West Orange Students, Athletes Recognized With Awards

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange school district put a spotlight on some well-deserving students during two recent awards ceremonies.

The district held its 2024 Senior Awards Night on May 3 at the high school, recognizing students for academic excellence and community service while distributing over $200,000 in scholarships. See the full list of awardees here.

Since 1923, the West Orange Scholarship Fund has provided graduating seniors with $1.9 million in scholarship dollars, funded by local organizations and community members in honor of family and friends. The fund received 200 applications for scholarships this year, the highest number to date, and was able to provide 82 scholarships to 142 students.

This year's total amount of $163,500 was given out to 69 percent of the applicants, organizers said.

UNICO provided $36,000 in scholarships, the CJ Morgan Foundation distributed scholarships to 25 students, and the Nikhil Badlani Foundation awarded $25,000 in scholarships.

“This is truly a remarkable evening where we get to honor our finest and hardest-working students for their contributions to West Orange High School,” principal Oscar Guerrero said.

“To the Class of 2024, may this only be the beginning of an inspiring journey ahead for you,” Guerrero told attendees. “We can only wish that you continue to be blessed with opportunities and the generosity of others as they support you.”

ATHLETIC AWARDS

The annual West Orange Athletic Awards was held on June 6 in the Tarnoff Gym, recognizing outgoing seniors in all sports with “Mountaineer Pride” awards, service awards and other outstanding athlete recognition.

The evening began with a welcome from Athletic Director Stephan Zichella, and in addition to student athlete awards, included awards for local parents and guardians who have become involved in the district’s athletic programs.

Athletic Award Recipients

Mountaineer Pride Parent Awards

· Candace and Al Rosu – Boys Soccer/Wrestling

· Tom Orabona – Baseball

· Boys Volleyball – Jennifer Tunnicliffe

· Denise Young – Wrestling

· Joy Burnett – Fencing/Girls Basketball

· Tamika Simmons – Cross Country/Track and Field

· Michele Schultz – Girls Soccer

· Nayan and Cecelia Lassiter – Girls Lacrosse

· Shaniquah and Antoine Chapman – Girls Basketball

Service Awards

· Edwin Johnson – West Orange Rec

· Buddy Ciamillo – WOHS

· Michael Schaaf – WOHS

· Ana Marie Flores – WOHS

· Diana Toto – WOHS

Special Award to Foreign Exchange Student

· Niko Ronas Reyna – Football and Boys Lacrosse

Mountaineer Pride Awards

· Gabrielle Jaffe – Girls Tennis

· Brody Mailman – Boys Tennis

· Sean Harrington – Boys Wrestling

· Cristina Pariona – Girls Wrestling

· Ethan Young, Sean Harrington, Arthur Rosu – West Orange Wrestling Club

· Jason Jackson – Coach Award, Track and Field

· Henry Pfeifer – Boys Cross Country

· Nora McNamara – Girls Cross Country

· Chaas Malloy – Boys Winter Track

· Daniella Malanga – Girls Winter Track

· Adonis White – Boys Spring Track

· Atiyya Simmons – Girls Spring Track

· Darnell Grant – Coach Award (2023)

· Myles Snead – Football

· Lucy Fishkin – Girls Soccer

· Cameron Morgan – Boys Soccer

· Jacqueline Cruz – Coach Award (Ten Years)

· Carlos Mojica – Boys Volleyball

· Jaden Livingston – Boys Basketball

· Richard Mapp – Boys Basketball and Spring Track

· Adrienne Taylor Kamara – Girls Basketball

· Alexa Chapman – Girls Basketball/ROTC

· Robert Lomoriello – Athletic Dept.

· Daniel Garber – Boys Fencing

· Jade Burnett – Girls Fencing

· Justin Risco – Boys Swimming

· Kazuri Lateef – Girls Swimming

· Nathan Rubinstein – Ice Hockey

· Brielle Taylor – Cheerleading (Mackenzie Fitschen Award)

· Morgan Drakes – Cheerleading

· Nyla LaMar - Cheerleading

· Elijah Cohen – Baseball

· Bryce Mengden – Baseball

· Michael Marini – Coach Award, Girls Softball

· Mikayla Nathan – Softball

· Verrick Lipsey – Boys Lacrosse

· David Perez – Coach Award, Girls Lacrosse

· Skylar Lassiter – Girls Lacrosse

· Stacy Folas – Girls Volleyball

· Caleb Gattens – Golf

· Leila Smith – Flag Football

Coach of the Year

· Damien Betances

Academic Awards (Scholar-Athlete)

· Amie Binan – NJSIAA, Fencing

· Daniella Malanga - ECADA, Girls Soccer and Track

· Jeremy Flitt – ECADA, Boys Soccer and Tennis

Distinguished Athlete Award

· Mya Bushrod – Girls Basketball

· Madison Cyrus – Girls Soccer

· Peter Tunnicliffe – Boys Volleyball

· Daniel Fajardo – Boys Soccer and WOHS Sports Media

· Hunter Levine – Girls Volleyball and Softball

· Zekai Wimberly – Football

· Mikervens Auguste – Football, Basketball, Spring Track

· Madison Phillips – Softball

Athletic Honor Roll/Outstanding Athletic Achievement Award

· Jack Dvorin – Boys Soccer

Athletic Hall of Fame

· Jaiden Schultz – Girls Soccer

· Arthur Rosu – Boys Soccer and Wrestling

· Josephine Locricchio – Girls Soccer and Lacrosse

Athletic Director’s Most Valuable Student and Gamechanger Award

· Rayel Hunter – Football and Boys Lacrosse

· Jewelia Taylor – Student Council, Girls Soccer, Boys Basketball

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