North Haven Students Receive SCC Honors

North Haven’s Rachel Buonasora and Shane O’Connor were among the 12 student-athletes from six high schools to be named The SportsCenter of Connecticut/Southern Connecticut Conference Scholar Athletes of the Month for November 2015.

Now in its 10th year, The SportsCenter of Connecticut/SCC Scholar Athlete of the Month program will honor outstanding young men and women each month during the 2015-16 academic year.

“Many thanks to the Sports Center of Connecticut for its support of the SCC and the Scholar Athlete of the Month program,” SCC Commissioner Al Carbone said. “This conference has been proud of its success for the last 21-plus years, and to be able to recognize outstanding young men and women who demonstrate the desire and ability to succeed solidifies what the SCC is all about.”

Each SCC member school can nominate up to two honorees per season (fall, winter and spring). The Conference is announcing the fall recipients in September, October and November.

Student athletes who are selected must be a varsity letter-winner and have a 3.0/B average while demonstrating leadership qualities such as: being a positive role model; helping teammates overcome adversity; showing a commitment to self-improvement; or putting the needs of the team before themselves.

Sports Center of CT/SCC Scholar Athletes of the Month receive a certificate, commemorative T-shirt and a SportsCenter of Connecticut activity pass.

Buonasora, the captain of the Indians’ swimming squad, has been a stellar performer in the classroom. She is ranked first in a class of 247 students and holds a 4.76 grade-point average.

The recipient of the Yale Book Award, she is a member of the National, English, Latin and Science honor societies.

Buonasora is a member of the Future Problem Solvers and Math Team.

“Rachel is the quintessential captain and teammate,” North Haven girls swimming coach Martha Phelan said. “She takes great pride in everything she does.”

O’Connor, a three-sport (football, indoor and outdoor track) standout for the Indians, has been an exemplary performer in the classroom.

Ranked eighth in a class of 247 students, O’Connor sports a 4.54 grade-point average. He is the Senior Class President and serves as captain of the Indians’ indoor and outdoor track teams.

“Shane is responsible, reliable and honorable,” North Haven football coach Anthony Sagnella said. “He unselfishly contributed to our team’s needs and gave everything he had on and off the field.”