West Essex Announces ShopRite Stars

West Essex Regional High School Principal Gary Suda has announced the third marking period ShopRite STARS winners for the 2012-13 school year.

They are: Carlysa Oyama, a junior from North Caldwell who is a member of the Spanish National Honor Society and has a 4.4 GPA and is in the top 5 percent of her class, for academics; Joey LaVarco, a senior from Fairfield, and an active member of the West Essex Masquers who performed as Anthony Hope in "Sweeney Todd," and played a lead in the fall play, for the arts; Stephanie Pezzuti, a junior from Fairfield, who is a captain of the women's field hockey and basketball teams, and winner of multiple field hockey awards and named to the SEC All-Conference Basketball first team and field hockey teams, for athletics; Zack Bachmann, a senior from Fairfield, who is student government liaison to the superintendent, and former president of his sophomore and junior classes, attended Boys State and section leader in the marching band, and for leadership Michael Markus, a junior from Roseland, who volunteers at his church, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Roseland, and with the Roseland Fire Department and is an active Boy Scout, who did an Eagle Scout project, for service to the community.

"It is a good feeling that your hard work pays off," Zack said.

Each marking period, Suda asks high school staff to nominate students for the ShopRite Stars program recognizing their accomplishments in academics, the arts, athletics, leadership and service to the community. Each student winner will have their photograph displayed in the high school main office and in the West Caldwell ShopRite. ShopRite will also make a $1,000 award towards Project Graduation.

The program was created in 1999 by Ned Gladstein, owner of ShopRite in West Caldwell, to recognize the accomplishments of West Essex High School students. The program has continued with much success.