. These attributes of Leijah's make her a notable student and one that we can't wait to work more with over the rest of her years with us.

10th Grade - Jacob Beatty

Jacob has a great attitude no matter what. His good demeanor is infectious, making him one who can spread positivity to whichever class he is in. Due to this, Jacob gets along with everyone, making him a great team player in both academics and shop. Another trait that makes Jacob stand out is his excellent work ethic. Jacob will strive to make sure that all objectives of his work are completed fully, always willing to work out any errors that may slip into his assignments. This positivity and hard work extends to football as well, where Jacob is a great example on and off the field. Jacob is a player willing to work as hard as he can for the benefit of the team; this mindset extends to all parts of his school activities!

11th Grade - Abigail Young

Abi is very focused on her academic success and continues to work hard on her career technical education mastery. She demonstrates a desire not only to learn, but to excel at learning! Due to this drive she has, Abi is currently taking college level courses after school. In addition to this, she shows her school connectedness and spirit by belonging to various Vinal sports teams. On all the teams she plays on, Abi shows great determination and effort, always helping others get better and pushing the team to do the best they can. All in all Abi is a very dependable student and sets a good example for others in shop, in academics, and on the athletic field as well!

12th Grade - Kwaku Panti

Kwaku is a model student and prime example of the type of student we look to turn out in the CTHSS system. Kwaku came to Vinal with no experience in the Automotive field. He didn't have any mechanics in the family, and he never spent anytime working on cars growing up. Despite having no background knowledge, as a senior Kwaku is now proficient in all light repair and diagnostic skills. He is always respectful, helpful and on task. His attendance is excellent and takes his studies seriously. Outside of his chosen trade, Kwaku also excels academically. Kwaku has maintained honors status throughout his time here at Vinal. He carries honors level classes and makes connections between his trade and academics, creating concrete knowledge to draw from. Kwaku has a made a choice to attend a four year University after he graduates and was recently accepted to both colleges he applied for (UHart and CCSU). He is the pride of the Automotive Department and a perfect example of an excellent student!