Vernon Public Schools Honors More Than 100 Students at Annual Awards Ceremony

VERNON, CT — Vernon Public Schools recognized students from across the district Monday evening at its annual special awards ceremony at Rockville High School, honoring achievements in leadership, athletics, fine arts, languages, creative writing and other areas.

Vernon Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph P. Macary told the more than 100 honorees that they represent “the best and the brightest” of Vernon Public Schools. The ceremony included districtwide recognition as well as honors tied to statewide education and athletic organizations.

Among the students recognized were seniors Grace Johnson and Erin-Ted Okaikoi and eighth graders Grayson Freeman and Ainsley Owens, who received Connecticut Association of Boards of Education honors. According to the district, that recognition goes each year to two eighth graders and two seniors for leadership skills, including willingness to take on challenges, making difficult decisions, concern for others, the ability to work with others, commitment to projects, diplomacy, understanding issues clearly and honoring a commitment.

The Connecticut Association of Schools/Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference also recognized Rockville High School seniors Caroline Burg and Molly Wilson as scholar-athletes. According to the district, students eligible for that recognition must maintain a 3.5 grade point average, participate in a CIAC sport for two years, exhibit school and community service and show integrity, self-discipline, courage and personal standards that serve as a model to others.

Rockville High School students also received All Conference and All State honors in sports including indoor track, wrestling, ice hockey, cross country, boys soccer, girls volleyball, girls soccer, football and swimming. The district listed William Davis Jr., Emmett Kristoff, Joshef Penailillo Vargas, Caroline Burg and Cam Doyle among the All State honorees.

Fine Arts recognition from the Connecticut Association of Schools went to students at Rockville High School and several elementary schools. Those honored included Thomas Glinski Jr. and Meredith Ross at Rockville High School, along with Sara Urbanska, Audrey Kincman, Liahra Lugo and Ruthie Washburn in visual arts and Alethea Rizzie, Brody Hardwick, Mya Rivera and Dhrish Chhajed in performing arts.

The district also recognized students honored by the Connecticut Council of Language Teachers, Rockville High School Creative Writing Awards winners and Jamie Fernandez, a fifth grader at Maple Street School, who was named a Tolland County and Connecticut Statewide Fire Prevention Poster Contest winner.

In addition, Vernon recognized seniors in the Rockville Regional Agricultural Science and Technology Education program. The ceremony was the district’s annual event recognizing student achievement across schools and grade levels.